diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/install.cjs b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/install.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0f11b20f65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/install.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const { spawnSync } = require('node:child_process');
+
+const env = { ...process.env };
+function run(args, envs = env) {
+  const result = spawnSync('vp', args, { env: envs, encoding: 'utf8' });
+  if (result.error) throw result.error;
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stdout + result.stderr);
+  return result.stdout;
+}
+
+// Provision a real npm, then copy it outside the managed installation so the
+// system-first resolver sees an independent executable on PATH.
+run(['env', 'install', 'npm@10.9.3']);
+const current = JSON.parse(run(['env', 'current', 'npm', '--json'], { ...env, VP_NPM_VERSION: '10.9.3' })).package_manager;
+const npmRoot = path.dirname(path.dirname(fs.realpathSync(current.bin_paths.npm)));
+fs.cpSync(npmRoot, 'system-npm', { recursive: true });
+const binDir = path.resolve('system-bin');
+fs.mkdirSync(binDir);
+fs.writeFileSync(path.join(binDir, 'npm'), `#!${process.execPath}\nrequire(${JSON.stringify(path.resolve('system-npm/bin/npm-cli.js'))});\n`, { mode: 0o755 });
+env.PATH = [path.join(env.VP_HOME, 'bin'), binDir, env.PATH].join(path.delimiter);
+run(['env', 'off', 'npm']);
+delete env.VP_SKIP_INSTALL;
+const output = run(['create', 'vite:application', '--directory', 'app', '--package-manager', 'npm',
+  '--no-interactive', '--no-agent', '--no-editor', '--no-hooks', '--no-git']);
+assert.doesNotMatch(output, /EBADDEVENGINES/);
+const pin = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('app/package.json', 'utf8')).devEngines.packageManager;
+assert.equal(pin.version, '10.9.3');
+assert.ok(fs.statSync('app/node_modules/vite-plus/package.json').isFile());
+assert.ok(fs.statSync('app/package-lock.json').isFile());
+console.log('System npm version pinned and dependencies installed successfully');
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots.toml b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ac78a2ed77
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+[[case]]
+name = "create_system_npm_install"
+vp = "global"
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+local-registry = true
+steps = [{ argv = ["node", "install.cjs"], timeout = 180000 }]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_system_npm"
+vp = ["local", "global"]
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [["node", "verify.cjs", "npm", "system"]]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_system_pnpm"
+vp = ["local", "global"]
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [["node", "verify.cjs", "pnpm", "system"]]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_system_yarn"
+vp = ["local", "global"]
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [["node", "verify.cjs", "yarn", "system"]]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_system_bun"
+vp = ["local", "global"]
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [["node", "verify.cjs", "bun", "system"]]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_managed_npm"
+vp = "global"
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [["node", "verify.cjs", "npm", "managed"]]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_missing_system_pnpm"
+vp = "global"
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [["node", "verify.cjs", "pnpm", "missing"]]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_system_yarn_classic_external"
+vp = ["local", "global"]
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [{ argv = ["node", "verify.cjs", "yarn", "system", "external"], timeout = 180000 }]
+
+[[case]]
+name = "create_system_yarn_classic"
+vp = ["local", "global"]
+skip-platforms = ["windows"]
+steps = [["node", "verify.cjs", "yarn", "system", "classic"]]
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_managed_npm.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_managed_npm.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0298a3a317
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_managed_npm.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_managed_npm
+
+## `node verify.cjs npm managed`
+
+```
+npm: managed version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_missing_system_pnpm.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_missing_system_pnpm.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..76be056b3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_missing_system_pnpm.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_missing_system_pnpm
+
+## `node verify.cjs pnpm missing`
+
+```
+pnpm: managed version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_bun.global.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_bun.global.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..65af351835
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_bun.global.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_bun
+
+## `node verify.cjs bun system`
+
+```
+bun: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_bun.local.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_bun.local.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..65af351835
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_bun.local.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_bun
+
+## `node verify.cjs bun system`
+
+```
+bun: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm.global.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm.global.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dde5189245
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm.global.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_npm
+
+## `node verify.cjs npm system`
+
+```
+npm: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm.local.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm.local.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..dde5189245
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm.local.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_npm
+
+## `node verify.cjs npm system`
+
+```
+npm: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm_install.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm_install.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..34adc81545
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_npm_install.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_npm_install
+
+## `node install.cjs`
+
+```
+System npm version pinned and dependencies installed successfully
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_pnpm.global.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_pnpm.global.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4327b3ec7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_pnpm.global.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_pnpm
+
+## `node verify.cjs pnpm system`
+
+```
+pnpm: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_pnpm.local.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_pnpm.local.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4327b3ec7a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_pnpm.local.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_pnpm
+
+## `node verify.cjs pnpm system`
+
+```
+pnpm: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn.global.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn.global.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1b52989776
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn.global.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_yarn
+
+## `node verify.cjs yarn system`
+
+```
+yarn: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn.local.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn.local.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1b52989776
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn.local.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_yarn
+
+## `node verify.cjs yarn system`
+
+```
+yarn: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic.global.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic.global.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e58763d741
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic.global.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_yarn_classic
+
+## `node verify.cjs yarn system classic`
+
+```
+yarn: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic.local.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic.local.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e58763d741
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic.local.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_yarn_classic
+
+## `node verify.cjs yarn system classic`
+
+```
+yarn: system version pinned
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic_external.global.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic_external.global.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5571989d30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic_external.global.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_yarn_classic_external
+
+## `node verify.cjs yarn system external`
+
+```
+yarn: external template generated with npx
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic_external.local.md b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic_external.local.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5571989d30
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/snapshots/create_system_yarn_classic_external.local.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+# create_system_yarn_classic_external
+
+## `node verify.cjs yarn system external`
+
+```
+yarn: external template generated with npx
+```
diff --git a/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/verify.cjs b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/verify.cjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8698d75292
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/vp_cli_snapshots/tests/cli_snapshots/fixtures/create_system_package_manager/verify.cjs
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+const assert = require('node:assert/strict');
+const fs = require('node:fs');
+const path = require('node:path');
+const { spawnSync } = require('node:child_process');
+
+const [manager, mode, template] = process.argv.slice(2);
+const systemVersion = manager === 'yarn' && (template === 'external' || template === 'classic') ? '1.22.22' : { npm: '10.9.3', pnpm: '10.18.0', yarn: '4.9.2', bun: '1.2.3' }[manager];
+const managedVersion = manager === 'npm' ? '11.6.0' : '10.18.0';
+const env = { ...process.env };
+if (template === 'external' && process.platform !== 'win32') {
+  // The runner exposes sh through a symlink. Use its canonical system path so
+  // fspy can substitute an injectable shell on macOS when npm runs the template.
+  env.npm_config_script_shell = '/bin/sh';
+}
+const entryVp = env.PATH.split(path.delimiter).map(dir => path.join(dir, 'vp')).find(file => fs.existsSync(file));
+const globalVp = path.join(env.VP_HOME, 'bin', 'vp');
+function run(args, envs = env) {
+  const result = spawnSync(args[0] === 'env' ? globalVp : entryVp, args, { env: envs, encoding: 'utf8' });
+  if (result.error) throw result.error;
+  assert.equal(result.status, 0, result.stdout + result.stderr);
+  return result.stdout;
+}
+
+if (mode !== 'missing') {
+  // Expose a real tool through a separate system PATH entry. Templates can
+  // invoke the tool as well as query its version, so a version-only stub is insufficient.
+  run(['env', 'install', `${manager}@${systemVersion}`]);
+  const selection = JSON.parse(run(['env', 'current', manager, '--json'], {
+    ...env, [`VP_${manager.toUpperCase()}_VERSION`]: systemVersion,
+  })).package_manager;
+  const binDir = path.resolve('system-bin');
+  fs.mkdirSync(binDir);
+  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(binDir, manager), `#!${process.execPath}\nconst result = require('node:child_process').spawnSync(${JSON.stringify(selection.bin_paths[manager])}, process.argv.slice(2), { stdio: 'inherit' });\nif (result.error) throw result.error;\nprocess.exit(result.status ?? 1);\n`, { mode: 0o755 });
+  env.PATH = [path.join(env.VP_HOME, 'bin'), binDir, env.PATH].join(path.delimiter);
+}
+if (mode !== 'system') {
+  fs.writeFileSync('package.json', JSON.stringify({ private: true, packageManager: `${manager}@${managedVersion}` }));
+}
+run(['env', mode === 'managed' ? 'on' : 'off', manager]);
+const current = JSON.parse(run(['env', 'current', manager, '--json'])).package_manager;
+if (mode === 'system') assert.equal(current.source, 'system PATH');
+else assert.notEqual(current.source, 'system PATH');
+const templateArgs = template === 'external' ? ['vite'] : ['vite:application', '--directory', 'app'];
+const output = run(['create', ...templateArgs, '--package-manager', manager,
+  '--no-interactive', '--no-agent', '--no-editor', '--no-hooks', '--no-git',
+  ...(template === 'external' ? ['--', 'app', '--template', 'vanilla'] : [])]);
+if (template === 'external') {
+  assert.match(output, /Running: npx --yes create-vite/);
+  const pkg = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('app/package.json', 'utf8'));
+  assert.equal(pkg.name, 'app');
+  assert.ok(fs.existsSync('app/index.html'));
+  assert.equal(current.version, systemVersion);
+  console.log(`${manager}: external template generated with npx`);
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+const pin = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('app/package.json', 'utf8')).devEngines.packageManager;
+assert.equal(pin.name, manager);
+assert.equal(pin.version, mode === 'system' ? systemVersion : managedVersion);
+console.log(`${manager}: ${mode === 'system' ? 'system version pinned' : 'managed version pinned'}`);
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/create/__tests__/command.spec.ts b/packages/cli/src/create/__tests__/command.spec.ts
index 89c9fdb05e..611d34b0bd 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/create/__tests__/command.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/create/__tests__/command.spec.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import path from 'node:path';
 
 import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
 
+import { PackageManager, type WorkspaceInfo } from '../../types/index.ts';
+
 const { mockRunCommand } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
   mockRunCommand: vi.fn(),
 }));
@@ -12,7 +14,7 @@ vi.mock('../../../binding/index.js', () => ({
   runCommand: mockRunCommand,
 }));
 
-const { runCommandAndDetectProjectDir } = await import('../command.js');
+const { formatDlxCommand, runCommandAndDetectProjectDir } = await import('../command.js');
 
 const tempDirs: string[] = [];
 
@@ -98,3 +100,30 @@ describe('runCommandAndDetectProjectDir', () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe('formatDlxCommand', () => {
+  it.each([
+    ['1.22.22', 'npx', ['--yes']],
+    ['2.4.3', 'yarn', ['dlx']],
+    ['4.9.2', 'yarn', ['dlx']],
+  ])('runs templates with Yarn %s', (version, command, runnerArgs) => {
+    const workspace: WorkspaceInfo = {
+      rootDir: '/project',
+      isMonorepo: false,
+      monorepoScope: '',
+      workspacePatterns: [],
+      parentDirs: [],
+      packageManager: PackageManager.yarn,
+      // Ambient metadata can differ from the selected system version.
+      packageManagerVersion: '4.9.2',
+      downloadPackageManager: { name: 'yarn', version, binPrefix: '/system/bin' },
+      packages: [],
+    };
+    expect(
+      formatDlxCommand('@example/create-app@1.0.0', ['app', '--template', 'vanilla'], workspace),
+    ).toEqual({
+      command,
+      args: [...runnerArgs, '@example/create-app@1.0.0', 'app', '--template', 'vanilla'],
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/create/__tests__/package-manager.spec.ts b/packages/cli/src/create/__tests__/package-manager.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5d249aceb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/create/__tests__/package-manager.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import path from 'node:path';
+
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import { PackageManager } from '../../types/index.ts';
+import { resolveCreatePackageManager } from '../package-manager.ts';
+
+const { run, download } = vi.hoisted(() => ({ run: vi.fn(), download: vi.fn() }));
+
+vi.mock('../../../binding/index.js', () => ({ getVpDirs: () => ({ bin: '/vp/bin' }) }));
+vi.mock('../../utils/command.ts', () => ({ runCommandSilently: run }));
+vi.mock('../../utils/prompts.ts', () => ({ downloadPackageManager: download }));
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  vi.resetAllMocks();
+  vi.unstubAllEnvs();
+});
+
+describe('resolveCreatePackageManager', () => {
+  it('preserves local-only creation when no global CLI is installed', async () => {
+    vi.stubEnv('VP_CLI_BIN', undefined);
+    vi.spyOn(fs, 'existsSync').mockReturnValue(false);
+    const manager = { name: 'npm', version: '11.6.0', binPrefix: '/npm/bin' };
+    download.mockResolvedValue(manager);
+
+    expect(await resolveCreatePackageManager(PackageManager.npm, '11.6.0')).toBe(manager);
+    expect(run).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(download).toHaveBeenCalledWith(PackageManager.npm, '11.6.0', undefined, false);
+  });
+
+  it('does not replace an unreadable system version with a managed version', async () => {
+    vi.stubEnv('VP_CLI_BIN', undefined);
+    vi.spyOn(fs, 'existsSync').mockReturnValue(true);
+    run.mockResolvedValue({
+      exitCode: 0,
+      stdout: Buffer.from(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          package_manager: {
+            name: 'npm',
+            version: 'unknown',
+            source: 'system PATH',
+            bin_paths: { npm: '/system/bin/npm' },
+          },
+        }),
+      ),
+      stderr: Buffer.alloc(0),
+    });
+
+    await expect(resolveCreatePackageManager(PackageManager.npm, 'latest')).rejects.toThrow(
+      'Could not determine the system npm version and executable',
+    );
+    expect(download).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(run).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({
+        command: path.join('/vp/bin', process.platform === 'win32' ? 'vp.exe' : 'vp'),
+      }),
+    );
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/create/bin.ts b/packages/cli/src/create/bin.ts
index 01bad1d372..7dddaf6b1a 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/create/bin.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/create/bin.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ import {
   cancelAndExit,
   type CommandRunSummary,
   defaultInteractive,
-  downloadPackageManager,
   promptGitHooks,
   resolveGitInit,
   runViteFmt,
@@ -69,6 +68,7 @@ import {
   type OrgResolution,
   resolveOrgManifestForCreate,
 } from './org-resolve.ts';
+import { resolveCreatePackageManager } from './package-manager.ts';
 import {
   checkProjectDirExists,
   promptPackageNameAndTargetDir,
@@ -683,8 +683,7 @@ Use \`vp create --list\` to list all available templates, or run \`vp create --h
       : 'latest';
   const shouldSilencePackageManagerInstallLog =
     compactOutput || (isMonorepo && workspaceInfoOptional.packageManager !== undefined);
-  // ensure the package manager is installed by vite-plus
-  const downloadResult = await downloadPackageManager(
+  const downloadResult = await resolveCreatePackageManager(
     packageManager,
     packageManagerVersion,
     options.interactive,
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/create/command.ts b/packages/cli/src/create/command.ts
index 778d84f2af..1e7f1fb0ed 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/create/command.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/create/command.ts
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ export function getPackageRunner(workspaceInfo: WorkspaceInfo) {
         args: ['dlx'],
       };
     case 'yarn':
+      // Match `vp dlx`: Yarn Classic has no dlx command.
+      if (workspaceInfo.downloadPackageManager.version.startsWith('1.')) {
+        return { command: 'npx', args: ['--yes'] };
+      }
       return {
         command: 'yarn',
         args: ['dlx'],
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/create/package-manager.ts b/packages/cli/src/create/package-manager.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b045d2faab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/cli/src/create/package-manager.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import fs from 'node:fs';
+import path from 'node:path';
+
+import semver from 'semver';
+
+import { getVpDirs } from '../../binding/index.js';
+import type { PackageManager, WorkspaceInfo } from '../types/index.ts';
+import { runCommandSilently } from '../utils/command.ts';
+import { downloadPackageManager } from '../utils/prompts.ts';
+
+interface CurrentPackageManager {
+  name: string;
+  version: string;
+  source: string;
+  bin_paths: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+export async function resolveCreatePackageManager(
+  packageManager: PackageManager,
+  version: string,
+  interactive?: boolean,
+  silent = false,
+): Promise<WorkspaceInfo['downloadPackageManager']> {
+  const globalVp =
+    process.env.VP_CLI_BIN ??
+    path.join(getVpDirs().bin, process.platform === 'win32' ? 'vp.exe' : 'vp');
+  // The local package can be used without a global installation. In that case
+  // there is no global environment selection to honor.
+  if (!process.env.VP_CLI_BIN && !fs.existsSync(globalVp)) {
+    return downloadPackageManager(packageManager, version, interactive, silent);
+  }
+  // Use the same mode and system-tool lookup as the subsequent `vp install`.
+  // A system-first mode can still fall back to managed when no system tool exists.
+  const result = await runCommandSilently({
+    command: globalVp,
+    args: ['env', 'current', packageManager, '--json'],
+    cwd: process.cwd(),
+    envs: process.env,
+  });
+  if (result.exitCode !== 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Failed to resolve ${packageManager}: ${result.stderr.toString().trim()}`);
+  }
+  const current = (
+    JSON.parse(result.stdout.toString()) as {
+      package_manager?: CurrentPackageManager;
+    }
+  ).package_manager;
+  if (current?.source === 'system PATH') {
+    const binPath = current.bin_paths[packageManager];
+    if (current.name !== packageManager || !semver.valid(current.version) || !binPath) {
+      throw new Error(`Could not determine the system ${packageManager} version and executable`);
+    }
+    return {
+      name: packageManager,
+      version: current.version,
+      binPrefix: path.dirname(binPath),
+    };
+  }
+
+  return downloadPackageManager(packageManager, version, interactive, silent);
+}
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/bun-catalog-file-protocol.spec.ts b/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/bun-catalog-file-protocol.spec.ts
index 93cd6eae33..f2b818dff3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/bun-catalog-file-protocol.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/bun-catalog-file-protocol.spec.ts
@@ -32,9 +32,7 @@ function makeWorkspaceInfo(rootDir: string, packageManager: PackageManager): Wor
     packageManagerVersion: '10.33.0',
     downloadPackageManager: {
       name: packageManager,
-      installDir: '/tmp',
       binPrefix: '/tmp/bin',
-      packageName: packageManager,
       version: '1.0.0',
     },
     packages: [],
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/migrator.spec.ts b/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/migrator.spec.ts
index c395b594db..3a1f0f5ef0 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/migrator.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/migration/__tests__/migrator.spec.ts
@@ -1823,9 +1823,7 @@ function makeWorkspaceInfo(
     packageManagerVersion: version,
     downloadPackageManager: {
       name: packageManager,
-      installDir: '/tmp',
       binPrefix: '/tmp/bin',
-      packageName: packageManager,
       version,
     },
     packages: [],
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/migration/migrator/setup.ts b/packages/cli/src/migration/migrator/setup.ts
index 1dfdc41b39..d55a37e3f2 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/migration/migrator/setup.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/migration/migrator/setup.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import { isPlainRecord, warnMigration } from './shared.ts';
 
 export function setPackageManager(
   projectDir: string,
-  downloadPackageManager: DownloadPackageManagerResult,
+  downloadPackageManager: Pick<DownloadPackageManagerResult, 'name' | 'version'>,
 ) {
   // Set the package manager pin. Compatibility-first rule (rfcs/dev-engines.md):
   // an existing `packageManager` field or `devEngines.packageManager` declaration
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/types/workspace.ts b/packages/cli/src/types/workspace.ts
index 97d1d2c8a1..5975c3d912 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/types/workspace.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/types/workspace.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export interface WorkspaceInfo {
   parentDirs: string[];
   packageManager: PackageManager;
   packageManagerVersion: string;
-  downloadPackageManager: DownloadPackageManagerResult;
+  downloadPackageManager: Pick<DownloadPackageManagerResult, 'name' | 'version' | 'binPrefix'>;
   packages: WorkspacePackage[];
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/utils/__tests__/workspace.spec.ts b/packages/cli/src/utils/__tests__/workspace.spec.ts
index a8b860c021..bb1f047e88 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/utils/__tests__/workspace.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/utils/__tests__/workspace.spec.ts
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@ function makeWorkspaceInfo(overrides: Partial<WorkspaceInfo> = {}): WorkspaceInf
     packages: [],
     downloadPackageManager: {
       name: '',
-      installDir: '',
       binPrefix: '',
-      packageName: '',
       version: '',
     },
     ...overrides,