In brief, a 1998 Honda Civic could be equipped with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission, depending on trim and market. The Civic Si was manual-only.
Expanding on that, the 1998 model year offered two main transmission paths within the sixth-generation Civic lineup: a traditional manual option favored by enthusiasts and an automatic option for everyday driving. There was no CVT available in 1998 Civics.
Manual transmission options
Here are the manual choices that were available across the 1998 lineup. The Civic Si, in particular, used a 5-speed manual exclusively.
- 5-speed manual transmission (D-series family): standard on most trims; Civic Si used this 5-speed manual exclusively.
Overall, the 5-speed manual was the primary manual option across most trims of the 1998 Civic, with the Si model specifically configured for manual shifting.
Civic Si: manual-only variant
The 1998 Civic Si did not offer an automatic transmission; it was equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission as its sole option.
Automatic transmission options
The automatic option for the 1998 Civic was a conventional 4-speed unit with overdrive, available on most trims except the Si.
- 4-speed automatic with overdrive: offered on DX, LX, and EX; not available on the Civic Si. No CVT option existed in 1998.
For buyers seeking an automatic transmission in 1998, the 4-speed automatic was the standard choice on non-Si models; the Si remained manual-only.
No CVT in 1998 Civic
Honda did not offer a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the Civic in 1998; the automatic option was limited to a 4-speed unit with overdrive.
Regional variations
In North America, Canada, and most major markets, the transmission pairing followed the pattern above. Some markets offered slightly different trim lineups, but the basic options remained a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic, with the Si model leaning entirely manual.
Summary
The 1998 Honda Civic offered two main transmission paths: a 5-speed manual across most trims, including the Si (manual-only), and a 4-speed automatic with overdrive on other trims. No CVT was available that model year.