Six-Speed Manual: Which 2026 Toyota Tacoma Models Still Offer One?

If you’re shopping the 2026 Tacoma in Ontario because you want to actually row your own gears, the lineup can be confusing. Toyota builds 14 configurations for 2026, but only two of them keep the six-speed manual. This article covers those two, not the full lineup.

Both manual trims share the same driveline, so the real decision comes down to body focus: one leans toward on-road sport styling, the other toward off-road hardware. Here’s how they differ.

Manual Tacoma Trims Side by Side

Both trims share the same 2.4 L turbocharged four-cylinder, 270 hp, 310 lb-ft, six-speed manual, part-time four-wheel-drive combination, and both ride on a 5-ft bed. That pairing is exclusive to these two grades; every other 2026 Tacoma, gas or i-FORCE MAX hybrid, comes only with an eight-speed automatic.

The Gasoline Manual, Explained

The 2.4 L turbo four is the same base engine used across the gas-powered Tacoma lineup, but pairing it with the six-speed manual and clutch-start cancel is what sets these two trims apart. It produces 270 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, slightly less than the 278 hp and 317 lb-ft the automatic version delivers in other gas trims.

That’s a different direction than the i-FORCE MAX hybrid grades further up the lineup, which combine the same 2.4 L turbo engine with an electric motor for 326 system horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. The hybrid models are automatic-only, so the manual stays a gasoline-only choice.

TRD Sport+: Styling and Feel First

The TRD Sport+ 5-ft Bed is built around road manners and character rather than trail hardware. It carries a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch TRD Sport alloy wheels, a body-coloured overfender, and a power slide/tilt moonroof. Inside, it gets 8-way power adjustable front seats with 4-way lumbar support and a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel.

A 10-speaker JBL audio system with a portable Bluetooth speaker and a wireless smartphone charger round out the cabin. This is the manual trim for a driver who wants the shift feel of a sports sedan in a mid-size truck body, without chasing rock crawling capability.

TRD Off Road: Hardware First

The TRD Off Road 5-ft Bed swaps sport styling for trail-ready equipment. It comes standard with a locking rear differential, Bilstein shock absorbers, a full-size spare tire, and 17-inch off-road alloy wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich Trail-Terrain tires. Underbody protection covers the engine, fuel tank, and transfer case, and front recovery hooks are standard.

The cabin is more work-truck than showpiece: 6-way manually adjustable seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel rather than the Sport+’s power seats and heated wheel. Fuel economy is rated at 13.2 L/100 km city, 10.3 L/100 km highway, and 11.9 L/100 km combined, and payload comes in at 690 kg (1,521 lb (690 kg)). Both figures beat the automatic SR5’s 640 kg (1,411 lb (640 kg)) payload rating, since the manual trim’s stiffer setup carries more.

Cargo, Cab, and Everyday Usefulness

Both manual trims share the same double-cab layout and 5-ft bed, with identical bed width and depth. That means the choice between them isn’t about cargo room; it’s about what rides in that bed and how the truck gets there. The Sport+’s moonroof and JBL audio system suit weekend road trips, while the Off Road’s underbody protection and locking differential suit gravel roads and trailhead access.

For Ontario drivers who split time between commuting and hauling gear to a cottage or job site, the Off Road’s standard full-size spare and recovery hooks matter more once pavement ends. For drivers who mostly stay on paved roads and want the manual purely for the driving experience, the Sport+’s comfort features close that gap.

Which Manual Tacoma Fits Your Drive?

If you want a connected, engaging drive on pavement with comfort features layered in, the TRD Sport+ 5-ft Bed is the manual Tacoma built for that. If your weekends or worksite runs involve gravel, mud, or uneven ground, the TRD Off Road 5-ft Bed’s locking differential, Bilstein shocks, and off-road tires answer that need directly.

Either way, manual availability and cab/bed configuration can shift by allocation, so confirm which manual units are on the way before finalizing a build.

Test Drive a Manual Tacoma at Whitby Toyota

The 2026 Tacoma keeps its six-speed manual alive in exactly two configurations, the TRD Sport+ and TRD Off Road, both built on the 5-ft bed with the 270 hp gas engine. Everything else in the 14-model lineup, including every i-FORCE MAX hybrid, ships with an automatic.

Visit Whitby Toyota in Whitby to compare the TRD Sport+ and TRD Off Road manual Tacomas in person, confirm current trim and transmission availability, and find the configuration that matches how you actually use a truck.