Hot Take: Why The 2024 Tacoma Likely Won’t Have a Stick
Between the current manual take rate and the rumored engine options, a stick-shift version of the 2024 Tacoma sounds like a pipe dream.
There are over 200 new vehicles currently available in the United States. But if you’re looking for a car with a manual transmission, you currently have about 30 options. And with the death of vehicles like the Dodge Charger and Challenger on the horizon, that list will be even shorter next year. For enthusiasts, this will come as no surprise, as our beloved stick shift has been disappearing for years, and eventually, the global pivot toward electric vehicles will kill it entirely. So it’s time to face the real possibility that when Toyota finally unveils the long-awaited 2024 Tacoma, there will be no three-pedal option on the menu.
At this point, the Tacoma is one of two pickups available with a stick, the other being the Jeep Gladiator. Though Ma Mopar offered a RAM with a stick as recently as 2019, neither Ford nor Chevy has made a manual transmission truck for well over a decade. That said, even on many enthusiast vehicles which have an available manual, like the Subaru WRX, Ford Bronco, and Jeep Wrangler, the top-spec models are auto-only.
And while you can still opt for a TRD Pro with a row-your-own gearbox, if that changes, the vast majority of buyers won’t care. Because according to the most recent data, the take rate for manual transmission Tacomas is a whopping five percent.
Now, I learned on a stick, and when it comes to performance cars, I vastly prefer them. But while manual transmission fans might be vocal, when it comes down to it, we aren’t exactly legion. There’s also the powertrain question to consider.
Our friends at The Fast Lane Truck say a Toyota insider has tipped them that the new Tacoma will get two engine options. The base truck will supposedly get the Highlander’s turbocharged 2.4-liter inline-four, which in current spec, makes 265 horsepower and 309 lb-ft of torque. As with the Tundra, the top-spec Tacoma will allegedly pack a hybrid mill, specifically the Hybrid Max from the new Crown, which makes 340 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Numbers-wise, both would seem to be a good fit for the Tacoma. The catch, of course, is that neither of those vehicles is offered with a manual.
So here’s the big question: Is there a business case for Toyota to develop a new transmission, or devise a way to mate the old gearbox to the newer engines? Because as I see it, the answer is clearly no. Five percent of buyers just isn’t significant enough to warrant the investment, and while I could be wrong, I think it’s unlikely that a prospective Tacoma buyer will jump to a Gladiator over the gearbox. Maybe I’m wrong. If you think so, let me know.
Photos: Toyota