The manual transmission is a dying breed, and the speed at which it is disappearing is even more rapid outside vehicle segments that car enthusiasts are interested in. For instance, while numerous sports cars and performance cars are still available with a manual, the transmission is even rarer outside these segments, including the pickup segment.If you want the analog pleasure of rowing your own gears in a pickup, you only have one choice left. That would be the 2026 Toyota Tacoma, which received a major redesign in 2024. As the last manual pickup in the United States, what does this vehicle have to offer to buyers, and how did we reach a point where manuals have become out of fashion? Why We Prefer Automatics Now Acura Perhaps to no one's surprise, the decline of the manual transmission is not a new phenomenon. The preference for automatics has been shaped by a combination of evolving consumer preferences and shifting industry regulations. When Regulations Become Too Strict Amee Reehal | TopSpeed Did you know that shifting industry regulations are killing the manual transmission? No, it is not that, by law, you can no longer drive a manual. Rather, automakers prefer automatics because a robotic transmission can simply be better at shifting gears to boost fuel economy numbers. Just take a look at most vehicles today with a manual, and most of the time, they will often post lower EPA efficiency figures. Especially with stuff like Eco mode, a transmission can simply be smarter and more nuanced than if a driver were to row their own gears.Speaking of efficiency, increased electrification is putting the manual in danger. For hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to work, automakers often have no choice but to opt for an automatic. Good luck managing an electric motor and an internal combustion engine (ICE) if it is hooked up to a manual. Consumers Are Also Preferring Automatics Toyota And then finally, what is the point of producing manuals if the customers do not even want them anymore? To understand the shift, we have to look at the driving habits of Americans. American cities are built with the suburban model in mind. You live outside the city center with your own house and lot, and you have got a garage for your own car. The model encourages driving rather than walking, biking, or taking trains. Car-centric urban design, coupled with longer average driving distances than most nations, mean that driving is a daily habit, and convenience is pretty much the main factor for automatics.As a result, when General Motors introduced the first mass-produced automatic in 1940, it was a sensational hit. American drivers went all-in because by the 1950s, automatics already outsold manuals. By 2024, Reader's Digest reports that, according to the EPA Automotive Trends Report, manuals represent fewer than one out of every 100 new cars sold. Going back to 2021, manual vehicle production in the United States dipped below 1 percent, and it has never risen above that figure since. Just to put into perspective how big of a slide that is, in 1980, 35 percent of vehicles sold still came with a manual transmission. This is why it is only in enthusiast cars where the manual transmission is still available. And That Makes The Toyota Tacoma Unique Toyota Solely because the manual is a dying breed, particularly in segments that are not driven by performance car enthusiasts, the Toyota Tacoma holds the distinction of being the only pickup in the United States with an available manual transmission. Now, if you are interested in purchasing the final manual pickup in the United States, there is something you need to know about its manual transmission and how this pickup drives. It's A Manual That's Easy To Manage Toyota If your reason for not pulling the trigger on a manual pickup is that it is going to be a chore to drive, you might appreciate what Toyota has done for the Tacoma's six-speed manual. You see, it may be a manual that comes with a clutch that you engage and disengage in order to do cog swaps, but the balancing act of balancing the revs to make the gear changes smooth and prevent stalling is made less stressful due to its Intelligent Manual Transmission (iMT). Yes, Toyota's manual prevents you from stalling, plus it also smoothens your gear changes.It also certainly helps that Toyota has done its best to make the overall system work seamlessly and also transparently. If you are already confident with your manual skills, then the overall transmission just feels normal. If you still are not, the iMT will make you feel like you have mastered the manual transmission already. Heck, the iMT also does rev matches (which needs to be activated every time you start up the vehicle), which is mostly for smooth downshifts, but you can't deny the fact it also makes the Tacoma one heck of an entertaining manual truck. Furthermore, the Tacoma's iMT also has a clutchless start, which is only meant for off-road use. It's A Pickup For Work And Play Toyota Toyota took its sweet time with the Tacoma because, prior to its 2024 full redesign, this pickup was last redesigned in 2015. Nine years is an eternity in automotive years, but thankfully, that long wait was absolutely worth it. The Tacoma gets a completely new TNGA-F platform that's inherited from the Land Cruiser and even the Lexus LX, and this platform does an excellent job of balancing comfort and rugged capability.A pickup is primarily meant for the rough stuff, but the reason why they have become so popular in the United States is that they have also become comfortable, stylish, and modern enough to be anyone's primary car, too. Sure, its ride is on the stiff side, but it is not too uncomfortable. The 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder, which produces 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, but compared to this engine with the automatic, peak torque comes in earlier, while peak power comes in later. A rear locking differential is also fitted to the TRD variants. Even Toyota Knows Where to Cater the Manual Toyota Unsurprisingly, the 2026 Toyota Tacoma only comes with a manual in the lower trims, but these are good trims that the brand is confident are catered to enthusiasts. Fleet Or Enthusiast-Centric Toyota The manual is available in three Tacoma trims. The first is the fleet-oriented SR, while the two remaining trims are the TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road. For the base SR, you get LED headlights with LED daytime running lights and 17-inch steel wheels. Price-wise, the SR retails from $38,700 while both the TRD Sport and TRD Off-Road retail for $44,110.Basically, you’re left with the choice of a TRD variant that balances on-road comfort and off-road prowess with its 18-inch alloy wheels. Meanwhile, the TRD Off-Road gets more rugged 17-inch wheels, plus a front skid plate, with underbody transfer case and fuel tank protection. The TRD models also get LED foglights, while a power open and close tailgate is also available as an option. Based on the features that have been cherry-picked for each variant, you can clearly tell that Toyota is keeping the manual for the fans. Otherwise, Toyota could have offered the manual solely in the base, fleet-oriented SR. Utility Meets Modernity Toyota A pickup is meant to endure the rough and tumble of off-roading life, and so the Tacoma in that aspect has never disappointed. For its 2024 major redesign, the Tacoma fully embraces technology, modernity, and even a sophisticated feel without sacrificing the hard-wearing nature that this pickup has been known for. Of course, the SR trim's fleet-oriented nature means it is sparse in terms of creature comforts, but it is by no means an ancient interior. That's because you get fabric seats, a urethane steering wheel, and heck, it even gets smart entry with push-button start, plus an 8-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android auto.Once you start considering the TRD Sport or TRD Off-Road, that is where the interior starts to jazz up a bit. These two TRD variants add a splash of color to bring a dose of sportiness, while modernity takes center stage with its standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. These variants still get an 8-inch infotainment as standard, but the doors to ticking the optional 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment and JBL sound system are opened.