Subaru has long cultivated a reputation for reliability, off-road capability, and durability. Much of that identity was shaped through its involvement in rally racing, where the brand achieved notable dominance.
That motorsport heritage reinforced Subaru’s standing as a company closely aligned with driving enthusiasts.
Although market conditions and consumer preferences have evolved, Subaru has made visible efforts to preserve its core philosophy. Now, a recently circulated survey distributed to U.S. owners is generating renewed enthusiasm within that community.
Reddit frequently accelerates the spread of niche automotive news, and user Macgyver452 shared a screenshot of the survey in question.
The image, posted within the Subaru-focused subreddit, displays the Subaru logo alongside the prompt: “Would you consider buying a manual transmission SUV in the future?”
Respondents are presented with multiple answer options, ranging from Definitely Not to Definitely. The likely inclination of many Subaru loyalists is not difficult to infer.
Customer surveys are typically private outreach tools rather than public-facing announcements. In this instance, the questionnaire appears to have been emailed only to a limited selection of owners.
No details were provided regarding which model might receive a manual option. Based on Subaru’s current portfolio, however, nearly every SUV could theoretically qualify except the all-electric Solterra.
Subaru would not be alone in offering a manual SUV. The Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco both continue to provide manual transmission options in select trims, demonstrating that a niche but committed audience still exists for three-pedal utility vehicles.
Toyota has also retained a manual option on certain Tacoma configurations, suggesting that enthusiast-oriented trucks and SUVs can sustain limited-volume manual offerings when positioned correctly.
If one were to narrow the field, attention would likely center on models that already carry the Wilderness designation, such as the Crosstrek, Forester, or Outback.
The Wilderness trims target more adventure-oriented buyers, making them a logical platform for a manual transmission.
By contrast, vehicles like the Ascent, primarily positioned for highway comfort and family utility, would seem less aligned with a stick-shift revival.
Historically, Subaru has steadily reduced manual offerings. The 2023 Crosstrek marked the brand’s final model with a manual gearbox.
The Forester discontinued its manual after 2018, and the Outback transitioned to automatic-only in 2015.
At the time, manual transmissions appeared to be on a clear path toward obsolescence, as manufacturers across the industry phased out the third pedal.
Recently, however, a modest resurgence in enthusiast demand has emerged. Several automakers have reinstated manual options on performance-oriented models, and while the numbers remain small, they have shown incremental growth.
As of 2025, roughly 32 vehicles in the U.S. market still offered a manual transmission, though the overwhelming majority belonged to the performance segment.
The data remains straightforward: manual transmission sales in the United States typically account for only 1% to 2% of annual volume. Financial returns would not depend on scale.
Nonetheless, reintroducing a manual SUV could yield strategic branding advantages for Subaru, reinforcing its enthusiast credentials even if sales figures remain modest.
Online communities have long expressed disappointment over the disappearance of manual options in Subaru’s crossover lineup. Enthusiasts frequently cite improved driver engagement and greater control in off-road scenarios as reasons for preferring a manual gearbox. While such views represent a minority of total buyers, they remain highly vocal and brand-loyal.
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