Most modern Honda Civics use a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for automatic operation; the sportier Civic Si and Civic Type R come with a manual transmission. The exact setup, however, varies by year, trim, and market.
Current Civics and their automatic transmissions
The current lineup predominantly uses CVTs for automatic models, with the exception of the high-performance variants that are manual.
- Most trims (e.g., LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, Touring) use a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
- Civic Si uses a 6-speed manual transmission.
- Civic Type R uses a 6-speed manual transmission.
In today’s Civic lineup, CVT is the standard automatic choice for the majority of trims, while the performance-oriented Si and Type R are not automatic.
Historical perspective by generation
Across generations, the transmission approach has shifted from traditional automatics to CVTs, with manuals retained for sport-focused models.
- Early generations (1980s–mid-2000s) commonly offered 3- or 4-speed automatic transmissions alongside manual options.
- Mid-2000s to 2015: 5-speed automatic transmissions were widely available in many trims, again alongside manuals.
- 2016–present: Honda largely deployed CVTs for non-Si trims, while the Civic Si and Civic Type R continued to use manual transmissions.
Thus, while automatic transmission type has evolved toward CVT in most Civics, the brand preserves manual options in its performance-focused variants and certain model years.
Summary
Answer in brief: Today, a Honda Civic that is automatic almost always uses a CVT, except for the Civic Si and Civic Type R, which are manual transmissions. Historically, Civics offered traditional automatics (3-, 4-, then 5-speed) before the CVT became the norm in most trims from the mid-2010s onward.