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The 2026 Honda Prelude returns as a hybrid-only hatchback, albeit with no manual option, and it shares some parts with the racy Honda Civic Type R.
The Prelude's 200-hp front-wheel-drive powertrain is identical to the Civic Hybrid's, but the two-door model introduces a fake-shifting feature.
Slated to go on sale sometime this fall, we expect the well-equipped Prelude will be priced somewhere in the mid-$30,000 range.
Coupes are an endangered species, and the front-wheel-drive variety is virtually extinct. Honda was once a purveyor of affordable and fun front-drive coupes, but a lack of demand and the onset of the invasive species known as crossover SUVs led to them being killed off. But like a zombie movie reboot, the brand is raising one of its most popular two-door cars from the dead, though the Honda Prelude's comeback comes with controversial twists.
It's been about 25 years since a new Prelude shone on a Honda showroom floor, where it was sold alongside the lesser Civic coupe and the more adult Accord coupe, which were phased out after the 2017 and 2020 model years, respectively. The Prelude was axed well before that, with the fifth-generation car's fizzling sales leading to a final run for 2001.
Flash forward to the 2023 Tokyo auto show, where Honda revealed a Prelude concept that received lots of fanfare and ultimately looked pretty much identical to the production car shown in these photos. Other than a long hood, short decklid, and two doors, the new six-generation Prelude doesn't really resemble its predecessors—or any other current Hondas for that matter. In fact, it might take a Jerry Springer paternity test to prove the Prelude shares DNA with the boxy Civic family versus the bodacious Toyota Prius. That's not a backhanded compliment either, because we think the new Prius looks damn good.
For the first time, the Prelude shares a platform with the Civic, and the new 'Lude has also traded its traditional trunk for a rear hatch. However, Honda disguised its technical body style so well that most people will call it a coupe. No harm, no foul. The rest of the design is sleek, albeit subdued. The Prelude's front headlights feature wing-like elements, while its full-width taillights, surrounded by black trim, reinforce the Prius connection. An antenna built into the rear glass and flush door handles further promote its aero-friendly bodywork. And while the roof can be painted black when paired with the new Winter Frost Pearl, a sunroof—once a Prelude trademark—is conspicuously absent.
It's easier to appreciate the Prelude's proportions in person. It's lower and wider than your cousin's run-of-the-mill Civic, and its flared fenders compensate for front and rear tracks that are as wide as the hardcore Civic Type R. The CTR and the Prelude also share other hardware, including adaptive dampers and dual-axis front struts (Honda's innovative front-suspension setup that basically eliminates torque steer). The Prelude inherits the CTR's robust Brembo brakes too; 13.8-inch front rotors are pinched by four-piston monoblock calipers painted a Prelude-specific blue. A set of black 19-inch wheels is standard, but they can be swapped for a machine-finished quartet. Grippier summer tires are also available. Despite the track-proven hardware, Honda says the Prelude is a grand tourer rather than a racer.
Honda has become a hybrid evangelist, and it's only offering the Prelude with a gas-electric powertrain. It's a decision that's sure to stir up controversy, including among the Car and Driver staff, some of whom are wary of the second coming of the ill-fated CR-Z. Unlike Honda's last two-door hybrid hatchback, however, the new Prelude won't offer three pedals. Will a hybrid-only, manual-less "coupe" turn more people off than on? Only time will tell.
For open-minded readers who are just excited that a Radwood-era icon has returned, let's talk about what's under the hood. The Prelude's hybrid powertrain pairs two electric motors with a gas-fed Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter four-cylinder. Spoiler alert: It's the same setup found in the Civic hybrid; both models make 200 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The Prelude faithful will note that the new car's peak horsepower rating is the same as its 25-year-old predecessor, which featured a high-revving VTEC four-pot. Still, torque has comparatively skyrocketed by 76 pound-feet. The new Prelude's fuel economy should see a similarly significant spike. Honda hasn't yet released EPA ratings, but if the hybrid Civic is anything to go by, the Prelude could flirt with 50 mpg combined.
Unlike some other hybrids, the Prelude doesn't have a syrupy CVT. Instead, it features Honda's direct-drive gearbox that mimics traditional gearchanges by manipulating the engine's rpm to rise and fall like many of us are accustomed to. Paddle shifters let the driver control the fakery, and Honda has also introduced a new feature that takes things a step further. Called "S+ Shift," it provides a more aggressive shifting simulation by pretending to hold gears, match revs, and blip the throttle on downshifts. It's too early to say whether it will be entertaining or annoying, but haters can avoid using it, so there's that.
The Prelude's interior might be one of the nicest that Honda has to offer. It pairs attractive materials with desirable tech, such as a standard 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. It's the same size as other Civics, but the Prelude has a different interface. There's a wider selection of display layouts, including one with a large tach. It's a nice touch because the Civic's setup feels lackluster when it comes to this type of customization. After all, isn't that the point of digital gauges?
An eight-speaker Bose sound system is also standard, and it operates through a 9.0-inch touchscreen on the dash. The infotainment system features Google built-in software as well as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There's a place to charge your smartphone without wiress too, and we're thankful for the physical volume knob and HVAC controls. The push-button shifter is something we'll continue to push back on.
The Prelude's leather front seats aren't found in any other Honda. Available in black or with distinctive white-and-blue upholstery, the seats have a houndstooth pattern and headrests built into the seatbacks. The cushions are heated but (sadly) not ventilated. Interestingly, the seats are asymmetrically bolstered. This is the first time Honda has done this, giving the driver more support and the front passenger more comfort.
For those relegated to the rear seats, Honda says there's 32 inches of legroom back there. That's about two inches more than the rear-drive Toyota GR86, but it's about five inches less than the Civic hatchback. And speaking of hatches, there's a decent amount of space under the Prelude's rear liftback, especially when you fold the back seats flat. We don't know the exact cargo volume, but there's clearly enough room to fit large items like golf bags.
Put aside the nostalgic discrepancies, and the 2026 Honda Prelude looks to fill a niche that's void of any direct competition. It just remains to be seen if there's an audience with an appetite for a two-door, front-drive hatchback with the heart of a hybrid Civic and parts from a race-bred one. Interest, or lack thereof, may come down to pricing. Honda hasn't yet shared that info, but the Prelude's lone well-equipped trim suggests its price will rival the top-spec Civic Hybrid, which currently starts at nearly $35,000. We'll find out how much the 2026 Prelude costs before it goes on sale sometime later this fall, so stay tuned.
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