Another SUV Just Lost Its Manual Transmission
There’s no getting around just how popular the Subaru Crosstrek is. As a small SUV, it comes with standard AWD, a usable interior, plus 8.7 inches of ground clearance. And for the 2024 model year, Subaru has brought the Crosstrek into a new generation. That means that Subaru’s small SUV has better safety, a slightly new design, and something that might be a disappointment.
Does the Subaru Crosstrek have a manual transmission?
If you asked this question before the 2024 model year, the answer is yes. For years, if you wanted an SUV with a manual transmission, you could get one in form of the Subaru Crosstrek. And back in 2018, Subaru even upgraded the standard transmission from five gears to six.
If you’ve driven a car with a five-speed manual transmission, you likely know sometimes they can rev a little high, especially at highway speeds. That extra gear allows you to drive at higher speeds at a lower rpm. And that is good for fuel economy. Heck, the second-gen Crosstrek even rides on the Subaru Global Platform, which is seen as a big improvement.
You can no longer get a new Subaru Crosstrek with a manual
It’s not all that surprising, but the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek only comes with Subaru’s CVT. Now, it is important to note that Subaru does have one of the better CVTs in the industry. It’s not as problematic as Nissan’s were in the past. But, you lose out on the ability to row your own gears.
It’s no secret that manual transmissions are becoming a thing of the past. At least on non-sports cars like the Crosstrek. I’m not going to pretend that the majority of consumers were going out to buy a new SUV with a manual, but it is something that is nice to have.
According to Car and Driver, the powertrains of the 2024 Crosstrek are pretty much the same as the second-gen. So it does seem that if Subaru really wanted to, it could have kept the standard transmission around a little bit longer. But that probably was not practical from a financial standpoint.
Can you still get a new SUV with a manual transmission?
Sadly, if you believe in #SaveTheManuals, the list of new SUVs that will allow you to row your own gears is only growing smaller. In 2023, you can get the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler with a manual. There just isn’t much more out there that will allow you to shift gears with a clutch pedal yourself.
Now, the 2024 Crosstrek is not here yet. So, you can probably still track down the prior generation with a manual. With that standard AWD system, rugged features, and practical design, there is certainly a case to why Subaru’s small SUV is a solid offering.
Unfortunately, the manual Crosstrek is now dead. Taking its place in the graveyard of practical vehicles that offered handmade shifts. Moving forward, the CVT is going to be the only option.
