Is Subaru Bringing Back The Manual SUV? Here’s What We Know

Subaru, like many other automakers, has removed the manual transmission option from its standard vehicles in recent years, with just two Subaru models in the company’s North American lineup currently offering stick shifts.

This shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering Subaru’s continued growth in the growing crossover SUV segment. For enthusiasts and long-time fans of this former niche genre, the lack of books is unfortunate. There was a time back in the ’90s and 2000s when all of Subaru’s AWD, power-boxing sedans, wagons, and SUVs were optional with three pedals. However, the brand recently raised eyebrows online with a proprietary survey it sent out to customers, asking if they would like a new, manual SUV.

A simple, confidential survey shouldn’t be used as a big rumor, let alone a confirmation that Subaru is working on a manual SUV, but this hasn’t stopped owners, enthusiasts, and the automotive media from speculating what this manual-equipped Subaru SUV could be. Could it be Subaru simply adding a manual transmission to one of its current SUV models? Or could the manual gearbox be part of an enthusiast-focused trim package, or perhaps an entirely new model?

All-wheel drive SUVs and crossovers are the bread and butter of the Subaru lineup, and right now, the only transmission you can get in any of those cars is an automatic. Looking for a new Subaru with a manual? You’ll need to ditch all those popular SUVs and opt for the ultra-niche BRZ or WRX. The super-fun turbocharged WRX with six-speed manual transmission is true to Subaru’s racing roots, and is now the only sedan sold by the company. The BRZ, as a two-door, rear-wheel-drive coupe, is about as far from AWD SUVs as they come.

Manual transmission SUVs of any kind are extremely rare across the industry today, and it’s unlikely that a manual gearbox will be a popular option among regular buyers looking for Foresters and Outbacks. There is still, however, a precedent for Subaru SUVs, and we could see the potential if the company could pack a stick-shift as part of a package for dedicated enthusiasts.

In one of the surveys Subaru sent out, it specifically asked about the Outback Wilderness manual, so that’s a possibility. The Outback, especially in its latest form, is more like a large family SUV and more like a weird, raised station wagon than before, so a manual may not be there.

A manual Forester is another possibility, and Subaru once offered a high-performance Forester STI complete with a manual gearbox and a turbocharged boxer. Like the Outback, however, the Forester has evolved into a large, traditional SUV. Then there’s the Crosstrek, which might be the perfect Subaru for a manual update.

The Crosstrek has been very successful, and is a solid entry into the small crossover SUV segment; below the standard family SUV and the Impreza hatchback with the Impreza hatchback’s added length and rugged styling, the compact Crosstrek would make sense with a manual option, and Subaru actually offered a manual Crosstrek as recently as the 2023 model year.

What if, however, Subaru did one better and brought the entire WRX powertrain? Imagine the fun of the compact and off-road Crosstrek Wilderness, but with the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine and six-speed manual from the WRX. As for engineering, building a manual, WRX-powered Crosstrek should be an easy task for Subaru, as the two vehicles are already built in the same global facility.

Some Subaru enthusiasts have even swapped on their own, without much work. For now, the Crosstrek WRX or any other manual Subaru SUV is still a dream, but this study at least shows that somewhere inside Subaru, the idea has crossed someone’s mind enough to ask customers about it.