We Wish the 2023 Chevy Colorado Had This 1 Toyota Tacoma Feature
In 2023, there are only two new midsize trucks you can get with a manual transmission. Those two pickups are the Jeep Gladiator and the Toyota Tacoma. While the Tacoma is certainly starting to show its age – its last redesign was in 2016, it can be had with a six-speed manual transmission. And that is one feature that would be great to see on the 2023 Chevy Colorado.
Do trucks still use manual transmissions?
In the past, it seemed like every pickup truck offered a standard transmission. But as these vehicles have moved from simple workhorses to status symbols, that option has been lost. At least in the United States, only two new trucks offer the ability to row your own gears.
Believe it or not, up until 2019, you could get a Chevy Colorado with a standard transmission. But if you’re looking at a 2023 Colorado, you will see that only an automatic transmission is offered. So if you want a manual truck, you will need to look elsewhere.
A manual Chevy Colorado could be fun
Driving a truck with a manual transmission is not like driving a sports car. You aren’t really going to get short throws or the thrilling experience of heel-toeing.
At the same time, a standard transmission does offer an engaging drive. Especially if you are doing something like off-roading your Chevy Colorado. Standard transmissions are also seen as being more robust and simple when compared to automatics, so it makes sense that certain truck buyers would be interested in them.
If you want evidence that off-road truck buyers are interested in hand-made shifts, look no further than the Toyota Tacoma. As a new midsize truck, you can still get a 2023 Tacoma with a six-speed. But, that gearbox is not available for every version of this pickup.
As it stands, only the TRD Pro, TRD Off-Road, TRD Sport, and Tacoma SR are available with the manual transmission. So in some cases, you actually need to pay a premium in order to get that six-speed standard trans.
Does the new Chevy Colorado have a manual transmission?
All 2023 Chevy Colorado trucks come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Because of that, this midsize pickup no longer offers a standard trans. Simply put, General Motors probably doesn’t see the cost of developing such a gearbox as being worth it.
Still, according to Car and Driver, the Chevy Colorado is still a solid truck. It is newer than models like the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger, so it certainly feels more modern. In fact, this midsize pickup truck actually looks better than the 2023 Tacoma does on paper.
It’s unclear if the redesigned Tacoma will still offer a manual transmission. But it would be nice to see if it did. In the States, the vast majority of new vehicles are sold with automatics. For enthusiasts like myself and potentially our readers, standard gearboxes offer more of a connected feeling to a car. Even if it’s not something quick, like a pickup truck.
