The 2016 Honda CR-V does not use a CVT in the North American market. It was equipped with a traditional 5-speed automatic transmission when paired with the 2.4-liter engine, while a CVT was introduced later with the 1.5-liter turbo engine in 2017.
Transmission setup for the 2016 CR-V
Here is a concise breakdown of the 2016 model’s transmission pairing for the US-spec lineup.
- US-spec 2016 CR-V (LX/EX/EX-L) with a 2.4L I4 engine: 5-speed automatic transmission.
- No manual transmission was offered in the North American 2016 CR-V.
In summary, the 2016 model year did not use a CVT; if you want CVT, you would look at 2017 and later.
What changed with the 2017 refresh and beyond?
The 2017 redesign introduced Honda’s shift to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) paired with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, a setup that continued in subsequent model years.
- 2017–present (US-spec) CR-V: 1.5L turbocharged engine paired with Honda’s Earth Dreams CVT.
- CVT became the standard transmission for the CR-V with the turbo engine in the 2017 refresh and remained in use in later year models.
In short, the CVT is a feature of the newer CR-V lineup starting in 2017, not of the 2016 model.
Notes for buyers and owners
When evaluating a used 2016 CR-V, expect a 5-speed automatic and routine maintenance typical of a conventional automatic transmission. If you’re seeking a CVT, you’ll need a 2017 or newer model with the 1.5L turbo engine.
Summary
Bottom line: the 2016 Honda CR-V does not have a CVT. It uses a 5-speed automatic with the 2.4L engine. Honda shifted to a CVT starting in the 2017 refresh with the 1.5L turbo engine, which remains the standard arrangement in later model years.