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Ford Bronco Rival Toyota 4Runner Not Getting Manual Option

The all-new 2025 Toyota 4Runner debuted back in April 2024 as a much-needed clean-sheet redesign of that particular off-road-focused SUV, given how ancient its predecessor is. The Ford Bronco rival is just landing in the hands of reviewers, who have churned out some interesting takes on the new model as a result. However, there is one particular feature that the Bronco offers that the 2025 Toyota 4Runner does not – a manual transmission – and apparently, there’s a very good reason for that omission.

A photo showing the interior of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner.

Even though the redesigned-for-2024 Toyota Tacoma – which shares much in common with the Toyota 4Runner – can be had with a manual gearbox, that isn’t the case with the SUV variant. This isn’t terribly surprising given the fact that the 4Runner ditched its manual transmission following the 2000 model year, but it’s notable, regardless. According to Car & Driver, a Toyota spokesperson stated that the reason the 4Runner continues to be offered exclusively without a manual is quite simple, too – “there hasn’t been any strong customer request for it.” The same spokesperson did add that “since the architecture is similar to Tacoma, on gas models, an MT could be possible,” however.

Despite this, it’s unlikely that the Toyota 4Runner will get a manual gearbox any time soon, if ever again, and the Tacoma is the last pickup on sale in the U.S. with a three pedal option, too. Folks just don’t gravitate toward manuals like they used to, even in more performance-oriented vehicles like the Ford Mustang EcoBoost, which dropped that type of gearbox as part of its 2024 redesign due to low demand – though the V8-powered GT and Dark Horse can still be had with three pedals.

Regardless, there’s still enough demand for a manual transmission from Bronco fans that its seven-speed gearbox continues to stick around. Early in the sixth-generation model’s lifespan, around 15 percent of customers were opting for that type of transmission, and in 2022, Ford gave shoppers the option of pairing the manual with the Sasquatch Package amid demand for that combination, too.

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.

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