We recently spent a few laps behind the wheel of the 2026 Honda Prelude in Japan. This brief encounter revealed a few things. It’s not a sports car, and anyone hoping for Civic Type R performance from the front-wheel drive coupe will be sorely disappointed. More than anything else, the Prelude is now a grand tourer competing in a class of one. It’s by far the cheapest hybrid grand touring coupe on the market, with its main rivals all costing five times as much. But this is not how the buying public is going to view the Prelude, which is unfortunately priced at $42,000 exactly. Only one model is available, and it’s fully-loaded. Only two options are available, and they are two-tone paint and summer tires.
Honda has built a performance coupe that finds itself in a class of one, but one test still awaits the new Prelude.
The Prelude may serve a completely different purpose, but it won’t be judged within its own little niche segment. Like most of you, we see a sporty coupe with a not insignificant 200 horsepower at its disposal. There are various new and nearly new options available for the same money, and every single one of them is faster. The first real-world 0-60 mph tests dropped in October, and the results are hardly stellar. Having said that, the Prelude does feel faster than these figures suggest.
With the above price in mind, let’s look at 10 other ways you can spend $42,000 and get more for your money. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that some of the biggest rivals come from within Honda’s own stable.
Model
2025 Honda Civic Type R
Engine
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Power
315 hp
Torque
310 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
Mid five seconds
Top Speed
169 mph
If you want something sporty from Honda, this is the daddy. It’s the epitome of front-wheel drive hot hatches, and it’s only available with one of the sweetest six-speed manuals to ever grace the earth. A brand-new model is $4,000 more than a Prelude, which is a bit steep, but this generation CTR has been around since 2023. Because of that, depreciation comes into play, and according to Autotempest, $38,000 is a reasonable price for a 2023 model with between 10,000 to 20,000 miles on the clock. Thanks to Honda’s stellar reputation for reliability, those are nothing more than running-in miles.
One word of caution, however. The CTR can be quite frisky, and it has a bit of a boy racer reputation. Because of that, many noobs thought they could tame the 315 horses and the lift-off oversteer you get when disengaging the nannies, resulting in quite a few examples being listed with previous damage. It would be best to avoid those.
Model
2026 Honda Civic Si
Engine
1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Power
200 hp
Torque
192 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
6.6 seconds
Top Speed
130 mph
Like the CTR above, the Honda Civic Si has a massive downside compared to the Prelude. They’re both simply tarted-up versions of humble sedans and hatches, while the Prelude has its own unique presence. Basically, people will buy a car simply because it looks good. The best example is the first-generation Audi TT, which was a poor sports car, but made up for it by being incredibly handsome.
Yet you can’t ignore the Civic Si because it makes up for what the public perceive to be the Prelude’s shortfalls. It has an old-school six-speed manual instead of a complex newfangled gearbox, which is not a CVT before you jump headfirst into the comments section. It’s also strictly gas-powered, and that makes it more charismatic by default. The biggest weapon the Si has in its arsenal is that it provides the same amount of power, and it’s actually quicker to 60 mph. Oh, and it’s $11,0000 cheaper.
Model
2026 Nissan Z
Engine
3.0-liter turbocharged V6
Power
400 hp
Torque
350 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
4.5 seconds
Top Speed
155 mph
What we have here is the Prelude’s biggest problem. The Nissan Z is a sports car, but it’s also quite good at the grand tourer thing. It’s less than $1,000 more than the Prelude, but you get double the horsepower, and a much quicker and faster car. Nissan was also smart enough to offer the Z with a manual or nine-speed automatic, so you can tailor the Z to your exact needs. We know Americans are more willing to buy hybrids these days, but we find it tough to believe that anyone would walk away from this car and spend the same amount on an arguably lesser car.
Model
2025 Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ
Engine
2.4-liter flat-four
Power
228 hp
Torque
184 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
5.4 seconds (tested)
Top Speed
140 mph
The Nissan Z is a great car at the same price, but these two might even do a better job for $12,000 less. Which one should you get? The one with the badge you like the most. Both cars offer a lively boxer engine, a smooth six-speed manual gearbox, and old-school playful handling. Thank heavens Toyota and Subaru teamed up to create a sports car, because the cost would have been too high otherwise. And in doing so, they’ve created a worthy alternative to the default car everyone buys when they want cheap fun.
Model
2025 Mazda Miata RF
Engine
2.0-liter NA four-cylinder
Power
181 hp
Torque
151 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
6 seconds
Top Speed
140 mph
This is the default car. But why the RF and not the cheaper fabric-roof Miata? Well, since we’re comparing hardtop against hardtop, we might as well make it a fair fight. The Mazda loses out to the Prelude in two departments; power and space. The Prelude has more power, but the Miata weighs less and is therefore quicker. The Honda is also a 2+2, while the Miata is strictly a two-seater. This may not matter to some, but you don’t realize how useful those tiny rear seats are until you start throwing groceries, jackets, Amazon boxes, and kids back there.
Even though this car has been around for a decade, it’s still arguably a class-leader. The driving experiences are vastly different, with the Mazda feeling much lighter on its feet and way more engaging. It’s not a better experience than the Prelude, but will appeal to a completely different driver. For the record, if you are going to buy the Miata, the best version is the fabric top in Club trim.
Model
2022 BMW Z4 M40i
Engine
3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six
Power
382 hp
Torque
369 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
4 seconds
Top Speed
155 mph
A brand-new Z4 is close to $60,000 when you add a few basic options, but thanks to the magic of depreciation, you can get a 2022 Z4 with the brilliant B58 turbocharged straight-six for $40,000. There are various examples available, and most of them have less than 15,000 miles on the clock. We put the Z4 here because it’s a nice blend of sports car and grand tourer. Not as hardcore as the GR Supra, but still more than powerful enough to have some fun if you spot a piece of open road.
The B58 has proven itself to be robust, and in the 2022 Z4 it produces 382 hp. If you shop around carefully, you should be able to get a model with one year left on its bumper-to-bumper warranty for added peace of mind.
In just nine years, the B58 has a proven track record for strength, reliability, and power
Model
2022 Toyota Supra 2.0
Engine
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Power
255 hp
Torque
295 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
5 seconds
Top Speed
155 mph
The GR Supra with the smaller BMW-sourced turbocharged four-pot is a decent sports car in its own right, but let’s be honest for a second. The only reason a person purchased one of these is that they couldn’t stretch the budget to the 3.0 manual. The good news is that Supra 2.0 values have come way down, while the six-cylinder Supra refuses to budge. And prices for the full-fat version are likely to remain in place now that the Supra’s demise has been announced.
Like most of the cars on this list, it sends power to the rear wheels. That’s the perfect recipe for fun, but for some reason Toyota saddled it with an automatic gearbox only. Perhaps it would have been a more engaging car otherwise, but as it stands, the Supra 2.0 will be mostly forgotten. There’s a good reason Toyota dropped it after the 2024 model year. Nobody was really interested, but we include it here because it might also appeal to customers looking for something a bit more relaxed. In that sense, it’s a decent alternative to a new Prelude.
Model
2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost
Engine
2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Power
315 hp
Torque
350 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
4.5 to 5.6 seconds, depending on spec
Top Speed
145 mph
The cool thing about the 2026 Ford Mustang is that you can get a 5.0-liter V8 for roughly $4,500 more than the Prelude, or you can get one of two EcoBoost models that are a lot cheaper. The base EcoBoost Fastback may be the most appealing to potential Prelude customers because it’s a more laid-back model without unnecessary mechanical components like a limited-slip rear differential.
Or you can get the Premium Fastback, and get it as standard. Either way, they’re both cheaper, with the former starting at $32,320, and the latter going for $36,345. It’s also worth keeping in mind that an edgier RTR EcoBoost is on the way, and a sub-$40,000 is possible.
It has Dark Horse suspension bits, anti-lag for the turbo, and an appetite for tires.
What we love about the Mustang is that it’s possibly the most extroverted car on this list, and perhaps too much so for a Prelude buyer. We love the fact that you can have it in Grabber Blue with Bronze wheels, and some over-the-top racing stripes. You don’t need a V8 to have fun in a Mustang, and the current generation absolutely proves that.
Model
2026 BMW 230i Coupe
Engine
2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder
Power
255 hp
Torque
295 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
5.5 seconds
Top Speed
130 mph
We left the BMW 2 Series Coupe for last because it’s the closest in spirit to the Prelude that we can think of. It’s also more of a grand-tourer in this particular spec, and you’d think it would be the sportier of the two given the BMW’s front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout. But you’d be surprised how well the Prelude handles thanks to its Civic Type R underpinnings.
The 230i is for people who want the badge, comfort, and premium build quality without the power. It can also be introverted or extroverted depending on the color choice. In Alpine White, nobody will give it a second glance. If you pay $650 extra for Thundernight Metallic, everyone will notice your purple car. Be cautious, however. The base price can quickly increase to $47,000 if you add a few basic options.
$40,000-ish used
Model
2020 Mercedes-AMG E53 Coupe
Engine
3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder
Power
429 hp
Torque
384 lb-ft
0-60 MPH
4.3 seconds
Top Speed
155 mph
Normally, buying a depreciated luxury car is not a good idea, but in this case you can’t ignore what $40,000 buys you on the used market. As mentioned in our first drive of the Prelude, customers with $42,000 in their pockets are spoiled for choice, whether they buy new or used. And on the used market, we can’t think of a better alternative than the 2020 E53 Coupe. It has the most power out of all the cars listed here, and it’s a genuine grand tourer made by a company known for building such things.
The 2020 E53 was part of the first batch of cars that received Mercedes’ 3.0-liter inline-six, which now forms the basis of the most powerful inline-six car currently on sale in the USA. We recommend this model year because it scored 83% in JD Power’s quality and reliability rating. Owners are quite complimentary about their cars, and the inline-six appears to be problem-free.
It may seem like a silly suggestion to buy a five-year-old AMG, but it highlights the struggle Honda is facing with the new Prelude. It’s an expensive car for what it is, and it was quite easy to find a mix of 10 new and used cars you could buy for cheaper. We’re not saying these cars are better, but the new Prelude appears to be something nobody really asked for, and it may have a tough time compared to these established players.
Sources: Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, BMW, Mercedes-AMG, Ford, Nissan.
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