Manual transmissions have been fading from new pickup trucks for years, but 2026 marks a sharper turning point. With rivals shifting entirely to automatics, only one model is expected to carry a clutch pedal into the new model year, turning a once common configuration into a niche choice for a shrinking group of drivers who still want to row their own gears.
That last holdout is the Toyota Tacoma, a midsize truck that now shoulders the entire burden of keeping the stick-shift pickup alive in the United States. As other brands retire their manuals in favor of efficiency, technology, and ease of use, the Tacoma’s continued three-pedal option says as much about changing buyer habits as it does about the stubborn appeal of an old-school driving experience.
The last stick-shift pickup standing
By 2026, the manual transmission pickup in America is no longer a category, it is a single truck. Reporting across the industry converges on the same point: the Toyota Tacoma is the only pickup still offered new with a manual gearbox, making it the lone survivor in a market that once treated stick shifts as standard equipment. That reality turns a routine spec-sheet detail into a milestone, because the Tacoma is not just another option, it is the final link between modern trucks and the analog feel that defined them for decades.
Analysts tracking the 2026 model year note that even small and midsize trucks have abandoned three pedals, leaving only one manual pickup on sale for the 2026 model year, and that one is the Tacoma. Coverage of the segment underscores that the Tacoma’s six-speed manual is now unique among new pickups, a fact that is framed explicitly as The Toyota Tacoma Is The Only Pickup Truck Available With, Manual Transmission In 2026. For buyers who still want a clutch, the choice has effectively been made for them.
How the Tacoma keeps the clutch alive
The current Tacoma is not a throwback truck, which makes its manual option more striking. The latest generation pairs modern turbocharged powertrains and advanced driver aids with the kind of rugged, off-road focused trims that have long defined the nameplate. Within that lineup, Toyota still offers a six-speed manual transmission on specific configurations, giving drivers a way to combine contemporary tech with a traditional driving interface that many enthusiasts consider more involving than any automatic.
On the official product pages, the Toyota Tacoma is laid out with a wide range of engines, cabs, and beds, but only certain versions can be ordered with the manual, typically tied to off-road oriented trims where driver control is a selling point. Detailed breakdowns of the truck’s powertrain options highlight that the Tacoma’s six-speed manual is available with its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the more powerful iForce Max hybrid pairs exclusively with an automatic, a split that reflects how the manual is being preserved as a specialty choice rather than a volume configuration.
Why every other pickup let go of the stick
The Tacoma’s lonely status did not happen overnight. Over the past several years, full-size pickups from Ford, Chevro, and Ram quietly dropped their manual options, followed by midsize rivals that once catered to similar buyers. As automatic transmissions gained more gears and smarter programming, they matched or beat manuals on fuel economy and acceleration, removing one of the last rational arguments for choosing a clutch in a work truck or daily driver.
Industry commentary points out that manual transmissions are becoming an endangered species because buyers stopped ordering them, not because automakers simply lost interest. Reports on the broader market note that even small and midsize trucks that once offered stick shifts have phased them out for the 2026 model year, reflecting a long-term trend where customers prefer the convenience of modern automatics. One analysis puts it bluntly, stating that Manual transmissions are becoming an anachronism in new vehicles, and that most drivers never learned to operate one in the first place, which leaves little business case for keeping them in mainstream pickups.
Gladiator, Frontier and the road to one
The Tacoma did not always stand alone. As recently as the mid-2020s, the Jeep Gladiator and Nissan Frontier still offered manuals, giving buyers a small but real set of choices. That changed as both brands updated their trucks and quietly removed the clutch pedal from their order sheets, closing off two of the last remaining paths to a new stick-shift pickup and accelerating the Tacoma’s move from outlier to sole survivor.
For the Jeep Gladiator, the turning point came when Jeep reworked the truck and confirmed that, for 2025, Jeep has discontinued the manual transmission, a change highlighted in dealership guides that frame it as a Farewell to the Manual Transmission on the Jeep Gladiator. The Nissan Frontier followed a similar path, with historical overviews noting that the six-speed manual was canceled as rivals like the Ranger and Jeep Gladiator passed it by, leaving the Frontier automatic-only as well. With those exits, the Tacoma’s manual went from one of several niche offerings to the last of its kind.
What makes the Tacoma’s manual different
With only one manual pickup left, the details of how that gearbox behaves matter more than ever. The Tacoma’s six-speed manual is tied to its turbocharged four-cylinder, sending power to the rear or all four wheels depending on configuration. Enthusiast-focused reporting emphasizes that this setup is not just a basic work-truck stick, but a deliberate pairing meant to give drivers more control over boost, engine braking, and gear selection on challenging terrain, especially in trims like the Red Toyota Tacoma TRD Off that are built around off-road performance.
Technical breakdowns of the Tacoma’s powertrain options explain that the Tacoma’s six-speed manual is offered alongside advanced automatic units, and that the manual’s gear ratios are tuned to keep the engine in its sweet spot while transmitting power to the wheels. One deep dive notes that the Tacoma’s six-speed manual is available even as the iForce Max hybrid engine remains automatic-only, underscoring how Toyota has carved out a specific role for the manual rather than trying to spread it across the entire lineup. For drivers who still crave the level of driver engagement that a stick shift provides, only one manual pickup remains, and it is this carefully positioned Tacoma.
How the last manual pickup actually drives
From behind the wheel, the Tacoma’s manual transmission changes the character of the truck in ways that go beyond nostalgia. Reviews describe a more connected feel through the shifter and clutch, with the driver deciding exactly when to upshift or downshift rather than relying on software. That can be especially appealing on trails or mountain roads, where holding a lower gear for engine braking or quick throttle response can make the truck feel more precise and predictable.
First-hand impressions collected in buyer guides and road tests emphasize that, due to this, the Toyota Tacoma is now the only new pickup truck with a manual transmission, and that its manual-equipped trims are aimed squarely at drivers who prioritize involvement over convenience. One analysis of the truck’s behavior notes that the manual’s direct mechanical link gives a different sense of control when transmitting power to the wheels, especially in low-speed off-road situations where fine throttle and clutch modulation matter. In a market where most trucks isolate the driver from the drivetrain, the Tacoma’s stick shift stands out as a rare point of tactile connection.
Price, trims and the shrinking manual niche
Being the last manual pickup does not mean the Tacoma is a budget outlier. The manual is typically bundled with mid to upper trims that focus on off-road hardware, which means buyers pay for capability as well as the third pedal. One example is the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off Road Double Cab 5′ Bed MT 4wd, a configuration listed with a Model Year 2024 Toyota Tacoma, Year 2024, and an MSRP of $41,800, a figure that places it squarely in the heart of the midsize truck market rather than at the entry level.
That pricing reality helps explain why the manual has become a niche choice. Shoppers who simply want a truck for commuting or light hauling can find cheaper automatic versions, while those who step up to the manual-equipped trims are often doing so because they value the driving experience as much as the spec sheet. Coverage of the segment notes that, when it comes to pickup trucks with manual transmissions, the Tacoma carries the torch alone, and that its manual models are positioned as enthusiast-friendly variants rather than fleet specials. The result is a small but dedicated corner of the market where the clutch pedal survives because a subset of buyers is willing to pay for it.
From mainstream workhorse to enthusiast artifact
Not long ago, manual pickups were associated with base work trucks, where simplicity and durability mattered more than comfort. That image has flipped. Today, the last manual pickup is more of an enthusiast artifact than a fleet staple, a truck bought by people who actively seek out the extra involvement of shifting for themselves. That shift in perception mirrors what has happened in sports cars, where manuals have become rare but prized options rather than default choices.
One detailed feature on the Tacoma frames this change explicitly, noting that The Manual Truck Is Nearly Extinct In America and that the 2025 Toyota Tacoma is America’s Final Manual Pickup. The same reporting walks through how full-size models like the Ford F-150 Crew Cab Lariat Red Front 3/4 View Ford and 2024 Chevro trucks have gone automatic-only, leaving the Tacoma as the last link to an era when three pedals were common. As manuals have disappeared from mainstream trims, they have gained a kind of halo status among Enthusiasts, who see the Tacoma’s stick shift as a badge of driver-focused authenticity rather than a cost-cutting measure.
Why automatics keep winning
For all the romance around the last manual pickup, the market forces behind its isolation are straightforward. Modern automatics have become incredibly efficient, often delivering better fuel economy and quicker acceleration than manuals, while also integrating seamlessly with advanced driver assistance systems and hybrid powertrains. For buyers who spend most of their time in traffic or on long highway commutes, the convenience of an automatic is hard to ignore, especially when there is no clear performance penalty.
Industry explainers on the decline of three pedals in trucks point out that, in 2025, the Toyota Tacoma is the only new truck sold in the United States that you can get with a manual transmission, a fact used to illustrate how thoroughly automatics have taken over. One analysis framed under the question Are Manual Trucks Dead notes that the Tacoma is the lone exception in a field where every other manufacturer has standardized on automatics for the 2025 model year, citing customer demand and the complexity of pairing manuals with modern safety and emissions systems. In that context, the Tacoma’s manual looks less like a competitive necessity and more like a carefully maintained niche.
Jeep’s pivot and what it signals
If any brand seemed likely to keep a manual in its pickup, it was Jeep. The Gladiator launched with a stick shift that appealed to off-road purists, and its image as an open-air adventure truck seemed tailor-made for three-pedal driving. Yet Jeep’s decision to drop the manual from the Gladiator for 2025 shows how even brands built on rugged, enthusiast-friendly identities are aligning with the broader shift toward automatics.
Dealer-level product updates spell this out clearly. In response to the question What transmission is standard on the 2025 Jeep Gladiator, the answer is that an 8-speed automatic transmission is now standard equipment, ensuring smooth gear transitions and responsive control. Separate previews of the 2026 Gladiator note that, Under the hood, the 2026 Jeep Gladiator offers two proven powertrain options, including a 3.6-liter Penta engine, but they describe only automatic gearboxes, with no mention of a manual returning. Together, those details confirm that Jeep has fully pivoted away from three pedals in its pickup, reinforcing how isolated the Tacoma’s manual has become.
How we got here: a brief manual truck obituary
Looking back over the past decade, the manual pickup’s decline reads like a slow-motion obituary. Early on, full-size trucks quietly dropped their stick shifts as automatic technology improved, followed by midsize models that once catered to budget-conscious or enthusiast buyers. Each cancellation made sense in isolation, but the cumulative effect was to turn the manual from a common sight into a curiosity, and finally into a single surviving option.
Historical overviews of key models trace this arc in detail. For the Nissan Frontier, one generational summary notes that the six-speed manual was canceled at this time, but, other than that, the truck was still behind the times, as rivals such as the Ranger and Jeep Gladiator passed it by, a sign that the manual was no longer seen as a competitive advantage. Coverage of the Tacoma’s current status reinforces that, by the time the 2025 model year arrived, there was only one manual pickup left in the USA for 2025, and that the Tacoma carries the torch alone. By 2026, that torch is still lit, but it is burning in a very small corner of the market.
What the last manual pickup means for drivers
For drivers who grew up learning on three pedals, the Tacoma’s status as the last manual pickup is both a warning and an invitation. It signals that the era of widespread stick-shift trucks is effectively over, and that anyone who wants to experience that style of driving in a new pickup has a narrowing window to do so. At the same time, it highlights how much the market has changed, with convenience, technology, and efficiency now outweighing the tactile satisfaction of shifting for yourself for almost every buyer.
Guides aimed at helping shoppers navigate this new landscape emphasize that The Toyota Tacoma Is the Last Pickup With, Manual Transmission, and that Enthusiasts who still value a clutch pedal need to seek out specific trims and configurations to get it. Another overview of new-vehicle choices notes that, Due to this, the Toyota Tacoma is now the only new pickup truck with a manual transmission, a fact used to illustrate how thoroughly automatics have reshaped the segment. As the 2026 model year approaches, the Tacoma’s manual stands as both a final choice and a symbol of what has been left behind in the march toward ever more automated driving.
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