If you were born after 1990 or so, you may not remember the halcyon days of the manual transmission. These were not the swift mechanisms that eagerly pop into position with a flick of the wrists. Instead, you might find yourself standing with all of your weight on the clutch while trying to put hardly any weight on the gas as you wiggle the gearshift not into the space where you were taught third gear is, but where it has slipped to in this particular rolling heap of automobile. That’s why, in the 1970s, automatic transmissions became a regularly offered amenity. Many drivers made the switch and never looked back.
However, many enthusiasts can’t get enough of a manual transmission. If you’re into luxury sports cars, you’re in luck. You can find them everywhere. But what about your regular driver looking for something a little more road or even off-road-friendly? Are there any SUVs with manual transmissions anymore? Let’s take a look at the evolution of the manual transmission SUV over the past decade.
How Have Things Changed Since 2015
There are many reasons why more and more drivers are choosing SUVs over smaller, lower vehicles. They’re versatile, carry a whole bunch of stuff, and come in lots of different sizes and shapes. But does that variety extend to transmission choices? In 2015, SUV drivers who appreciated a nice, responsive manual transmission had plenty of choices. Mazda, Honda, Kia, Subaru, and Jeep all offered at least a trim or two that included a standard manual transmission.
However, this changed quickly. Mazda discontinued the CX-5 with a manual transmission with the 2016.5 model, and the Jeep Patriot disappeared completely in 2017. The Honda HR-V manual was pretty popular, but its last model year was 2018. Drivers who selected the standard front-wheel drive models had the option of a manual transmission. However, all-wheel drive models were offered exclusively with an automatic transmission to rein in the 141 hp 2018 HR-V.
The Subaru Forester was also discontinued in 2018, but the manual transmission version of the Crosstrek stuck around until 2023. Paired with a 2.0L Boxer-4 on the base, Premium, and Special Edition models, this transmission pulls its weight, keeping 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque in line over all kinds of terrain.
Equally suitable for leaving the pavement behind, the Jeep Compass discontinued its six-speed manual transmission in 2020. Paired to a 180-hp 2.4L I-4 engine, drivers of the Sport models got the manual transmission as standard fare, while four-wheel drive Latitude models could enjoy it as an option. Manual front-wheel drive Jeep Compass models also offer an impressive fuel economy of 32 MPG on the highway.
Manual, but Not SUVs
Since 2015, the number of SUVs with manual transmissions has steadily dropped. What are your choices if you want to crank the gears yourself? Sports cars like the Ford Mustang and many Porsche and BMW vehicles still offer standard manual transmissions. The thrill of popping into one gear from the last one is especially thrilling when you have an insane amount of horsepower under the hood, after all. However, slightly more sedate vehicles like the 2025 Acura Integra and Integra Type S are outfitted with manual transmissions as well.
However, many drivers like the space that an SUV provides, and that’s a fair point. If you can be content with a hatchback, the 2025 Mazda 3 2.5 S Premium package still offers a chance to cruise through the gears with an available Skyactiv-MT six-speed manual transmission. The 2025 Toyota GR Corolla hatchback also includes exclusive access to a manual transmission and a 1.6L 300-hp engine. There are also pickup truck options with a manual transmission, such as the 2025 Toyota Tacoma, which offers this setup in the SR, TRD Sport, and TRD Off-Road trims. However, none of these are SUVs.
These Are Your 2025 Manual Transmission SUV Options
You probably won’t be shocked by the SUVs on this list. However, you might be surprised at how very short this list is. Love them or hate them, you’ve got to admit it’s a sign of the times when only two SUVs are available with a manual transmission.
One is the 2025 Jeep Wrangler. This makes perfect sense given the lifestyle the Jeep Wrangler is born to lead. In fact, it makes so much sense that a six-speed manual transmission with overdrive is standard equipment on the Wrangler Sport, Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, and Rubicon X models. It is also available on the four-door-only Sahara model. The manual transmission is in a dedicated relationship with the Wrangler’s 3.6L V6 engine. With its 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, this powerhouse is designed not just with all-terrain in mind, but every potentially drivable mile.
It’s also an efficient hard worker. Both two- and four-door Wrangler models offer a combined city/highway fuel economy of 19 MPG. Models with two doors have the ability to tow up to 2,000 lbs, while four-door models can tow up to 3,500 lbs when properly equipped.
Your other manual SUV choice is another off-roading master—the 2025 Ford Bronco, which is also offered in two and four-door configurations and, depending on the model chosen, with the standard ability to remove the doors and roof. However, the 2025 Bronco includes a seven-speed manual transmission as standard fare on several models, including the four-door Big Bend and Heritage Edition, the two-door-only Stroppe Edition, and both versions of the Base and Badlands models.
The Bronco is equipped with a turbocharged I-4 engine that is also remarkably similar to the Wrangler, offering 300 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Unlike the Wrangler, manual Broncos do not receive a penalty to their maximum towing capacity, though it does max out at the same 3,500 lbs as four-door Wranglers.
It is also slightly more fuel efficient than the Wrangler. Although 2025 numbers are not available from the EPA, the identically equipped 2024 manual Bronco got 20 MPG combined. The Bronco is also well-dressed in off-roading gear that gets increasingly aggressive as you climb the trims. Sadly, the all-terrain master Raptor model does not receive manual transmission treatment.
Though some of those younger drivers who don’t remember how much fun the “Good Old Days” were might call the manual transmission “Old Tyme-y,” the 2025 Wrangler and the Bronco are nothing but modern. Wrangler models include a 12.3-inch touchscreen that operates the infotainment system, complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Each Bronco includes a 12-inch SYNC 4 infotainment system with wireless app connectivity.
The Last of a Great Race
But this is not about comparing two incredibly iconic vehicles like the 2025 Jeep Wrangler and the 2025 Ford Bronco. It’s about celebrating them as the two remaining SUV models with manual transmissions. Today’s manual transmissions are much more forgiving than the clunky gearboxes of generations past. Perhaps if yesterday’s manual transmissions behaved the way they do today, automatic transmissions would have become the dinosaurs in this situation. But as it is, we have to choose from what we’ve got, and they’re both very good choices.
