Key Points in This Review
- The 2026 Honda Prelude is an all-new coupe that features Civic Type R chassis components and the Civic hybrid’s two-motor hybrid system.
- It comes in one well-equipped trim level that includes a Bose stereo and a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen with Google Built-In, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
- The Prelude offers a reasonably sporty driving experience, but visibility and backseat space are seriously compromised by the coupe body style.
Prelude is an iconic model name from Honda’s past, and it’s back for 2026 on a new car that incorporates different components from the Civic lineup, like suspension and brake hardware from the Civic Type R and the gas-electric hybrid system from the Civic hybrid. I recently drove the new Prelude briefly at an event for North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year jurors, and if you’ve been eyeing a Civic hybrid but wish it offered a sporty coupe body style, the Prelude is the car for you. Just be prepared for traditional coupe shortcomings related to backseat space and rear visibility.
Related: 2026 Honda Prelude Up Close: Putting the Green in Grand Touring
What Is the New Honda Prelude Like to Drive?
- Takeaway: The Prelude shares its 200-horsepower gas-electric hybrid system with the Civic hybrid and gets a retuned version of the Civic Type R’s adaptive shocks along with its dual-axis strut front suspension. The result is a reasonably sporty coupe that’s also well composed.
The Prelude gets a version of the suspension found in the high-performance Civic Type R, but its setup here favors comfort. There are four different drive modes — Comfort, GT, Sport and Individual — and even though ride quality is firm in the Sport setting, the Prelude still rides well and isn’t punishing in the least. All Preludes have 19-inch wheels with P235/40R19 all-season tires (summer tires are available).
The Prelude’s gas-electric hybrid system delivers good power, and the car feels quick enough to be fun for everyday driving. A new S+ Shift mode uses the steering-wheel paddles to initiate simulated gear changes, but since the Prelude doesn’t have a traditional step-gear transmission, all this does is change the gas engine’s rpm and sound. Reasonably quick steering and good overall composure are highlights.
What’s the Prelude Like Inside?
- Takeaway: Familiar Honda design characteristics abound in the Prelude’s interior, which is reminiscent of the Civic’s but features its own unique styling elements. The car includes a two-person rear seat, but it’s hardly usable for adults.
You face a dashboard that’s similar to the Civic’s with familiar controls and screens, but there are differences in the cabin; the center console layout is different with a push-button gear selector, there are different materials and colors on the dashboard and seats, and the seats have driver- and passenger-specific bolstering, with more thigh bolstering for the driver. The driver’s seat is comfortable and supportive, and the cockpit has enough room for taller adults. However, there are large blind spots due to the coupe’s long rear roof pillars that can make seeing approaching traffic difficult.
The coupe design also has consequences in back, where there’s extremely limited headroom; I’m 6-foot-1, and my head was pressed against the hatch glass when I tried to sit back there. Folding these seats creates a large cargo area that’s easily accessible when the big rear hatch is opened.
Is the New Prelude Right for You?
- Takeaway: If you’re looking for a comfortable and fuel-efficient coupe that’s reasonably sporty to drive, the Prelude should be on your shopping list. (It might be the only thing on this list.)
Coupes have mostly left the U.S. as automakers have dropped small cars from their lineups, leaving the Prelude all alone in the front-wheel-drive compact coupe category. Its gas-electric hybrid powertrain and relative comfort give it a degree of practicality not often found in coupes, and these attributes may help broaden its appeal. In the SUV-obsessed U.S. market, the Prelude could have a tough road ahead of it, but we applaud Honda for giving it a go.
More Honda News From Cars.com:
- All-New 200-HP Hybrid Honda Prelude to Arrive Fall 2025
- Prelude to the Prelude: Honda Previews Upcoming Hybrid Coupe’s Proven Suspension
- Is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid a Good Car? 5 Pros, 3 Cons
- What Real-World MPG Does the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Get?
- How Much Is the 2026 Honda Civic?
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