What We Just Learned About The Manual 2024 Toyota Tacoma

Oct 23, 2023

The 2024 Toyota Tacoma's manual transmission comes in three trim levels, each with their own offerings, while it also has a highly unusual shift boot.

The covers finally came off the 2024 Toyota Tacoma recently, revealing the new pickup truck after months of speculation. With that reveal came the much talked about Trailhunter and TRD Pro trims. But one other thing we got was more information on the new manual version of the Tacoma. Confirmation that stick shift is staying was a surprise, given how fast manuals are disappearing. But keeping it means gearheads can really enjoy the Tacoma. The reveal of the truck also told us what trim levels will receive the manual transmission.

On top of that, Toyota revealed some of the tricks to the transmission, and images showed what is quite the unusual looking stick shifter. Here's what we just learned about the new manual 2024 Tacoma pickup truck

The addition of the manual transmission to the 2024 Tacoma is an unusual choice. In the mid-size pickup segment, manuals effectively do not exist. The Ford Ranger only comes with a 10-speed automatic. Other rivals the Nissan Frontier and Chevrolet Colorado also only come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Only the Jeep Gladiator still has a manual, the six-speed manual paired with its 3.6-liter V6. So Toyota is effectively standing alone in the segment with its manual offering.

It's a unique option the Tacoma brings to the table over its main rivals. One thing Toyota can shout about and say they have over nearly everyone else. The lack of a manual in more trims of the Tacoma is a bummer, but we are grateful that Toyota even offered it at all. Like with their GR Supra and GR86, the company seems keen to keep the stick shift for as long as possible.

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The manual Tacoma's transmission is a six-speed, similar to that which we found in the previous generation. It features the second-gen version of Toyota's intelligent manual transmission (iMT2) automatic rev-matching and anti-stall technology. This tech allows us to start the Tacoma without having to press the clutch in first. It's a neat throwback to older Tacoma's, which had a similar clutch start cancel feature. The benefit of this is that, should you find yourself starting on a steep hill, pressing the clutch in could allow your truck to roll back. Potentially creating a slightly dangerous situation.

Allowing the engine to start in any gear eliminates this and provides greater control on those hills. For 2024, the Tacoma's manual transmission will come in both 4x4 and 4x2 configurations, covering everyone's off-roading needs. For those that want the manual, consumers will be utilizing three Tacoma variants. These have the midgrade i-Force 2.4-liter turbo inline-four engine. With the hybrid engine that we find in the Trailhunter and TRD Pro coming with the eight-speed automatic. The i-Force inline-four is also available without the manual transmission in the new generation of the Tacoma.

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In total, three Tacoma variants come with the manual transmission in 2024. These are the TRD Sport, double-cab form only. The TRD Off-Road, again in double cab only and the SR, double cab only. The TRD Sport and Off-Road both come exclusively in double cab form. While the SR offers the XtraCab, but that variant doesn't come with the six-speed manual.

With eight Tacoma trims in total, it's disappointing to see that just three trims are offered with a manual transmission. The lack of the option on range-topping TRD Pro and Trailhunter models is a bit of a letdown. However, with both of them getting the hybrid i-Force Max powertrain, they will only receive the 8-speed automatic transmission. The trim levels offered with manual though do have a variety of features on offer to make them solid purchases from the 2024 Tacoma range.

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Something that several have noticed is the weird looking shifter and shift boot combination inside the Tacoma. The shifter and boot look weirdly frumpy, perhaps too tall but there are reasons for this. As the new non-hybrid i-Force powertrain needed mating to the existing six-speed gearbox, some tweaking needed to take place to make everything fit. This included the addition of a long shifter. Thanks to the extra length and the longer throw, the shift boot now takes on the form we have seen it in all the images.

Speaking to The Drive, the Tacoma's Chief Engineer Sheldon Brown revealed that "The shift lever is a little bit longer throw because the 6MT made it to the new L4 turbo. "We had to change, of course, the bell housing and so the mechanical attachment to where that goes to the transmission is a little bit longer." So the reasons for the shifter looking like this make perfect sense, even if it looks slightly out of place

The SR version will be the cheapest Tacoma variant, but the double cab will cost slightly more than the XtraCab. Toyota offer the SR with the entry-level 2.4-liter turbo as standard, with i-Force and the manual an option. The SR comes with leaf spring rear suspension, 17-inch wheels, the 8.0-inch infotainment screen as well as twin tube shocks. What we don't get here though are any of the i-Force engines due to the entry level nature of the trim. Plus, the gauge cluster is much smaller than on the TRD Sport and Off-Road. The lack of premium features is expected over other trims due to the entry level nature of the SR.

Next up to receive the six-speed is the TRD Sport double cab. The shocks here are the TRD-tuned shocks, while wheel size increase to 18-inch black TRDs, and we have a larger 12.3-inch gauge cluster display. Aluminum pedals and hood scoop also help differentiate the TRD Sport from the SR. The Sport is the more basic within the TRD range, without features like the TRD Pro's Fox shocks, the light bars or the heated and cooled front seats. But, the i-Force Max engine is available as an option here, just without the manual transmission.

Finally, the TRD Off-Road double cab also receives the manual transmission. As the trim did in 2022. Much of the features here are the same as on the TRD Sport. But we now have Bilstein monotube remove reservoir shocks, a multi-terrain feature and electronically activated rear-locking differential. The 33-inch tires are a clear indicator of this trucks off-road capabilities. The i-Max engine is an option for the Off-Road but of course it will be automatic-only. And it boasts a few extra features over the TRD Sport such as the front stabilizer bar disconnect and composite skid plates. Given the off-road nature of the TRD Off-Road, it makes sense for it to have that sway bar to help create more vertical travel on one side of the truck when rock crawling. The 33-inch tires are what you will also receive on the Trailhunter and TRD Pro.

Source: Toyota

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