Do Any New Trucks Have a Manual Transmission?
Do you want a new pickup truck with a manual transmission? Well, if so, you’re in a very small minority of consumers. In 2023, the vast majority of new trucks are sold with automatic transmissions, and more and more manufacturers are dropping the option for hand-made shifts.
What new trucks offer a manual transmission in 2023?
In 2023, you can only get two new trucks with manual transmissions. Those pickups are the Toyota Tacoma and the Jeep Gladiator. Unfortunately, the days of the manual truck seem to be long gone. And your best bet for a vehicle like this might be looking to the used market instead of purchasing new.
While you used to be able to get trucks like the Nissan Frontier or Ram 2500 with a standard transmission, that’s no longer the case. Because of that, your options for the kind of driving experience that a manual offers are limited.
You can still get a 2023 Toyota Tacoma with a manual
The Tacoma has long been popular in terms of being a midsize truck. It’s known for its rugged characteristics and for being fairly reliable. In 2023, you can get this pickup truck with a manual transmission. But that feature is limited to certain trim levels.
The six-speed manual is only available to V6 Tacoma models, and it’s not an option on all pickups with the engine. The Toyota Tacoma SR, TRD Sport, TRD Off-Road, and TRD Pro are the only versions of this truck that you can get a standard with.
Despite being limited, it is nice to see Toyota still offering some appeal to folks who like an old-school driving experience. And according to MotorTrend, the manual transmission should continue on to the next generation. Although, it has not been confirmed if that will actually be the case.
The 2023 Jeep Gladiator has a standard transmission
The second new truck you can get with a manual is the 2023 Jeep Gladiator. Since its introduction, Jeep’s truck has offered the ability to have hand-made shifts. This does make sense, as the Gladiator is essentially a Wrangler with a pickup truck bed. Although, if you want it, you must opt for the 3.6-liter V6 engine.
The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 only comes with an automatic transmission. But, it does seem like a lot of folks lean towards the gasoline engine when getting this midsize truck.
Most new Gladiator trucks actually come standard with a six-speed manual transmission. And that’s not surprising, considering this Jeep also comes standard with crank windows instead of power-operated ones.
Are manual transmissions dying?
It seems that outside of sports cars, manual transmission vehicles are going away. This is an unfortunate fact of life, as folks just aren’t buying them in the numbers needed to justify making them.
That said, there are still two new trucks that you can get with a manual. So, there is hope out there if that is something that you have your mind made up about. Just know that the options are limited.
