Shopping for a new pickup can make for an overwhelming endeavor, especially if you’re in the market for a diesel truck with a manual transmission. Here’s the truth: while there are several diesel pickups on the market today, the final diesel pickup with a manual transmission is no longer available as a new model.

Are manual transmissions better?

Unfortunately, this question isn’t all that easy to answer. For the most part, whether or not a manual transmission is better than an automatic one really comes down to personal preference. That being said, there are several pros and cons to manual transmissions. 

According to Edmunds, you can count on a manual transmission to be more engaging to drive as it will provide you with full control over the vehicle’s gears and when to shift. Edmunds added that vehicles with manual transmissions tend to be cheaper than those with automatics. Manual transmissions often cost less to repair, too.

As for the downsides to choosing a diesel pickup with a manual transmission? Edmunds says that the learning curve for driving a manual transmission is pretty steep. A manual transmission can be frustrating to deal with during heavy traffic as well. But the biggest downside? Finding a diesel pickup with a manual transmission isn’t going to be easy, especially if you’re shopping for a new diesel pickup. 

Can you still get a new pickup with a manual transmission?

Here’s the thing, there aren’t actually that many new pickups available with a manual transmission. In fact, the last pickups you can still buy with a manual transmission are the Toyota Tacoma and the Jeep Gladiator. Once upon a time, the Nissan Frontier was also available with a manual transmission, but the automaker has since nixed that option, leaving just the Toyota Tacoma and the Jeep Gladiator.

The last diesel pickup truck available with a manual transmission

But the question remains – are there any diesel pickups available with a manual transmission? If you’re shopping for a new diesel pickup, unfortunately, the answer is no. In fact, most pickups these days are offered with an automatic transmission only. Manual isn’t even an option.

But are you willing to buy a used diesel pickup? The 2018 Ram 2500 was the last pickup you could buy with both a diesel engine and a manual transmission. Equipped with a Cummins Turbo Diesel engine and a manual transmission, Kelley Blue Book reports that when also outfitted with a fifth-wheel, this particular truck boasts a towing capacity of up to 31,210-pounds. 

Will manual transmissions ever make a comeback?

At this point? The chances are slim. Most pickups these days aren’t available with a manual transmission, especially those equipped with diesel engines. Even the Jeep Gladiator, which typically comes standard with a manual transmission, defaults to an automatic transmission when you opt for a diesel engine under the hood. When it comes down to it, if you want to buy a diesel pickup with a manual transmission, you’re going to have to buy used.

Next, learn about Ram’s final manual transmission full-size truck, or see the final diesel Cummins pickup truck with a manual transmission reviewed in the video below: