2026 Honda Prelude First Drive: A Modern Coupe In Search of Greatness

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Resurrecting the Prelude is a loaded proposition. It’s a heady name that carries the weight of history and expectations of a fan base that has specific needs. After a quarter-century absence, Honda takes a measured approach with the 2026 model, capturing some of the original’s magic while charting a new path for the Prelude.

Approaching my gorgeous White Frost Pearl (a new color for Honda) test model on a sunny fall afternoon, I feel a sense of anticipation and curiosity. The 2026 Prelude is definitely a looker. You can’t go wrong with a tear-drop silhouette and subtle curves. The front end almost smiles, and Honda went futuristic with the headlights up front and a modest spoiler in back. Blue brake calipers peak out behind the starfish-shaped wheels. The roof and mirror caps are black, completing a design that gets the details right.

My walk-around complete, I slip into the driver’s seat, which is comfortably bolstered, grab the big, flat-bottomed steering wheel, and get my bearings. Basic Honda, with a few design flourishes like blue stitching and some understated houndstooth patterns on the seats (think more Windows wallpaper than Bear Bryant’s hat). The two-tone blue and white interior is exactly what I would select. There are alloy paddle shifters, a nine-inch color touchscreen, and a 10.2-inch digital driver cluster. The 2+2 setup is tight, yet not cramped.

Acclimated, I press the gray and red starter and slip out of the parking lot. My thoughts race: Is this a legit replacement for the Prelude? Honda threw a lot of things at this—do they all work together, or is this just parts bin salad? Who even really wants a coupe in 2025?

My mind quiets as the early afternoon traffic west of Ann Arbor opens up a bit. Really, this car isn’t about answering questions in a quantitative manner. Rather, it’s all about feel. The modern Prelude will stand for something different than its predecessor.

Leaping from stop lights, I feel some of the Prelude’s energy. This is Honda’s electric two-motor hybrid setup supported by a 2.0-liter Atkinson inline four-cylinder which makes a total system output of 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque. It’s quick, it's fun. The sound isn’t particularly throaty—this is basically a Civic hybrid from a powertrain perspective. Not necessarily a bad thing, but the power will not blow your mind. Honda has not revealed the curb weight yet, but the Prelude doesn’t feel overburdened. Honda also hasn’t released pricing, but said the Prelude, which will launch with one trim when it arrives later this fall, will slot between the Civic Sport Touring and Type R in the United States. In Japan, it costs the equivalent of about $41,575. So you get the idea. Likely affordable, but not entry-level.

I play with the paddles, which are part of the debut of Honda’s Sport+ Shift, a new feature on the Prelude. Honda says it simulates shifts and engagement, complete with ‘virtual’ rev matching. It’s fun and engaging. If you’re a Prelude buyer, you’re going to want something more than a boring CVT. Sport+ Shift will make its way to other Honda hybrids, the company says.

Feeling sprightly, I execute several quick turns and maneuvers, testing the Prelude’s reflexes. It has them, and they’re pretty good. Enthusiasts will like the open-road feel of the Prelude, which is a key element in its viability. While you may have mixed feelings about a Civic Hybrid helping out with the powertrain, the Type R chips in with chassis goodies, and they help. The Type R’s dual-axis front suspension and brakes provide a taut, composed character through curves and stops, though I’d like a little more weight to the steering. Despite the Prelude’s sporty dynamics, it doesn’t beat you up. Michigan’s roads are in a perpetual state of disrepair, and this coupe was compliant as I jostled over some decent-sized potholes and bumps.

In some ways, that may be a detraction. It depends on how intense you are hoping the Prelude to be. This is not a ragged-edge sports car, and Honda isn’t hawking it as such, using labels like “Grand Touring” and 2+2 to describe it. I was generally pretty comfortable during my short stint in the coupe, which I tested as part of a preview for the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards. Technically, I sampled a prototype, but the build quality was impeccable.

I’d give the Prelude a “B” grade as far as driving excitement goes. Things like the Subaru BRZ, Nissan Z, and Ford Mustang are simply more fun to drive due to their manual transmissions or more powerful engines. That said, the Prelude is attractive, has a great interior, and will likely be quite efficient when the fuel economy numbers come out.

You could track this thing and enjoy it, yet it’s a better daily driver than the Civic Type R. From the NSX to the S2000 to hotted-up Civics to the Prelude, Honda Motor Co.’s sporting history is deep—and that makes for serious exceptions for anything that purports to follow in this line.

While I found the 2026 Prelude a touch underwhelming, I did find it to be solid in the areas that matter. It’s sporty enough, though I wish it had more power and tighter steering. It’s strikingly beautiful and has a cool interior. Put all of those elements together, balance them in proportion, and you get something that’s worthy of standing among its predecessors in the pantheon of Honda’s history, yet it falls short of the all-time greats.

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