The Gladiator is Getting its Stick Shift Back
The Jeep Wrangler remains one of the most affordable ways to get a manual SUV today. That alone makes it an outlier in a market that has largely abandoned the format. For Jeep, it is not just about cost. It is about identity and maintaining a connection to its off-road roots.
The Jeep Gladiator used to mirror that formula. Buyers could once pair the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 with a six-speed manual. That option was quietly discontinued for the 2025 refresh. The truck itself remained. The loss of the manual left the Toyota Tacoma as the only stick shift pickup in the United States. Jeep now appears ready to correct that gap.
Jeep Confirms Interest as Manuals Show Signs of Life
At the Easter Jeep Safari, Aamir Ahmed told CarBuzz, “We have another car that looks like a Wrangler that’s getting its manual back. Stay tuned.” The brand still values manual transmissions. His statement pointed to a return to a manual transmission in a Wrangler-like model. That strongly indicates the Gladiator.
There is also a broader trend supporting the move. Manuals are not dead. Data shows a small but notable increase in take rates among enthusiasts. This is especially true for performance and activity-focused vehicles. Off road trucks fall directly into that category. Buyers in this space value control and engagement more than convenience.
The Quiet Exit Likely Ties Back to Past Issues
Jeep never formally explained why the manual transmission was removed from the Gladiator. Production simplification during the facelift is one likely factor. Low demand makes a manual easy to cut when streamlining manufacturing. It reduces complexity across assembly and inventory.
Another factor may have been the wave of recalls tied to manual transmissions in the early 2020s. Both Wrangler and Gladiator models were affected by clutch-related issues. In some cases, the defects carried safety risks. Owners on Reddit suggest updated components have since addressed those problems. That opens the door for a return with improved hardware.
Stellantis
This Is the Fight Worth Having
Look at the list of vehicles keeping manuals alive today, and a pattern appears. They are enthusiastic cars. They are vehicles built for engagement. That is exactly where the Gladiator sits. A manual pickup is not about sales volume but about character and differentiation.
Driving a manual is still a core skill. It teaches mechanical sympathy and driver awareness. Bringing it back to the Jeep Gladiator matters not just to fans but also to those who want to retain driving engagement in their daily commutes. A proper showdown with the Toyota Tacoma would give enthusiasts a real choice again. That alone makes this comeback worth watching.
Jeep
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