Toyota Tacoma Remains the Only Midsize Truck with a Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is in terminal decline. The list of cars offering one diminishes every year and now even excludes sports cars like the Volkswagen Golf GTI. One segment hit particularly hard is smaller midsize trucks. Not too long ago, manual transmissions were ubiquitous within the segment. Midsize trucks were humble work vehicles, and manual transmissions were a simple, affordable, and reliable option to install in them. But times have changed.

Automatic transmissions have improved significantly. Buyers have soured on stick shifts broadly. Midsize truck customers aren’t looking for savings and simplicity on what have become pricey lifestyle and recreational vehicles. And take rates for manual transmissions have been so low that the extra tooling and R&D costs to provide them are no longer worth the effort.

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In a few short years, we’ve gone from every available midsize truck except the crossover-based Honda Ridgeline offering a stick shift in America to the Toyota Tacoma being the last truck with a manual transmission standing. And with the 8-speed automatic transmission debuting as a dramatic improvement in the 2024 Tacoma and a potent hybrid powertrain, there isn’t much reason to choose the stick shift.

If you are looking for a non-Tacoma manual transmission pickup, you’re out of luck. But there should still be some manual transmission trucks floating around out there with a manual transmission. Here’s a rundown of how much the newest manual transmission examples of some of our favorite pickups should cost you.

The Toyota Tacoma

Fourth Generation (Current)

Toyota still offers a manual transmission option on the 2025 Tacoma pickup. It is the only midsize truck in America (or any truck) to do so. The Tacoma features a six-speed manual. The most affordable option is the base SR grade. You must opt for the Double Cab and four-wheel-drive to access the manual transmission, which starts at $36,990 MSRP or $38,585, factoring in Toyota’s destination and handling charge.

Toyota offers the 6-speed manual transmission on two upper Tacoma grades as well. The stick shift is available as a no-cost option on the TRD Sport trim, although you must pay an additional $2,400 for four-wheel drive to obtain it. The manual is the standard transmission on the Tacoma’s TRD Off-Road grade. The TRD Pro off-roading grade is now hybrid and automatic only. Used examples should be relatively easy to find, too. A Cars.com search revealed more than 526 used manual Tacomas currently for sale, compared to more than 12,000 automatics.

The Jeep Gladiator

First Generation (2024)

Like the Jeep Wrangler SUV, the Jeep Gladiator pickup offered a 6-speed manual transmission with the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine when it debuted for the 2020 model year. Jeep discontinued the manual transmission option for the 2025 model year due to low demand.

The 2024 Jeep Gladiator has not depreciated much with about a year on the market. KBB estimates a price range between $37,800 for the base Sport trim and $50,855 for the Rubicon. Manuals may be relatively hard to come by due to the low take rate. Only 263 of the 5,056 used Gladiators for sale on Cars.com had stick shifts, suggesting a take rate of around five percent. Only 17 examples were available from the 2024 model year; however, more may become available eventually through lease returns.

The Nissan Frontier

Second Generation (2019)

Nissan did not offer a manual transmission on the third-generation Frontier, which launched for the 2022 model year. The Japanese brand offered two manual transmission options: a five-speed on the inline-four engine and a six-speed on the V6 engine, until the 2019 model year.

Nissan eliminated the manual transmission before the end of the model year in 2020. The powertrain for the new generation was ready before the truck itself. Nissan added that 3.8-liter V6 to the lineup, which only pairs with a 9-speed automatic transmission. KBB estimates a price range between $15,180 and $20,915 for the 2019 Nissan Frontier, which is not far off its original sub-$20,000 starting price, factoring in inflation.

Manual Nissan Frontiers may be challenging to find. A Cars.com search revealed just 62 manual models for sale, compared to more than 5,200 automatics. Only seven of those manuals are from the final 2019 model year, and only one of those seven is a V6.

The Chevrolet Colorado/GMC Canyon

Second Generation (2019)

The current generation of General Motors’ Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups does not offer a manual transmission. GM last offered a 6-speed manual on the trucks during the second generation’s model run. It was only available with the base 2.5-liter inline-four gas engine. GM canceled the manual transmission option during the 2019 model year due to poor demand.

KBB estimates a price range of $14,293 to $28,274 for the 2019 model year Colorado and $16,349 to $28,783 for the GMC Canyon. The manual transmission should be toward the cheaper end of that range. V6 models and off-road trims, such as the Colorado ZR2, will have higher resale values. Colorado and Canyon manuals may be hard to find. Cars.com searches revealed just 42 used manual trucks combined between the two nameplates, compared to more than 9,300 automatic models.

The Ford Ranger

Third Generation (2011)

Ford has not offered a manual transmission on the T6 platform Ranger since bringing it over to the North American market in 2019. Ford has offered a manual on the Ranger abroad, and does offer a manual transmission option on the T6-based Bronco.

Ford last sold a five-speed manual transmission on the Ranger during the third generation in the 2011 model year before it left production. KBB estimates a price range of $8,708 to $11,309 for a used 2011 Ranger, depending on the trim. The volume is lower because it’s an older vehicle; the newest manual Rangers are now 14 years old. However, according to Cars.com, about 21 percent of used 2011 Rangers or older are stick-shift models.

Sources: KBB, Cars.com