Last Manual Transmission SUVs: Which Ones Are Left?
Two SUVs — the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco — still offer a manual transmission in America as of 2025, and both are off-road-focused models. If you want a new SUV with a stick shift, your choices are limited to these two, and even they restrict the manual to specific trims and engines.
Why the Manual SUV Is Nearly Extinct
Automatic transmissions now outsell manuals in nearly every segment, and SUVs are where the shift away happened first. Buyers of family haulers and commuter crossovers overwhelmingly choose automatics for convenience, and modern automatics often get better fuel economy than manuals because they have more gears (8, 9, or 10 speeds) and can lock the torque converter. The manual also adds cost for the manufacturer: each model needs a unique shifter, clutch pedal, and transmission mounting, plus separate EPA testing. With SUV sales dominated by buyers who never learned to drive stick, automakers simply stopped offering manuals in most models.
Jeep Wrangler: The Longest-Running Manual SUV
The Jeep Wrangler has offered a manual transmission continuously for decades, and the current JL-generation Wrangler continues that. The standard engine, a 3.6-liter V6, comes with a six-speed manual on most trims, including the base Sport, Willys, and Rubicon. The manual is not available with the turbocharged four-cylinder or the plug-in hybrid 4xe. The Wrangler’s manual is a traditional H-pattern shifter with a clutch pedal, and it includes hill-start assist to prevent rollback on steep grades. For 2025, Jeep still lists the manual as an option, but it is less common on dealer lots than automatics, so ordering may be required.
Ford Bronco: The Newcomer with a Stick
When Ford revived the Bronco for the 2021 model year, it made the manual a headline feature. The Bronco’s seven-speed manual (actually six forward gears plus a crawler gear for off-road use) is available only with the 2.3-liter turbo four-cylinder engine, not the larger 2.7-liter V6. It comes on Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, and Badlands trims, but not on the Wildtrak or Raptor. The crawler gear (labeled “C” on the shifter) gives a very low ratio for rock crawling. Ford has not announced dropping the manual, but it remains a niche option; most Broncos are built with the 10-speed automatic.
What About the Subaru Crosstrek and Other Models?
Subaru once offered a manual on the Crosstrek and Forester, but it dropped the manual from the Forester after 2018 and from the Crosstrek after the 2023 model year. The current Crosstrek is automatic-only. The Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue all dropped manuals years ago. The only other new vehicle with a manual and SUV-like body is the Jeep Gladiator pickup, which shares the Wrangler’s manual, but it is a truck, not an SUV. If you include subcompact crossovers, the now-discontinued Hyundai Venue had a manual in some markets but not the U.S. So the Wrangler and Bronco are the sole survivors in the true SUV class.
How to Choose Between the Wrangler and Bronco
If you are set on a manual SUV, the decision comes down to your priorities. The Wrangler offers a simpler, more traditional manual with a lighter clutch and shorter throws, and it is available on the most capable Rubicon trim. The Bronco’s manual has the unique crawler gear, which is useful for serious off-roading, but the clutch is heavier and the shifter is not as crisp. Test drive both if possible, because clutch feel varies. Also check availability: manuals are often special-order, so you may need to wait weeks or months. Resale value for manual Wranglers tends to be strong because enthusiasts seek them out, but the Bronco’s manual is too new to have a track record.
Common Problems and Maintenance with Manual SUVs
Manual transmissions are generally reliable, but they have specific issues. Clutch wear is the main cost: a clutch typically lasts 50,000 to 100,000 miles depending on driving style and off-road use. Replacing a clutch on a Wrangler or Bronco costs roughly $1,500 to $2,500 including parts and labor. Off-road driving can accelerate wear if you slip the clutch a lot. Both the Wrangler and Bronco have had recalls or service bulletins related to their manual transmissions — for example, the Bronco had a recall for a clutch pressure plate that could overheat and fracture. Check the NHTSA website for your specific model year before buying. Also, the Bronco’s crawler gear should not be used at speeds above 5 mph; it is meant for crawling, not as a low-speed cruise gear.
Alternatives: What If You Want a Manual but Not a Wrangler/Bronco?
If you need a manual but can live without a true SUV, consider a manual-equipped car or truck. The Subaru WRX and the Mazda3 both offer manuals and have some cargo space. The Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier pickup trucks offer manuals (though the Frontier dropped it after 2021 and the Tacoma still has one on certain trims). If you are willing to buy used, you can find manuals in older Subaru Forester, Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and even the first-generation Ford Escape. But for a new, current-model SUV, the Wrangler and Bronco are the only games in town. If you don’t need off-road capability, you might be better off with an automatic SUV and accepting the loss of the third pedal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still order a 2025 Jeep Wrangler with a manual transmission?
Yes, Jeep still offers the six-speed manual on the 2025 Wrangler, but only with the 3.6-liter V6 engine and not on the 4xe or turbo models. Availability may vary by dealer, so you may need to custom-order.
Does the Ford Bronco manual have a real clutch pedal?
Yes, the Bronco’s manual is a traditional three-pedal setup with a clutch pedal. It is a seven-speed gearbox, but the extra gear is a crawler gear for off-road use, not a standard seventh gear.
Why did Subaru stop offering a manual in the Crosstrek?
Subaru dropped the manual for the 2024 model year because demand was very low — only a small percentage of Crosstrek buyers chose the manual, and it no longer made financial sense to offer it.
Are manual SUVs more fuel-efficient than automatics?
Not necessarily. In the Wrangler, the manual gets slightly better EPA highway mileage than the automatic, but the Bronco’s manual gets worse mileage than the automatic because the automatic has more gears. It varies by model.
Is the manual transmission in the Bronco reliable?
There was a recall for the Bronco’s manual clutch pressure plate that could overheat and fracture, but Ford fixed it. Overall, the Getrag seven-speed is a robust unit, but any manual can have issues if abused.
What is the cheapest new manual SUV I can buy?
The Jeep Wrangler Sport with the manual starts around $35,000, and the Ford Bronco Base with the manual starts around $38,000. These are the only new manual SUVs, so they are also the cheapest.
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