The last year for a manual Honda Accord in the United States was 2017. Since then, Honda’s flagship sedan has been offered only with automatic transmissions in the U.S. market.
To understand why and how this changed, it helps to trace the Accord’s transmission history across generations and regions. While a manual option existed in earlier years for some trims, the current generation has been auto-only in most markets since 2018. This article explores when the manual appeared, when it disappeared, and what that means for buyers today.
Historical context: generations and manual availability
In the 9th generation, produced for model years 2013 through 2017, Honda offered a six-speed manual transmission on certain Accord configurations. This made the Accord one of the relatively few mainstream sedans still available with a manual gearshift during that period. With the 10th generation debuting in 2018, Honda dropped the manual option in the United States, pairing the Accord with either a continuously variable transmission (CVT) on the 1.5-liter engine or a 10-speed automatic on the 2.0-liter turbo engine, depending on trim and region.
Global and market notes
Market availability varied by region, but the broader trend mirrored the U.S. shift: the manual transmission was phased out in new Honda Accord models in most major markets after 2017. While some markets historically tested manuals in earlier years, the global lineup has largely moved toward automatics in the Accord lineup, aligning with industry trends toward efficiency and advanced automatic transmissions.
What this means for buyers and enthusiasts
Today there is no factory-new manual Honda Accord in the United States. If a manual is essential, buyers must look to older, used models from the 2013–2017 9th-generation run. For enthusiasts, this means weighing the trade-offs of purchasing a higher-mileage manual car, including clutch wear and transmission maintenance, versus seeking the driving engagement offered by a manual in other Honda models such as the Civic Si or Type R.
Notable implications for the Honda lineup
Although the Accord itself is no longer offered with a manual, Honda continues to provide manual options in other models—most notably the Civic lineup (e.g., Civic Si and Type R)—which keeps the brand appealing to drivers who value a hands-on driving experience.
Summary
The last year for a manual Honda Accord in the United States was 2017, marking the end of the manual option for the model in its 9th generation. Since 2018, the Accord has been available only with automatic transmissions in the U.S., reflecting a broader industry shift away from manuals in mainstream sedans. For those seeking a manual Accord today, the only viable path is a used 2013–2017 model from the prior generation.