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And then there were two. The final SUVs available with manual transmissions in the U.S. are the fittingly retro Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco.

We’ve previously reported on the final few SUVs with a stick shift option. Until recently, the Kia Soul and the Subaru Crosstrek allowed you to “row your own.” But now that those two crossovers have done away with the old cog-swapper, it’s just the Wrangler and Bronco left.

The Wrangler has always been a time capsule. The full-frame construction and solid front axle were standard technology when Willys first engineered a 4WD “quad” for the allies in WWII. It sold a “Civilian Jeep” version to veterans immediately after the war. This soft-top off-roader has been an icon of the U.S.A. ever since, slowly evolving into the Wrangler. But like the original quad, the Wrangler still features a solid front axle, body-on-frame construction, a part-time transfer case, and a manual transmission option.

The latest iteration of the Bronco is engineered by Ford to take some of the Wrangler’s market share. While the Bronco Sport shares a unibody chassis with the Maverick pickup, the regular Bronco is a body-on-frame 4WD SUV–with a manual transmission option. It also offers colors and trims that accentuate the 1960s retro styling. This strategy worked famously for Ford with its 2005 Mustang, so it’s no surprise the Bronco is doing well.

There have been many SUVs with manual transmissions over the years. The Subaru Crosstrek likely offered a manual transmission because its a popular performance option on other Subarus, such as the WRX. The Kia Soul might have offered a stick shift just because it’s a cost-effective and fuel-efficient option for drivers who know how to work three pedals. But as fewer and fewer drivers even know how to use a manual, it has gone from a cost-effective option to a nostalgic one. So it’s fitting that the final two SUVs with a stick are the Bronco and Wrangler.

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.