The short answer: No. The 2010 Civic did not use a traditional CVT in its North American lineup. It offered a choice between a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic on most trims, while the Civic Si was exclusively equipped with a 6-speed manual. The Civic Hybrid uses Honda’s IMA hybrid system rather than a conventional CVT.
In more detail, the 2010 Civic belongs to the eighth generation and was sold with multiple trim levels that influenced transmission options. Honda did not deploy a standard continuously variable transmission across the Civic’s gasoline lineup at that time; instead, buyers could choose among traditional manual or automatic gearboxes for most models, with the high-performance Si sticking to a manual gear selection. The Hybrid variant, meanwhile, relies on a distinct hybrid drivetrain rather than a CVT.
Transmission options in the 2010 Civic
Here is a concise look at the main choices available across the 2010 Civic lineup in North America.
- Gasoline models (DX, LX, EX, EX-L): typically offered with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission, depending on trim and market.
- Civic Si: manual transmission only, using a 6-speed manual gearbox.
Note: The Civic Hybrid uses Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system, which operates with a hybrid drivetrain rather than a traditional CVT. It does not use a conventional CVT transmission.
The Civic Hybrid and the IMA system
The 2010 Civic Hybrid pairs a gasoline engine with an electric motor through Honda’s IMA setup. This arrangement integrates propulsion and power delivery without a standard continuously variable transmission, differentiating it from the non-hybrid models’ gearboxes.
Bottom line
In 2010, Honda did not offer a conventional CVT on the Civic in North America. Gasoline Civics used 5-speed manuals or 5-speed automatics, the Si was strictly 6-speed manual, and the Hybrid relied on the IMA hybrid system rather than a CVT.
Summary
The 2010 Honda Civic did not feature a traditional CVT transmission in its standard lineup. Its transmissions consisted of 5-speed manuals and 5-speed automatics for most trims, with the Si being manual-only at 6 speeds, and the Hybrid using Honda’s IMA hybrid drivetrain rather than a CVT. If CVT-era efficiency was a priority, buyers would need to consider other model years or Honda’s later designs.