The 2010 Civic offered two main transmissions for most trims: a 5-speed manual and a 5-speed automatic. The Civic Si, however, used a 6-speed manual. There was no CVT option in the U.S. market for that year.
In practice, the transmission choice depended on the model and engine. Non‑Si Civics (LX, EX, EX‑L) were commonly equipped with either a 5-speed manual (5MT) or a 5-speed automatic (5AT), while the Civic Si was exclusively paired with a 6-speed manual (6MT).
Transmission options by trim
The following outlines the typical configurations found in the U.S. market for 2010 Civics.
- Non‑Si Civics (LX, EX, EX‑L) offered either a 5-speed manual (5MT) or a 5-speed automatic (5AT). Availability varied by engine and trim.
- Civic Si models used a 6-speed manual transmission (6MT) exclusively.
Conclusion: For most buyers, the 2010 Civic's transmissions were either 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic, with the Si variant requiring a 6-speed manual.
Transmission designations and how to spot them
Understanding common transmission codes can help you verify what’s installed on a given vehicle during a search or inspection. The following codes appear in documentation and on the vehicle itself.
- 5MT — 5-speed manual transmission used in most non-Si Civics.
- 5AT — 5-speed automatic transmission used in most non-Si Civics.
- 6MT — 6-speed manual transmission used in Civic Si models.
Note: Some markets or trims might have minor variations in gear ratios or labeling, but these codes cover the standard U.S.-market configurations.
Summary
The 2010 Honda Civic came with two main transmissions for most trims: a 5-speed manual (5MT) or 5-speed automatic (5AT). The performance-focused Civic Si used a 6-speed manual (6MT). There was no U.S. CVT option in this model year. When evaluating a used 2010 Civic, confirm the trim and the transmission code on the vehicle's documentation to know exactly what you’re getting.