Jump LinksThere was a time when ordering a pickup with a manual transmission was a sign you were a trucker who knew how to get things done. These systems could get the most out of the engines and allowed owners to push, pull, and carry items that automatic transmission trucks could only dream of. Manuals were cheaper to maintain, more engaging to drive, and provided a level of control that automatics only dreamed of, but it was only a matter of time before slush boxes caught up.Once they did, the sun began to set on the manual transmission truck. It turns out, people would much rather the truck do the work for them, not to mention the improved fuel economy that comes with modern automatics. In 2026, only a single pickup truck will be available with a manual transmission – the Toyota Tacoma – standing alone as a relic from an analog age when the rest of the truck world is running full steam into the future. The Manual Truck Is Nearly Extinct In America FordWe know it may be hard to believe for some of our younger readers, but not that long ago, nearly every automaker offered a manual gearbox on at least one of their trucks. This applied to anything from tiny Ford Rangers to Chevy Silverado HDs, giving drivers greater control over their truck's performance in all situations. However, in the 2000s, the tide began to shift, and automakers, some of which were strapped for cash and responding to consumer trends, decided it was time for us to move on to automatic transmissions that offered greater fuel efficiency and power potential.Here are some notable trucks from the last 20 years with manual transmissions:2006 – Ram SRT-10 The last performance pickup truck available with a manual transmission. You could get a standard cab truck with a 6-speed manual and a V10 under the hood. Ram deserves more respect for this one. 2008 – Ram 1500 However, the company changed its tune just two years later, taking the last manually equipped light-duty truck off the market. 2012 – Ford Ranger With the death of the third-generation Ranger, Ford killed the 5-speed manual along with it. There's something fitting about a Ranger with a manual, so this one hurt. 2018 – Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon Discontinued the six-speed manual after the 2018 model year, but it was only on the base trims. 2018 – Ram 2500 Heavy Duty Ended manual availability with the launch of the fifth-generation model in 2019, taking the last heavy-duty truck with a manual off the market. 2019 – Nissan Frontier The final model year to offer a manual before a refresh removed it in 2020. By 2020, only two pickups remained for stick-shift enthusiasts: the Jeep Gladiator and the Toyota Tacoma. The former was aimed squarely at off-roaders who wanted more control on tight trails, while the latter only offered the manual on lower, base trim trucks. Well, it turns out even off-roaders couldn't save the Gladiator's shifter, because at the end of 2024, that truck said goodbye to the manual, taking a truly unique option off the market. The Manual Jeep Gladiator Is No MoreJeepWhen Jeep introduced the Gladiator in 2019, it was a breath of fresh air for manual lovers. We can't remember the last time a completely new pickup truck, not just a new generation, debuted with a manual transmission option. Even better, you could get it on every single trim, from the base Sport all the way up to the rock-crawling Rubicon. Its inclusion was aimed squarely at enthusiasts, but unfortunately, most buyers aren't enthusiasts.The Pentastar V6 is a tried and true powerplant that's been used in just about every Fiat Chrysler/Stellantis product for the past 15 years. However, a jack of all trades is a master of none, and the engine isn't the best fit for the Gladiator. It only makes 285 horsepower, and most of that power only comes on after 4,000 rpm, which wouldn't be too bad if it weren't a nearly 5,000 lb, 4WD pickup truck. Many reviewers noted that because of these limitations, the manual transmission made the driving experience frustrating, especially because it wasn't particularly smooth.Even worse, chasing this power meant your fuel economy suffered. The EPA rated a manually-equipped Gladiator at 19 MPG combined, but in the real world, publications like Car & Driver saw this number drop to around 16 MPG combined, partially due to the thick rubber on their Mojave model. Adding insult to injury was that it killed your towing capability too, as it handicapped you to a mere 4,000 lbs.Looking at all of these drawbacks, we can't say we're surprised Jeep eventually decided to ditch the model. It was a fun concept, one that we believe will grow to be sought after in the future, but also one that had too many caveats for a new pickup. The 2026 Toyota Tacoma: America’s Final Manual Pickup ToyotaAnd then there was one.With the manual Jeep Gladiator heading off to the junkyard in the sky, the Toyota Tacoma earns the bittersweet distinction of being the only new pickup truck offered today with a manual transmission. This was a pleasant surprise when the fourth-generation Tacoma was originally announced, but it wasn't surprising to see that it would be a limited option. Only three trims can be outfitted with the manual as a no-cost option: the SR, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road, and only if you're ordering a Double Cab truck with 4WD and a 5-foot bed.Toyota So, the cheapest manually equipped Tacoma you can buy will be a $38,600 SR Double Cab (including taxes and fees), which is only about $5,000 cheaper than a similarly equipped TRD Off-Road or Sport. It's a really bare-bones truck, but the benefit of hooking it up to the manual transmission is the fact that you get the more powerful version of the i-Force engine, outputting 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque over the 228 hp and 223 lb-ft of torque of the automatic. This is slightly less power than if you opt for the 8-speed in the TRD trims (278 hp and 317 lb-ft), but it's not too big of a hit. Unfortunately, since the manual isn't compatible with the i-Force Max engine, any hope of a manually equipped TRD Pro or Trailhunter version is long gone.Fuel economy takes only a small hit compared to the automatic option, achieving 18 MPG city / 23 MPG highway / and 20 MPG combined compared to the auto's 19 MPG city / 24 MPG highway / and 21 MPG combined. A small price to pay for control, in our opinion. Power also comes on differently for the manual trucks, with torque peaking at 2,800 rpm and horsepower peaking at 5,400 rpm, simultaneously earlier and later than the automatic.Fortunately, the manually-equipped trucks don't take a towing capacity hit like the Gladiator did, as they can all tow 6,400 lbs. With its inclusion on the base model and two mid-tier off-road models, it's obvious Toyota is aiming this manual truck squarely at contractors and off-road enthusiasts who want a little bit of extra control. Toyota cares about the fans, this much is obvious, but while we love the effort, in the real world, we have to admit the manual Tacoma isn't all it's cracked up to be. Will The Manual Tacoma Survive Much Longer? ToyotaThe manual in the Tacoma comes with automatic rev-match downshifting, and a no-clutch starting option meant to protect you while off-roading on tight trails. The former is a necessity that you'll likely use every day, while the latter will likely only get used once or twice throughout the life of the truck, but it's great to know Toyota was forward-thinking with its design.However, we regret to inform you that the experience behind the wheel of such a truck is a tad disappointing, at least according to CarBuzz's Road Test Expert, Jared Rosenholtz, who said after driving one:"The base SR certainly isn't quick, but the other grades will leave the old Tacoma in the dust with ample turbo torque and transmissions that finally have enough ratios. As much as we love driving a manual, we think the automatic feels more suited to the power band of the engine."He felt that, in day-to-day driving scenarios, it was a bit of a dog, and that's proved in the 0-60 mph time, which comes in a little over 7 seconds compared to about 6.5 seconds for automatic models. It'll be fine in most scenarios as long as you're not wringing each gear out, but don't expect satisfaction from the experience, that only comes with knowing you're driving a modern-day unicorn.Toyota It's the last of a nearly dead breed, the lone survivor of a lineage that stretches back over 100 years. We don't care what brand you drive or how you feel about the powertrain; you have to respect this truck, and we hope that alone adds to its sales. However, whatever they are, we doubt they're enough to justify the truck's long-term existence.This option is a passion project that shows Toyota still cares for enthusiasts, but it's a drop in the bucket compared to how much the rest of the brand's truck lineup hauls in. As Toyota continues to explore hybridization and emissions regulations get stricter, the odds that the manual transmission even lasts to the end of the fourth-gen Tacoma's life, let alone past it, are low. We may be witnessing the last manual transmission truck ever sold in the US, so appreciate it while you still can, because when it's gone, it's gone for good.