In the United States, the 2010 Honda Civic offered two primary transmissions for most trims: a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. The high-performance Civic Si used a 6-speed manual. There was no factory CVT option in the U.S. market for this model year.
The following article explains which transmissions were available by trim and how to tell which one your car has, with context on the 2010 Civic lineup and what to expect when buying a used example.
Transmission options by model and trim
Before listing the options, note that availability could vary by market and option packages. The typical configurations in the U.S. market were as follows:
- Civic LX, EX, and EX-L (non-Si): 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmissions were available, depending on trim and option package.
- Civic Si: 6-speed manual transmission only, as a performance-oriented model.
In practice, most non-Si Civics could be equipped with either a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic, while the Si came exclusively with a 6-speed manual. No CVT was offered on the U.S. Civic lineup in 2010.
How to identify your transmission
To confirm which transmission your 2010 Civic has, check the gear selector and the owner's manual. The presence of a clutch pedal and a 6-speed stick indicates the Si’s manual, while a 5-speed selector with PRNDL (and no clutch) typically indicates a 5-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic in other trims. Your VIN or window sticker can also reveal the specific transmission type.
Maintenance considerations
Regular transmission maintenance depends on the type. Automatic transmissions in the 2010 Civic typically required periodic fluid changes (per the owner's manual), while manual transmissions mainly required clutch inspection and fluid changes only if specified. If buying used, listen for slipping, rough shifting, or unusual noises, which can indicate transmission wear.
Summary
The 2010 Honda Civic offered two main transmissions for most trims: a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic, with the Si lineup using a 6-speed manual only. There was no factory CVT option in the U.S. that year. Transmission availability varied by trim, but this is the general pattern for the 2010 Civic lineup.