In the United States, the Honda CR-V last offered a manual transmission with the 2006 model year; since 2007, CR-Vs in the U.S. have been automatic-only, with later models using continuously variable transmissions (CVTs). Globally, some markets kept the manual option a bit longer, but the shift to automatic gearboxes has become standard in most regions by the mid-2010s.
United States timeline: manual availability by generation
The following timeline outlines how the CR-V’s transmission options evolved in the U.S. market, generation by generation.
- 1997–2001 (Gen 1): Manual 5-speed transmission available in the U.S.
- 2002–2006 (Gen 2): Manual 5-speed transmission available in the U.S.
- 2007–2011 (Gen 3): Manual transmission not offered in the U.S.; automatic was the only option.
- 2012–2024 (Gen 4+): Automatic transmission only (initially conventional auto, later CVT in many trims).
In short, the U.S. manual CR-V ended with the 2006 model year, and subsequent generations have been auto-only.
Global market variations
Across other regions, manual CR-V availability varied by generation and market, with some markets offering manual options in earlier generations. Over time, however, most regions transitioned to automatic gearboxes, and by the mid-2010s the CR-V was predominantly auto-only worldwide. Today, new CR-Vs are typically equipped with an automatic transmission or CVT in the major markets.
- Europe, parts of Asia, and other regions historically provided manuals for earlier CR-Vs, especially in older generations and certain engine variants.
- From the late 2000s through the 2010s, many markets shifted away from manuals toward automatic transmissions, including CVTs.
- In the 2010s and into the 2020s, the trend across major markets has been to offer CR-Vs with automatic transmissions exclusively.
For buyers seeking a manual CR-V today, options are limited to older model years from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, and availability can depend on the country and the specific dealer inventory.
Summary
The era of the manual Honda CR-V largely ended in the United States after the 2006 model year, with all subsequent U.S. CR-Vs offered as automatics (and later CVTs). Globally, manuals persisted in some markets for a while longer, but the worldwide shift toward automatic transmissions was well underway by the mid-2010s. Today’s new CR-Vs are auto-only in the major markets, while older manual-cr-v examples remain today mainly as used-spec vehicles.