Honda Prelude: New edition of the sports coupe after 25 years

Driven Honda Prelude: Worthy Successor to A Band Icon

2025-10-29 By Julia Mauritz | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

After a 25-year hiatus, Honda has revived its sports coupe. The result is impressive across the board. Yet, the Prelude will remain an exotic.

The price for the Honda Prelude starts at $53,000. Deliveries of the sports coupe will begin in spring 2026.(Image: Mauritz – VCG) — The price for the Honda Prelude starts at $53,000. Deliveries of the sports coupe will begin in spring 2026.
(Image: Mauritz – VCG)

It is always a challenging balancing act to revive a brand icon and translate it into a modern design language. This is especially true when, as in the case of the Honda Prelude, there are about 25 years between two vehicle generations. Honda has mastered this task brilliantly: The sports coupé is a true eye-catcher from every angle, especially in the vibrant blue exterior paint with the melodious name Racing Blue Pearl. On a test drive along the French Mediterranean coast, the 2+2-seater attracted plenty of appreciative looks, undoubtedly also because two-door sports coupés have become increasingly rare.

Expected from April 2026, the model will also be on German roads, with prices starting at $53,000. This makes the 2+2 seater $9,600 cheaper than Honda's other sports car, the Civic Type R, which, by the way, will no longer be available in Europe starting next year.

Sales Planning: 500 Units

Even though the elegantly designed Prelude has hardly any competitors in this country and the overall package of the sports coupé is consistently well-balanced, the model will still remain an exotic sight on German roads: Honda Germany CEO Holger Obst estimates an annual sales figure of just 500 Prelude units in this country. This conservative planning is likely due not only to the niche segment in which the model competes but also to the high demand for the Prelude in its home market of Japan.

It's no surprise: The Prelude impresses not only with its balanced proportions and a design that convinces from every angle. Technically, the Honda engineers have also done an outstanding job: The Prelude is a true sports coupé, allowing for dynamic navigation through tight curves without ever feeling like the vehicle is even approaching its limits. Contributing to this, in addition to the vehicle's construction itself, is an active driving assistant that reacts to steering inputs in curves with subtle braking support on the inner wheels, enhancing stability. For the suspension, the engineers relied on proven technology derived from the Civic Type R. A bundle of features adds to the pronounced driving pleasure in the Prelude: starting with a low center of gravity, direct steering, and adaptive dampers that effectively absorb uneven road surfaces.

Contrary to what the Prelude's design might suggest, Honda has not opted for a high-horsepower gasoline engine or a purely electric motor but rather a full hybrid drive: It consists of a 72-cell lithium-ion battery, two electric motors, and a refined 2.0-liter (122 cu in) Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine with direct injection, delivering a maximum output of 135 kW and 315 Nm of torque.

Gallery

The new Prelude is roughly 4.5 meters long, about 1.3 meters tall, and nearly 1.9 meters wide. The wheelbase measures approximately 2.6 meters. The most striking design features include the low front and the sharply sloping roofline.(Image: Mauritz – VCG)

The choice of materials is well-executed, with all upper surfaces being foam-padded, providing a very pleasant tactile feel and a premium interior. The Prelude is available exclusively with a high-end safety and comfort package: standard features include adaptive high beams, a rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, a reversing camera, a rain sensor, a blind spot monitor, a Bose sound system with eight speakers, front seat heating, and 19-inch black alloy wheels.(Image: Mauritz – VCG)

Step in and feel at home: That’s what the Honda Prelude offers. The sense of space, at least in the front seats, is surprisingly airy for a 2+2-seater. This is largely thanks to the large panoramic glass roof. The seating comfort is also unexpectedly high. Honda has installed two different seats in the Prelude: the side bolsters of the driver’s seat are slightly firmer than those of the passenger seat. The improved lateral support during cornering does not come at the expense of comfort. The cockpit is driver-focused and appears neat. Honda hasn’t done away with traditional rotary knobs and buttons. Only the gear selector in the center console takes some getting used to and feels slightly less sporty.(Image: Mauritz – VCG)

While the trunk is not wide or tall, the cargo space is quite generous for a sports coupe. For those needing more space than the 264 liters available with the seats upright, the rear seat row can be folded down — increasing the volume to 663 liters. Loading is slightly hindered by the high loading edge, but the trunk lid opens wide upwards.(Image: Mauritz – VCG)

Gallery with 11 images

S+-Shift Makes Its Honda Debut

If you value accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in five seconds, then the new Prelude is not the right model for you—the sports coupe takes 8.2 seconds for that. However, if you want to swiftly overtake on the highway or country roads, the Prelude is a good choice.

And for those who regret that the model doesn't feature a crisp sports car transmission, they shouldn't miss pressing the round S+ Shift button in the center console. This activates a system debuting in the Prelude. It not only provides a soundscape that suits the sports coupé but also simulates the feeling of a fast-shifting eight-speed gearbox. Of course, for true sports car enthusiasts who barely raise an eyebrow at 180 horsepower, this might be little consolation, as it ultimately remains a simulated experience—but classic sports car drivers are not the core target audience Honda aims to reach with the Prelude.

Honda has primarily identified buyers over 50 as the target audience—those whose children have already moved out and who are looking for a car that prioritizes beauty and agility over spaciousness. Drivers needn’t worry that driving pleasure comes at the expense of comfort: even after long stretches on winding roads, you’ll still feel like driving further. Another delight comes from checking the onboard computer: after the test drive, it reported a consumption of 4.7 liters (50 mpg).

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Date: 08.12.2025

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