Sometimes it’s hard to let go.
Just ask anyone who still insists a pickup truck should have three pedals and a stick shift. Manual transmissions are becoming as rare as cheap tickets to Disneyland, and while they only account for a tiny percentage of sales, enthusiasts refuse to stop talking about them. Honestly, I don’t blame them.
There’s nothing like feeling the control a manual transmission gives you. You select the best gear, you supply the power, and you are the one who adds just enough momentum to make the drive just right. On asphalt, there’s a bit of brain power needed to drive, which is cool. Off-road, it takes even more skill to make three pedals sing, and that’s super cool.
For some.
When Jeep dropped the Gladiator’s manual, it stung. Thankfully, Toyota is still flying the save-the-manual flag with select Tacoma models. I recently spent time with a 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4×4 equipped with a six-speed manual, and it reminded me why shifting your own gears is still so much fun.
Driving & Performance
Here’s the catch: if you want the manual, you also get the smaller output version of Toyota’s 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. It makes 270 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, sent through a six-speed intelligent manual transmission with automatic rev-matching (which you can turn off if you’re feeling heroic).
No, those aren’t class-leading numbers. Tow ratings also take a hit compared to the automatic, maxing out at 6,400 pounds, while payload tops out at 1,525 pounds. Fuel economy lands at 18 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.
None of that really matters the moment you grab the shifter.
This is simply one of the easiest manual transmissions I’ve driven in years. The clutch is light, engagement is predictable, and the throws are smooth without feeling rubbery. Sure, I’d love a little more mechanical “click” as it slots into each gear, but now I’m just nitpicking.
Driving around Los Angeles with a manual? That’s another story.
If your commute resembles a parking lot with occasional movement, prepare for a left calf workout. Heavy traffic has claimed many innocent clutches over the years. Still, every time traffic opens up and you nail a perfect 2-3 shift, all is forgiven. It’s engaging in a way no automatic can replicate.
The Tacoma itself drives much like every modern Tacoma. It’s easy to live with, reasonably comfortable, and capable off-road thanks to 10.7 inches of ground clearance, Bilstein remote-reservoir shocks, part-time four-wheel drive, low-range gearing, and Toyota’s available Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism. It won’t carve canyon roads, but it’ll happily crawl up rocky trails all weekend.
Interior
Toyota’s latest Tacoma is a noticeable improvement inside.
There’s more headroom, the seats are far more comfortable, and even the rear seat is less of a punishment than before. Is it spacious? Not exactly. If you’re coming from a full-size pickup, your rear passengers will remind you of that.
My truck came as a Double Cab with the five-foot bed, which strikes a nice balance between utility and everyday usability. I like the large controls, buttons and switches. Screen controls are not that great, as some of the settings are a pain to locate.
Most of the Tacomas I’ve tested have been equipped with the excellent 14-inch touchscreen, even though an 8-inch display is technically available on lower trims. Along with the 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, the infotainment system is clean visually.
Toyota
Final Thoughts
A 2026 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4×4 Manual starts around $42,715, and my tester landed somewhere around the mid-$40,000 range. In today’s truck market, that’s actually pretty reasonable.
The manual transmission transforms an already solid midsize pickup into something you actually look forward to driving. It makes errands more entertaining, back roads more rewarding, and even the occasional dirt trail a little more satisfying.
Would I take this over the much pricier TRD Pro?
Absolutely.
The TRD Pro is an outstanding truck, but this manual-equipped TRD Off-Road feels more connected, more engaging, and frankly, more fun. MOST importantly, it is over $20,000 less than the TRD Pro. It sure doesn’t perform like it’s 20K less.
Look, Toyota didn’t have to keep offering a manual transmission, but they did anyway. That’s fan service at its finest. If you’ve been telling your friends that “they don’t make them like they used to,” here’s some good news: Toyota still makes one. You just have to remember how to drive it.
About the author
Nathan Adlen
Contributing Writer, Autoblog