- The 2026 Honda Prelude comes in one well-equipped trim
- There is no manual transmission, but a S+ Shift function mimics eight gears
- The reborn Prelude coupe blends elements of the Civic Hybrid and the Civic Type R
After a 25-year hiatus, the Honda Prelude returns as a sportier and pricier 2-door Civic. The reborn 2026 Honda Prelude costs $43,195, including destination fees, and comes only in one well-equipped trim, Honda announced Tuesday.
The sixth-generation Prelude is nothing like the Accord-based coupe that kicked around during the last quarter of the 20th century. The 2026 Honda Prelude has two doors, but it has a hatch, not a trunk. It combines the 2-motor hybrid system from the Honda Civic Hybrid that launched in 2025, yet its chassis and suspension is derived from the Civic Type R hot hatch.
The Prelude sits somewhere between the practical Civic and the enthusiast Type R, though it’s priced closer to the latter. The Type R was discontinued in Europe this year due, in part, to emissions regulations, and while it’s expected in the U.S., Honda hasn’t announced pricing or details of a 2026 Civic Type R. The 2025 model starts at $47,090.
2026 Honda Prelude Powertrain
The Prelude is less powerful than the 315-horsepower Type R, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission. The Prelude uses a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder running on the efficient Atkinson cycle direct injection gas engine, which often serves as a generator for the 2-motor setup, with the larger motor powering the front wheels. Combined, it makes 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque.
Like the Type R and the Civic, it’s front-wheel drive (FWD) only. It features a single-speed transmission, but Honda’s S+ Shift system simulates eight gears by electronically increasing and decreasing engine speed. In Sport mode, it can rev match on downshifts to provide a similarly stimulating experience to that of a manual transmission.
The Prelude rolls on all-season tires wrapped around 19-inch Berlina black alloy wheels, with 4-piston Brembo brakes with blue calipers up front. The rotors are 13.8 inches in diameter, while the rear rotors are 12 inches. It features dual-axis front struts and adaptive dampers, both shared with the Type R but tuned for the presumably lighter weight of the Prelude.
Yet, more like the Civic Hybrid than the Type R, the Prelude has an EPA-estimated fuel rating of 44 mpg combined.
2026 Honda Prelude Features
With its mesh-covered vents and electric gear shifter in the console, the Prelude looks like the Civic Hybrid inside. But the new Prelude comes with sporty interior touches. The flat-bottomed steering wheel is wrapped in leather, and alloy paddle shifters are complemented by sport pedals with alloy-looking plates.
The displays consist of a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities. A wireless device charger is standard, as is an 8-speaker Bose sound system. It provides Honda’s suite of driver-assist features, which include adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.
Heated front seats with leather-trimmed upholstery come standard. It technically has two rear seats, but those might be best suited for dogs.
Where does the 2026 Honda Prelude Fit?
The market for affordable small sports coupes has all but vanished, except for the Subaru BRZ and related Toyota GR86, as well as the Toyota Supra and Nissan Z. For now, Honda may be cashing in on the trend of resurrecting classic nameplates. Acura, Honda’s luxury brand, reintroduced the Integra sedan for the 2023 model year after a 17-year hiatus. Ford brought back the Bronco, Jeep brought back the Wagoneer, Toyota brought back the Supra, and now the Prelude returns.
Will Honda turn on a new generation to its venerable motorsports past? Will a new audience be inspired by the Prelude’s blend of practicality and sportiness? Or is it a Prelude to an end?
The 2026 Honda Prelude is on sale now.
