For drivers who still dream of the satisfying click of a gear slotting into place and the direct connection between man, machine, and terrain, 2025 feels like a lonely time. The automotive landscape has shifted so heavily toward automation, electrification, and convenience that manual transmissions—once the standard—now feel like a rebellion. This is especially true in the SUV market, where the overwhelming majority of new vehicles now come with automatic gearboxes, CVTs, and, increasingly, no transmission at all thanks to electric powertrains. But for those who want to feel every mile, every climb, and every challenge beneath their fingertips and toes, the choices are down to just two new SUVs in America: the Jeep Wrangler and the Ford Bronco.
What’s surprising isn’t that so few remain, but that any do at all. In a world where hands-free driving and semi-autonomous cruise control dominate marketing campaigns, choosing to drive stick is seen as something almost romantic—a gesture of passion, commitment, and adventure. It’s not the most efficient or the most practical choice, but for some, it’s the only one that makes sense. Just ask anyone who's ever downshifted into second while navigating a rocky trail, clutching with precision, tires biting into loose gravel under full driver control—there’s a thrill that can’t be replicated by a paddle shifter.
Take Peter, a 39-year-old software engineer in Denver. He commutes during the week in an EV, appreciates his Tesla’s tech, but every Saturday, he escapes into the Rockies in his manual Ford Bronco. He’s climbed up slickrock ledges in Moab, forded icy creeks in the San Juans, and found himself wedged between lodgepole pines on unmarked trails with no signal and no plan. “There’s something meditative about it,” he says. “When you’re working a manual on uneven terrain, you're forced to be present. You're not just driving—you’re solving problems in real time.”
It’s that kind of connection—both with the machine and with nature—that keeps the manual transmission relevant, at least for a niche group of passionate drivers. And it's why high-end SUVs like the Wrangler and Bronco have maintained this offering, despite everything pointing toward its demise. Both are not just vehicles; they're modern-day luxury tools for those who define luxury not by leather stitching or a massive touchscreen but by independence, resilience, and raw, tactile experience.
The Jeep Wrangler, especially in its two-door form, has long been a purist’s off-road icon. Its 2025 iteration still allows for a six-speed manual in specific trims, and those who choose it aren’t doing it for the fuel economy or the comfort. They're opting for heritage and capability. On rocky switchbacks in the Sierra Nevadas or while navigating muddy backcountry in Tennessee, nothing offers the sense of agency quite like coordinating your gear choice with the changing terrain beneath you. It’s not just nostalgia—it’s functional control, and for many, it’s part of the joy.
Over in Michigan, the Bronco has emerged not only as a direct competitor but, in some circles, as a new favorite. Ford brought the Bronco back with a vengeance, aiming directly at Jeep’s crowd but with updated tech and a retro-cool factor that resonated with both boomers and millennials. The manual version is available with the 2.3-liter turbo engine, and while it requires a specific configuration, those who seek it out tend to know exactly what they’re looking for. There’s a level of intention behind this choice—it’s not just about transportation, it’s about identity.
That sense of identity is perhaps the most fascinating part of this story. Driving a manual SUV in 2025 is not about necessity. It's not even about performance, strictly speaking—many automatics shift faster and more efficiently. But for a certain class of driver—often educated, affluent, and fiercely independent—the manual SUV has become a statement. It says, “I’m not in a rush. I’m not outsourcing my experience. I know what I’m doing, and I want to do it myself.” In some ways, it’s the ultimate expression of freedom—something that resonates deeply with the American spirit.
There’s also a broader social layer here. Among high-net-worth individuals who spend weekends at mountain cabins or remote vineyards, the utility SUV has returned as a form of understated luxury. Not in the traditional Range Rover sense—though those are still status symbols in Beverly Hills and Aspen—but in a more grounded way. A manual Bronco parked outside a high-end farm-to-table restaurant in Jackson Hole says something different: I value authenticity. I can handle myself. I don’t need valet service—I might just drive into the hills after dinner 🌲
The resale market is a testament to this appeal. Used manual Wranglers, especially older Rubicon trims, hold their value with surprising strength. Enthusiasts search forums and auction sites like Bring a Trailer for clean, low-mileage examples with three pedals, sometimes paying above retail for what is now a rarity. The demand isn’t massive, but it's committed—and that makes all the difference for automakers weighing whether to keep offering a manual in their SUV lineups.
What’s ironic is that manual transmissions were once associated with affordability. They were what you bought when you couldn’t afford the automatic upgrade. But today, that narrative has flipped. Choosing a manual requires intention, patience, and in some cases, paying more for less convenience. It’s the same psychological shift that’s fueled the rise in luxury camping gear, artisanal tools, and hand-stitched leather goods. What was once common is now curated. That exclusivity fuels desirability—and it just so happens to keep the last two manual SUVs alive and kicking.
Of course, there’s also a generational gap in play. Millennials and Gen Z, despite growing up with automatic everything, are rediscovering the joys of analog. Whether it’s collecting vinyl records, brewing pour-over coffee, or restoring vintage bikes, there’s a hunger for things that demand attention and reward skill. That same sentiment is turning young, urban professionals into first-time Bronco or Wrangler buyers—not because they need a 4x4, but because they want to learn something new, engage physically with their driving, and slow down a little 🚙
Automakers, for their part, are in a tricky spot. Keeping manual variants alive requires more parts, more training, and more compliance testing. But brands like Ford and Jeep also know that these models drive brand loyalty in ways that digital dashboards never could. The guy who orders a manual Wrangler is likely going to be a Jeep customer for life. The woman who configures a stick-shift Bronco is probably not cross-shopping with a CR-V.
So while the manual SUV might be a niche product in 2025, it’s also something else: a quiet form of luxury for a growing class of driver who values engagement over convenience, control over automation, and the road less traveled—taken one gear at a time.
And if you’re that kind of driver, you probably already know: this choice isn’t about resisting the future. It’s about preserving something timeless in a world that’s rushing ahead too quickly. A bit of mechanical poetry in an age of algorithms. And that, in any language, is worth keeping alive.