The pickup truck is synonymous with blue-collar Americans as a vehicle doing double duty as both a mode of transport and a means of carrying out hard work. The latter is a trait that would seem to perfectly line up with the concept of a manual gearbox, as both the pickup truck and the stick shift are signs that the operator is not afraid to put in the effort. The manual gearbox is simple, robust, and hard-working, as are America's pickups. So why, then, have their numbers dwindled?
It's almost hard to believe there hasn't been a single full-size pickup with a manual transmission since 2018, with the Ram 2500 going automatic-only as of 2019. There are no more compact pickups with a stick shift, either, and in the midsize segment, they're in shorter supply than ever. As of July 2024, there are just two trucks in the mid-size category (and in the whole of the USA) that you can buy new with a manual gearbox: the Jeep Gladiator and the Toyota Tacoma.
A mid-size pickup with the adventure-vehicle spirit of a Jeep Wrangler, the Jeep Gladiator hits the dirt with nearly a foot of ground clearance if you go with the Mojave trim and a minimum of ten inches on the entry-level model. It can tow up to 7,700 pounds with the Max Tow package, it can run in rear- or four-wheel drive, and you can pop the doors off for the full Jeep experience. Plus, the V6 engine is the 3.6-liter Pentastar we've come to know and love as a real workhorse. If the Wrangler remains the superior off-roader, it's only because the Gladiator's longer wheelbase can make it a bit trickier to maneuver on tight trails.
Forget the Rubicon, the Mojave is more fun and easier to live with.
While technically classified as a midsize pickup, the Gladiator is a hybrid of sorts, combining the Wrangler's platform with the Ram 1500's rear end to support enhanced towing capabilities. But you can't get the Ram 1500 with a manual, while you can in the Gladiator. Best of all, the six-speed manual is available on all trims except one special edition, meaning you can get any flavor of Gladiator you want with the stick shift.
2024 Jeep Gladiator Manual Availability By Trim | |
---|---|
Trim | Manual Availability |
Sport | Yes |
Nighthawk | No (8-Speed Automatic Only) |
Sport S | Yes |
Willys | Yes |
Mojave | Yes |
Mojave X | Yes |
Rubicon | Yes |
Rubicon X | Yes |
Before you go running to the nearest Jeep dealership, it's worth knowing that the 2020-2023 models had a problem with overheating clutch pressure plates in the manual transmissions, resulting in a recall for more than 69,000 units (this number includes certain 2018-2023 Wranglers). The 2024 model was not included in this recall, and it hasn't generated any new recalls of its own just yet, so check the VIN to make sure the problem has been addressed if you're buying a 2023 Gladiator.
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Americans love the Toyota Tacoma, and it's been the best-selling midsize pickup for what feels like an eternity. That's partially because Tacomas tend to stick around for a long time without updates, but that can't be said of the 2024 model, which is all-new on a new platform with new powertrains to boot, including new turbo and turbo-hybrid four-cylinders for the new generation. It's remarkably versatile, towing up to 6,500 lbs, and available in a variety of cab and bed configurations. Thanks to the new architecture, it packs the latest technology, too, with an eight-inch touchscreen in the lower trims and a 14-inch fully connected display on the upper trims.
Where the Gladiator packs a six-speed manual as a standard feature on almost all trim levels, the Tacoma is a little more specific in how you need to order it, with only specific trims and specific cab/bed configurations available with the manual. You'll need a double cab with a five-foot bed and 4WD before you can add a manual transmission, and even then, you can't get it on all trims. But there's another caveat. With the optional eight-speed automatic, the 2.4-liter turbo base engine produces up to 278 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque, yet with the manual, these figures are cut short at just 270 hp and 310 lb-ft.
As much as we love driving a manual, we think the automatic feels more suited to the power band of the engine. The manual is far from the best transmission we've ever sampled, but in a segment devoid of manuals, we are happy Toyota offers it.
2024 Toyota Tacoma Manual Availability By Trim | |
---|---|
Trim | Manual Availability |
SR | Double Cab 4x4 Only |
SR5 | No |
TRD PreRunner | No |
TRD Sport | Double Cab 4x4 Only |
TRD Off-Road | Double Cab 4x4 Only |
Limited | No |
It stands to reason that trucks like the Tacoma and Gladiator would still have a manual, given they're popular among off-road enthusiasts, many of whom prefer the control of a manual gearbox. Still, it;s surprising that the manual isn't prevalent in the truck segment. This wasn't always the case, though, and in the last five to six years, we've lost a few trucks that once would've shared a piece of the manual truck pie:
2024-07-24T06:17:13Z dg43tfdfdgfdSources: Toyota, Jeep, NHTSA