The Honda Prelude is returning to the market after a two-decade hiatus, entering its sixth generation. Unlike its predecessors, it features a hybrid system, aligning with the Japanese automaker’s electrification goals.
Following our time with the concept version, recently, at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, we got an early look at the 2026 Honda Prelude, and here are our impressions:
Design
Honda has reimagined the Prelude as a sleek grand tourer rather than a lightweight sports coupe. Designed in Japan, the two-door hybrid features a low nose, wide stance, and smooth, aerodynamic surfaces. The front fascia integrates a clean black chrome grille and wing-like LED daytime running lights. At the rear, a full-width taillight design and subtle spoiler help underline its width and stability.
A “double-bubble” roofline, flush door handles, and a sloping liftback profile enhance airflow and give the car a sculpted appearance. Blue accents on the front and rear lower fascias match the Brembo four-piston calipers finished in “Prelude Blue.”
Berlina Black alloy wheels wrapped in 235/40R19 tires fill the flared arches. Honda will offer the Prelude in five colors, including a new Winter Frost Pearl with an optional black roof, along with Meteorite Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Rallye Red, and Boost Blue Pearl.
Interior
The cabin design focuses on driver engagement and everyday comfort. A low cowl and thin A-pillars improve forward visibility, while the flat dashboard layout emphasizes width. Honda combines classic simplicity with modern technology through a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch HD touchscreen featuring Google built-in. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a wireless charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot are standard.
Front sport seats feature a perforated houndstooth pattern, three-stage heating, and integrated head restraints. Honda’s new asymmetrical bolstering provides stronger lateral support for the driver and a more relaxed passenger seat.
The Prelude offers a 60:40-split two-passenger rear seat as well. The liftback trunk holds 15.1 cu. ft. of space, and folding the rear seats extends capacity for weekend bags or golf clubs.
Upholstery choices include a two-tone Blue and White or full Black interior, both accented with blue stitching and “Prelude” embroidery on the lower dash. Soft-touch synthetic leather covers the center console and dashboard, complemented by alloy shift paddles and a flat-bottom steering wheel with a blue 12 o’clock marker.
Experience in the 2026 Honda Prelude
Getting into the rear seat of the Honda Prelude isn’t difficult, but the space itself feels far from accommodating.
As a 5’7” tall person, getting into the Acura RSX Prototype was easy for me, only requiring me to bend down l a little. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I felt the back support was perfect, and I liked how tightly bolstered the seat felt, providing a snug, confidence-inspiring fit that complements the car’s sporty nature. The under-thigh support was good for me, though taller occupants might find it average. I had around four inches of headroom, which felt reasonable for a sports coupe. Rearward visibility was limited, as expected in a car of this type, but forward and side visibility were good.
Getting into the rear seats wasn’t as difficult as I expected, but once seated behind the driver’s seat, my head touched the rear glass. While the knee room was acceptable, legroom was tight, and under-thigh support was minimal. The rear seats are clearly intended for small children or very short trips.
Specifications
Based on the same platform as the eleventh-gen Honda Civic that we reviewed earlier this year, it is a humble two-door model designed more for sporty styling than spirited driving.
The 2026 Honda Prelude is essentially the spiritual successor to the tenth-gen Honda Civic’s Coupe version. According to a report Carscoops.com published on October 14, 2025, Honda is indicates it’s not designed to match the Civic Type R’s capabilities and promises performance on par with the Civic Hybrid instead. That also means that it’s not a direct competitor of the Toyota GR86 or the Subaru BRZ.
Like the 2026 Civic Hybrid, the 2026 Prelude features Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, comprising a 2.0-liter gas engine, a traction motor, and a generator motor. The gas engine produces 141 horsepower and 134 lb.-ft. of torque, while the traction motor generates 181 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque.
Operating together, the gas engine and the traction motor deliver 200 horsepower. All that power goes to the front wheels via a direct-drive system. Honda has revealed the car has a 10.6-gallon fuel tank but has yet to disclose how far it goes, with EPA-est. fuel economy ratings still pending.
The Prelude’s chassis integrates several Civic Type R components, including the dual-axis front strut suspension, adaptive dampers, and Brembo front brakes with 13.8-inch rotors. Four selectable drive modes, Comfort, GT, Sport, and Individual, which adjust steering weight, throttle response, damping, and simulated engine sound.
A highlight is the new Honda S+ Shift mode, which mimics a performance transmission with simulated gear changes, rev-matched downshifts, and enhanced sound feedback for a more engaging drive. Honda’s updated Agile Handling Assist system fine-tunes stability and cornering precision through powertrain and brake control integration.
Price & Release Date
The 2026 Honda Prelude’s prices should start at around USD 40,000 when it goes on sale across the U.S. in late fall.
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
