It’s a tough time to be a car enthusiast at the moment. Automakers are building fewer, genuinely affordable sports cars, naturally aspirated V6 and V8 engines are becoming a thing of the past, and to make matters worse, only two SUVs are currently on sale with manual transmissions.
There is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, though, as it certainly looks as if these two SUVs have staying power. One is the Jeep Wrangler, the other is the Ford Bronco, and together, they form your only three-pedal-SUV options for 2026.
The Wrangler And Bronco Are Your Final Manual SUVs
2025 Jeep Wrangler front 3/4Jeep
The Jeep Wrangler is as old as the hills, and so is the manual option that accompanies it. The only way anyone can buy a new manual Wrangler in 2026 is by picking one with the tried-and-tested Pentastar V6 under the hood. Boosted 2.0-liter ‘four’ and naturally aspirated 6.4-liter V8 options are available, but buyers can forget about rowing their own gears.
To spell it out, that means manual Wranglers must come in Sport, Sport S, Willys, Rubicon, or Rubicon X guise, which is still a decent spread of grades. The cheapest out of the gate is the base Sport, which will set three-pedal enthusiasts back $35,790 for the two-door, or an extra $3,005 for the four-door. At the other end of the scale, a Rubicon X would command $61,230 with all the doors.
2026 ford bronco badlands wildtrakFord Motor Company
Much like the Wrangler, the Bronco is also a historic and celebrated nameplate, although it did take a considerable break from production. The two are fierce competitors in a niche sector, both offering off-road capability and of course, three-pedal action. Again, mirroring the Wrangler’s situation, buyers must also be restrictive about their engine choices if they would like a manual here.
It’s the 2.3-liter EcoBoost inline-four they must select in this instance, which means ignoring the more potent 2.7-liter and 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6s. In terms of grades, buyers will have the choice of Base, Big Bend, and Badlands when seeking out a manual Bronco, and for clarity, the Bronco Sport does not offer a manual in any guise.
The Bronco is pricier than the Wrangler at the cheap end, with prices beginning at $40,795. The Big Bend is only $500 more, whereas the off-road-orientated Badlands commands a heftier $48,890. Interestingly, two- and four-door models are priced the same when there’s a Blue Oval on the grille.
A Closer Look At The Transmissions
2021 Ford Bronco manual shift leverFord2024 Jeep Wrangler Interior view of the manual shifter and center consoleStellantis
While the two SUVs are inescapably similar, there are some key differences, one of which is the design of their respective manual transmissions. Jeep sells the Wrangler with a six-speed, while Ford opts to mix things up a little, with a clever seven-speed.
The Jeep’s transmission is built by Aisin, a more than respectable transmission manufacturer based out in Japan. Known internally as the D478, it’s a reliable unit that’s been a staple in the world of Jeep since 2018. The story is the same but different with the Ford. Again, a trusted producer has been given the task of supplier, this time Germany’s Getrag. The transmission was new when Ford introduced the new Bronco in 2021, and throughout those years, it’s proven itself as a solid and dependable unit.
The really interesting part though is Ford’s seven speeds, and most notably its ‘crawler’ gear. Perfect for off-roading, the ultra-low ‘granny’ gear boasts a ratio that’s ideal for slowly crawling over rocks or similar terrain. With typical manual transmissions, the driver would have to be on and off of the clutch, potentially wearing it down and spinning the wheels, whereas this crawler gear provides a heap more control.
Pros And Cons Of Manual Transmissions
These are both off-road SUVs, so it stands to reason that the manual has soldiered on here for a reason, rather than in other, more urban SUVs. That’s true, as the manual can indeed be a friend on the trails, but it’s not perfect either. There are up and downsides to rowing gears when out on the rough stuff.
Pros
- A greater sense of control
- Manual transmissions are simple, durable, and less prone to heat build-up
- Superior engine-braking control
Cons
- Constant clutch-work could be tiresome on a complex trail
- Manuals pose a stall risk
- Modern automatics are highly advanced and more accessible
Ultimately, a modern automatic can probably do everything, or mostly everything, that a manual can. But the fact is, some people just love doing it themselves, and if that’s what they’re used to when out on the trails, then either of these SUVs will likely be hugely appealing. Sometimes the old ways are the best, even when they’ve been matched or outsmarted on a technical level.
Bronco Vs Wrangler: Powertrain Comparison
2025 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 3.6L NA Pentastar V6 EngineBring a Trailer
Make & Model
2026 Ford Bronco
2026 Jeep Wrangler
Engine
2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four
3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6
Transmission
7-speed manual (6+1 crawler design)
6-speed manual
Power
300 horsepower
285 horsepower
Torque
325 lb-ft
260 lb-ft
Max Towing Capacity
3,500 pounds
3,500 pounds
On paper, there is a clear winner when it comes down to the facts and figures. The Ford Bronco is a newer design, it sports a newer powertrain, newer and more advanced transmission, plus it delivers an extra 15 horsepower and an additional 65 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels.
Those are tangible benefits, and for many, the extra grunt will be reason enough to opt for the Bronco over the Wrangler. However, for others, the Jeep’s old engine with its lesser output is actually a major plus, rather than a reluctant compromise. The Pentastar is a proven engine, capable of huge mileages, and for some buyers that naturally aspirated simplicity is better than anything boosted. Look, turbocharging doesn’t really affect engine durability much at all, not in the real world at least, but an old-fashioned N/A V6 still has its appeal.
Bronco Vs Wrangler: Off-Road Comparison
2026 ford bronco badlands wildtrakFord
For anyone hitting the trails, either of these SUVs will make for a fine choice. Beginning with the Ford, it’s the Badlands trim that stands out. As standard, it boasts a front stabilizer bar disconnect, electronic-locking front and rear axles, plus seven G.O.A.T modes. For those unfamiliar, G.O.A.T simply stands for Goes Over Any Terrain, and the modes are Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, Off-Road, Rock Crawl, and Baja. In other words, there’s a mode for pretty much any terrain the Bronco could reasonably be expected to traverse.
It’s also equipped with heavy-duty bash plates underneath, 33-inch all-terrain tires shod on 17-inch alloys, and HOSS – Ford’s High-performance Off-road Stability Suspension. For 99% of buyers, the Bronco Badlands comes equipped with just about anything they would ever need.
Naturally, after forging a career on the rough stuff, the Wrangler is every bit as formidable on the trails as a Bronco, although there are fewer acronyms to enjoy here. It’s the Rubicon or Rubicon-X which makes more sense for off-roaders here. The latter is more expensive than the Badlands, while the Rubicon is a shade cheaper.
Rubicon X comes with 35-inch A/T tires, heavy-duty axles and bumpers, rock sliders, electronic sway bar disconnect, off-road camera, off-road driving modes, 4-H and 4-L modes, and more. Again, it’s fully equipped, but whether it’s worth the additional $12,000 or so over the Badlands is another question entirely.
The Future Of Manual SUVs In America
2025 Jeep Wrangler Willys sideJeep
Both of these are fine SUVs, and perfect machines to continue flying the manual flag. Whether your personal preference is one or the other simply does not matter. It’s just great to see buyers being given a choice of manual-equipped SUVs in 2026, but for how long can we expect this to be the way?
On one hand, more and more automakers are experimenting with simulated manual transmissions, but is this really what enthusiasts want to see, or will it just end up as another fancy gimmick for pricey hybrids and EVs? The truth of it is that manual buyers are a niche bunch, especially when it comes to new cars, and automakers know this. We can only hope that a handful of automakers continue to cater to us, and while there is certainly no sign of the three-pedal-SUV option disappearing just yet, it would hardly come as a total surprise if players like Ford and Jeep did decide to drop the third pedal in the not-too-distant future.
Manual Pickup Trucks Are A Dying Breed, Too
2026 Toyota Tacoma SR front 3/4 angle in whiteToyota
The future of manual SUVs might be bleak, but the manual pickup market is already even smaller. There’s currently only one truck on sale for the 2026 model year that can be equipped with a manual transmission: the Toyota Tacoma. If you want to shift gears by hand, you’ll have to choose the SR (base model, pictured above), TRD Sport, or TRD Off-Road trims — and only if you’re ordering a Double Cab truck with 4WD and a 5-foot bed. Buyers could find a manual transmission in the Jeep Gladiator for years as well, but the option left the table after the 2024 model year. While there are rumors that the Jeep truck could find its way back with a standard gearbox in the future, it’s not 100% confirmed.
Back to the Tacoma, though. As the only manual pickup on the market, buyers should be happy to see it’s not too expensive. The SR trim with its no-cost manual option starts at $32,445, the TRD Sport starts at $40,315, and the TRD Off-Road will cost at least $42,715 before destination, taxes, and other fees.
Sources: Ford, Jeep, Toyota
