It’s been a long wait – 25 years, to be precise – but if you’re one of those loyal fans who’ve long been hoping for the return of the Honda Prelude the good news is that it’s back and finally rolling into U.S. dealer showrooms. Was it worth lighting a candle for? Headlight.News has this review.
The original, 1978 Honda Prelude and three of the new 2026 models.
Considering all the new vehicles that reach the U.S. market each year, we automotive scribes have a lot of “ride-and-drives” to pick and choose from. But there are some that stir up a bit more excitement when an invitation lands in the e-mail box – like the one to test out the 2026 Honda Prelude.
First introduced in 1978, the coupe was a mainstay of the Honda line-up, the sporty alternative to the sturdy, if far less emotional Civic and Accord sedans. But, as the new millennium approached, it was caught up in the seismic transformation shaking up the established automotive order, millions of American motorists abandoning both coupes and sedans (and minivans and sports cars) for SUVs, CUVs and pickups. A victim of fast-declining sales, Honda pulled the plug on Prelude in 2001.
Rumors of a revival long swirled among loyal fans, however, and Honda finally gave in, formally revealing a sixth-generation coupe last September. But would it simply be a retro relic or would Honda deliver the sort of update that stands out on its own merits? That’s what I headed off to San Diego to find out earlier this month, offered a chance to spend a day behind the wheel of the 2026 Honda Prelude.
What’s new
The 2026 Honda Prelude liberally borrows from the Civic Type R. It share the same track, though it’s slightly shorter.
It helped that Honda brought out pristine examples of all five prior-generation coupes. As the image, above, shows, there’s an evolutionary link dating all the way back to the original, 1978 Prelude. As one might expect, of course, the 2026 edition has a more windswept appearance that reflects modern aerodynamics.
That’s always useful for a sporty product, but becomes all the more significant in light of Honda’s decision to switch to a hybrid powertrain for the reborn Prelude. That gas-electric package delivers some impressive fuel economy numbers at 44 mpg combined, but it is primarily tuned for performance – and is paired with the automaker’s new S+ Shift system.
Think of the new Prelude as a grand tourer. It’s not as wild as the Type R but borrows some useful features from the sportiest member of the Civic family, including the dual-axis strut front suspension, along with Brembo brakes with four-piston aluminum front calipers. Prelude also gets an Adaptive Damping System that can adapt to road conditions and driver input, yielding what Honda described as an “exhilarating and engaging” ride, even while smoothing out the bumps under less aggressive conditions.
Powertrain
Prelude’s engine musters up 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, even while delivering an EPA-rated 44 mpg combined.
Honda launched its first hybrid-electric vehicle, the original, 2-door Insight, around the same time it pulled the plug on the gen-5 Prelude. It was a quirky looking 2-seater delivering extreme fuel-economy numbers – but barely able to get out of its own way. How things have changed. Honda’s current crop of HEVs still deliver solid mileage but have also amped up the performance quotient.
That’s the case with the 2026 Prelude which beefs up the Civic powertrain’s package, pairing twin electric motors with a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle direct injection gasoline engine. It still makes great mileage numbers: 46 mpg city, 41 highway and, as earlier noted, 44 combined. But what matters more for this sporty coupe is the combined output of 200 horsepower and a peak 232 pound-feet of torque.
The 2026 coupe also introduces Honda’s new S+ Shift system. Prelude doesn’t have a conventional transmission. The system’s traction motor functions more like an EV, directly sending power to the front wheels. The S+ system ensures that doesn’t result in the sort of motorboat sensation experienced with many other hybrid vehicles, and products using CVT gearboxes. It can replicate downshift blips, rev-matching and gear holding, and as a sort of consolation prize for those who lament the lack of a Prelude stick, you can simulate manual shifts using steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters,
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Driver’s choice
A toggle switch on the center console let’s a motorist set driver modes and activate the S+ Shift system.
One of the more engaging features of the 2026 Honda Prelude is the ability to set up key vehicle settings, such as steering feel, damper stiffness and, yes, the simulated feel of the direct drive system. Sure, some will see it as a gimmick, but it feels far more natural when you’re actually flogging the new coupe around the tight and twisty terrain I navigated through the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego.
There are four settings to choose from using a toggle switch on the center console: starting with Comfort, GT and Sport. Moving up that ladder tightens the suspension and steering feel, among other things, while changing the colors of the digital gauge cluster from blue to white to red. (The fourth setting is Individual mode which allows you to mix and match those settings.)
A separate button engages S+ Shift which can be used in each of those modes. But it really proves its worth when you’re already in Sport. Here, explains Honda, it “delivers the exhilaration of a high-revving, naturally aspirated engine, complete with deliberately increased gear-shift shock, vibrations, engine sounds and active downshifting during deceleration.
Driving impressions
My driving route gave me a chance to check out the 2026 Prelude in a wide variety of conditions, starting along the San Diego coast and Interstate 5 before heading inland towards the old mining town of Julian. I was able to run through all of the different drive modes, while also activating the S+ Shift system.
The good news is that each setting really did deliver some measurable changes in driving dynamics. Comfort, for one thing, reduced the rolling sensation short wheelbase vehicles often experience on California highways, while also minimizing pothole shock. But, once out in the country, I switched over to the stiffer settings and was anything but disappointed. For long trips I expect most drivers will stick with the GT mode that balances ride stiffness with a bit more engaging feel when cornering.
But it’s Sport mode that really brings out the beast in the new Prelude. As I admitted to my copilot, I felt so in tune with the new Prelude handling a long series of off-camber switchbacks that I completely forgot any disappointment at not having a manual gearbox to row. The coupe’s wide track kept it firmly planted, while the hybrid’s electric motor kicked in plenty of low-end torque as we squirted out of the corners.
Yes, the simulated soundtrack of the S+ system did seem a bit of a gimmick, at least at first. But it soon blended in to become part of the whole experience.
A new look
Design trends have changed markedly since the last Prelude rolled off into the sunset. For 2026, Prelude gets a much sleeker and refined appearance, with a knife-sharp nose, a double-bubble fastback roof and other details clearly shaped with the help of a wind tunnel.
There’s a thin upper grille framed by cats-eye headlamps, The larger grille below the bumper is finished in black chrome. A low splitter and rear spoiler built into the hatch further manage air flow and enhance high-speed downforce. A lightbar stretches across the back end of the new Prelude, underscoring the coupe’s width and sporty stance.
Prelude’s 19-inch machine-finished Berlina Black wheels come stock with 235/40R19 all-season tires, but performance fans can opt for summer rubber, if they prefer.
Sporty interior
The front seats offer a welcome amount of bolstering.
The lean, mean look carries over into Prelude’s cabin. It features a driver-centric layout and offers such welcome features as a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, alloy paddle-shifters, sport pedals and leather-trimmed front sports with integrated had restraints. The IP is dominated by a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a 9-inch touchscreen. That latter display has unique pages to track the performance of the hybrid powertrain.
There’s been a growing pushback against relying solely on touchscreens to handle all vehicle controls. Buyers should thus appreciate not just the volume control knob but the standalone climate control panel midway up the center stack.
From the standpoint of interior space, the Prelude is a good news/bad news story. There was more than enough room for my 6’2” frame up front. And, on paper, rear seat occupants get a full 32.0 inches of legroom. The problem is that this 2+2 package makes it extremely difficult to climb into those back seats. The front seats don’t readily move out of the way, so you’ll have to hope anyone who needs to sit in back has limbered up ahead of time. As for cargo space, there’s a solid 15.1 cubic feet of it available before folding down the 60/40 split rear bench.
Technology
The back seats are roomy – but getting there can be a challenge.
The infotainment system is powered by Google built-in which features apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps and more on Google Play. The sixth-generation Prelude adds wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a wireless phone charger and a WiFi hotspot is among the options.
An 8-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium sound system is standard and includes a large subwoofer in the cargo compartment.
All Prelude trims also come standard with the Honda Sensing suit of advanced driver assistance systems, including Collision Mitigation Braking Syste with Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, Driver Attention Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor, Blind Spot Information System, Auto High-Beam Headlights, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition System, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist System.
Pricing and availability
Honda sees the revived Prelude as a niche offering.
If you’ve been waiting for the 2026 Honda Prelude the good news is that it’s now rolling into dealer showrooms around the U.S.
Note that there’s just one trim package and only a handful of options, such as those summer tires.
Pricing starts at an even $42,000, plus $1,195 in delivery fees. Considering what other options are available, that’s a bit of a hit – which explains why Honda officials were quick to point out that the 2026 Prelude is, by their count, $2,000 cheaper than what the final 2001 model cost when adjusted for inflation.
If you’re looking for the sportiest of Honda packages, Prelude is about $6,000 less than the Civic Type R. No, it’s not quite the extreme machine – and you do sacrifice the boy racer’s reasonably functional back seat. But for those who lover coupe styling and want something that offers distinctive driving dynamics, the new 2026 Honda Prelude delivers what we’ve long been waiting for.
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