Jeep Is Readying Its Wrangler-Based Tacoma Rival for a Six-Speed Rematch

When the Jeep Gladiator first rolled onto the scene in 2019, it made for a welcome addition to the midsize truck segment, not only because of its classic styling but also thanks to the rare availability of a six-speed manual transmission.

Unfortunately, amidst a continued decline in row-your-own gearboxes, the option was eventually pulled from the market in 2025. The Gladiator may have benefited from a facelift last year, though it came at the expense of its stick shift.

Stellantis

Now, it turns out that might be set to change sooner rather than later. According to some chatter at the Easter Jeep Safari, the brand could be readying its pickup truck for a six-speed return, one that would pit it in a standoff against the Toyota Tacoma.

Jeep is bringing back a manual

Word comes from Aamir Ahmed, Jeep’s global head of off-road and EVs. At this year’s 60th Annual Easter Jeep Safari, he caught up with Carbuzz to discuss the state of the brand’s lineup.

Stellantis

Ahmed was careful not to name-drop the Gladiator, but his statements were nevertheless revealing. He confirmed that, “We have another car that looks like a Wrangler that’s getting its manual back. Stay tuned.”

As such, even though Jeep continues to patent tech for the Recon, and many automakers are exploring manuals for EVs, it’s pretty obvious the vehicle in question is the pickup truck. The ‘getting back’ in the statement in combination with the Wrangler-like looks make for the key qualifiers here.

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In any event, it’s a natural move for the brand in its efforts to cater to the enthusiast crowd, regardless of the manual’s place in today’s market. At the Easter Jeep Safari, Aamir Ahmed also spoke to the various benefits of the transmission option for Jeep applications, like superior crawling gearing.

The Gladiator gets a rematch

Jeep didn’t cite any specific reasons for the discontinuation of the manual when it revealed the facelifted Gladiator. However, it’s worth noting that the option wasn’t without its compromises.

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For one, models equipped with the automatic have previously offered far superior hauling capabilities. Rated for a max of 7,700 pounds (when equipped with the tow package) versus some 4,500 pounds in the case of a six-speed, it’s an improvement in utility that speaks for itself.

Moreover, because of the Pentastar V6’s power delivery, Car and Driver testers found that fuel economy can suffer considerably in the absence of the additional ratios of the eight-speed ‘box. While a manual makes for added engagement, the higher torque delivery requires later (and less efficient) shifts.

Even still, if you’ve been keeping up with the truck market in the United States, it’s good news that Jeep seems to be priming the pickup for a manual return. In the interim, the Toyota Tacoma is the only midsize in the United States to cater to such an option (though it’s also a niche choice, with take rates being in the single digits).

Jeep

If the brand does actually bring the six-speed option back to its Gladiator, it’ll be a true showdown. There’s no timeline just yet, but hopefully this also means Jeep will be giving the truck that long-awaited 392; it could certainly use the added firepower against America’s incumbent favorite.

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