close
close

Is the Honda Prelude really coming back in 2026?

Is the Honda Prelude really coming back in 2026?





It’s been nearly 25 years since Honda discontinued the Prelude, but it’s definitely back, and we’ll likely see it in production form soon. There is, however, much that we still do not know. The The foreplay concept has been revealed in October 2023 at the Japan Mobility Show, then shown in North America for the first time at the Los Angeles Auto Show just a few weeks later. Details on the Prelude at its Tokyo debut were thin. Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe talked about generative AI, micromobility and Honda’s Avatar Robot, but finally revealed the Prelude Concept. Conformable to Toshiro Mibe, the Prelude Concept will offer an “invigorating experience” and the “joy to drive” that Honda is known for. Other than those superlatives, though, there wasn’t much to do.

advertisement

A few weeks later, Honda debuted the Prelude Concept in Los Angeles and framed it as part of their “electrified future,” confirming that it would be a hybrid model. Since then, camouflaged Prelude models have been seen in public and Honda has confirmed that there will be a production model based on the Civic platform. Honda has also confirmed that the Prelude will be sold in the UK and Europe as early as 2025 (as a 2026 model), but official US sales information is not yet available.. Given that the concept is being shown in the US so soon after its initial debut, we expect it to be available here, but there’s no confirmation yet.

What to expect from Prelude

Honda has confirmed some details about the upcoming Prelude. For starters, we know that the Prelude will use the same platform as the Civic and that it will be a hybrid. It will likely share most or all of its powertrain components with the new Civic hybrid, which is good news. In our first Civic Hybrid unitI found it to be fun and enjoyable to drive. The Civic hybrid uses a two-motor hybrid system and combined with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, output is an impressive 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. We don’t expect the Prelude to be far from that point, and it should be just as fun to drive, if not more so.

advertisement

With a two-door coupe guise, the Prelude has the potential to be a bit lighter and gain an edge over the four-door Civic hybrid when it comes to acceleration. It’s also worth noting that the Civic Hybrid is rated at 49 mpg combined by the EPA — a close-to-Prius number that dwarfs nearly every sport coupe on the road. If the 2026 Honda Prelude is able to achieve these kind of fuel economy numbers, it will be one of the most efficient two-doors on the road. And if it’s close to the Civic Sport Hybrid’s starting price of $29,845 (including $1,095), it’ll be a rare bargain.

Which the Prelude probably won’t get

We’re not expecting a Prelude Type R or any kind of high-performance model, at least not right away. Honda’s announcements have all focused on electrification, and that’s almost certainly the only engine the Prelude will get when it debuts. The Blue Brembo brakes on the concept car suggest some kind of focus on performance, which is encouraging, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the production car will have the same theoretical stopping power. We also don’t expect four-wheel drive. Some Preludes in the past had SH or Type SH (Super Handling) all-wheel drive with an active torque transfer system, but this Civic platform is likely to stick with a front-wheel drive format.

advertisement

Many enthusiasts will bemoan the lack of a high-powered Prelude right out of the gate, but it’s worth noting that the Prelude was never really a flagship model for the brand, nor was it a particularly big seller. The fifth generation Prelude it was a popular car with enthusiasts, but sales lagged behind cars like the Civic. In 2001, for example, the last year of new sales for the Prelude, Honda sold 9,462 Preludes in the United States. The Civic recorded over 300,000 units sold in the same year. Justifying a high-performance variant would require quite a lot of customer demand, so it may be a while before we see a top-of-the-line version of the Prelude, even if the Civic platform would accommodate it.

advertisement

What will make the newest Prelude successful

Honda’s return to two-door coupes is a big win, even if it’s a hybrid. Affordable two-door cars that are good to drive, cars like Toyota GR86 and the Subaru BRZare becoming increasingly rare. We welcome any additions of sports coupes to the market, even if they are hybrid powered. But to succeed among two-door coupes, the 2026 Honda Prelude will have to stand out.

advertisement

Expectations for the Prelude’s driving dynamics are quite high, especially with the Civic hybrid’s commendable performance. So an impressive behind-the-wheel experience is sure to drive sales. Fuel economy will need to be just as impressive – strong enough to sway buyers away from more practical four-door options such as Toyota Prius or the aforementioned Civic hybrid. And finally, it will need to be priced right. We expect similar pricing to the Civic hybrid, ranging from $28,000 to $34,000 depending on trim. If Honda pulls off all of these things (and if they sell the Prelude here stateside), they’ll likely have a hit on their hands.