The old gang is getting back together. In its early days in the U.S. market, three products dominated the Honda line-up: the Civic, Accord and Prelude. The latter model last rolled down the assembly line in 2001, but if things go according to plan, a sixth-generation Honda Prelude will land in U.S. showrooms around the beginning of November, Honda announced last week.
The rebirth of the sporty coupe has been one of the worst-kept secrets in the auto industry, and Honda finally confirmed those plans earlier this year, in the process delivering one big surprise. Rather than the distinctive V-TEC engine that powered earlier generations, the 2026 Honda Prelude will be motivated by a two-motor hybrid lifted from the more conservative Civic family.
Meanwhile, the new grand tourer will lift a handful of features from the boldest of the Civic packages, the Type R, including much of its high-performance chassis hardware.
Related: Seeing the New Honda Prelude Up Close Reveals Its Retro Magic
Bucking The SUV Craze
Plenty has changed since the gen-5 Prelude drove off into the sunset. For one thing, coupes barely register on the sales charts at a time when most American motorists opt from SUVs and CUVs. But Honda officials have said they’re convinced there’s a market for the right sort of sporty package.
“We are thrilled to be bringing back such an iconic nameplate to the Honda lineup,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. “The Prelude’s return demonstrates our commitment to exciting, fun-to-drive vehicles and will help to accelerate our hybrid-electric sales in the years ahead.”
What is clear is that there’s growing demand for hybrid drivetrains – and not just in economy cars anymore. Gas-electric models currently account for about a third of Honda’s global sales, a figure it says it “plans to expand to…over 60%…in the coming years.” The challenge with a product like Prelude is striking a balance between performance and fuel-efficiency, several analysts caution.
Civic Type R DNA
From an appearance standpoint, the new Prelude starts from the ground up, designers putting a premium on aerodynamics. The coupe features a low-profile front grille, a low-mounted front splitter, a rear spoiler integrated into its hatch, and even such subtle details as flush, pop-out door handles.
But Honda engineers were careful not to bust their budget and borrowed liberally from the Civic Type R, the sportiest member of the Civic family. That includes key chassis components, including the dual-axis strut front suspension, along with Brembo brakes with four-piston aluminum front calipers.
An Adaptive Damper System has become the option of choice on a number of sporty products where active damping would simply be too expensive. Tuned specifically for the 2026 Prelude, the system can adapt to road conditions and driver input, yielding what Honda described as an exhilarating and engaging ride, even while smoothing out the bumps under less aggressive conditions.
Four Drive Modes Plus Manual Feel
Prelude, meanwhile, gives a motorist plenty of ways to adjust the driving experience. There is, for one thing, a four-setting driver mode control. Switch between Comfort, GT or Sport to adjust a variety of different vehicle settings. There’s also an “Individual” mode to customize individual settings.
The coupe also introduces the new S+ Shift system – which Honda will begin rolling out on other hybrids over the next few years. Prelude doesn’t have a conventional transmission. The systems traction motor functions more like an EV, directly sending power to the front wheels. The S+ system ensures that doesn’t result in the sort of motorboat sensation experienced with many other hybrid vehicles, and products using CVT gearboxes. It can replicate downshift blips, rev-matching and gear holding, and it offers a manual mode for those Prelude fans who still long for the coupes long-gone stick.
200-HP Hybrid Powertrain
Prelude’s drivetrain is a uniquely tuned version of the hybrid package found in the Civic line-up. It pairs two upgraded motors with a highly efficient 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle direct injection gasoline engine. The combined package delivers 200 horsepower and a peak 232 pound-feet of torque. That torque, of course, comes on all but instantly, and we expect it will add to the “exhilarating” feel Honda promises.
Honda is holding back on some key specs, including 0-60 times and top speed. We’ll also have to wait to learn what sort of fuel economy we can expect, though it appears safe to say the final EPA ratings may fall a bit short of the 49 mpg Combined more tame Civic trims can deliver.
Grand Tourer Styling
The 2026 Honda Prelude is far less boxy than past generations, no surprise considering current design trends – and the need to maximize mileage. But the look comes together in classic grand tourer fashion, with a sharp-edged nose, a double-bubble roof and a long-sweeping roof line that flows into the rear spoiler. The cats-eye headlights, along with the rear lightbar, enhance Prelude’s sporty stance.
That carries over into the cabin which is roomier than might be expected. Factory images reveal a roomy cargo compartment, though the hatch is surprisingly narrow. The rear bench is a 60/40 fold-down that can expand cargo space, when needed. And though Honda describes Prelude as a “2+2,” backseat passengers get a generous 32.0 inches of legroom.
The cabin is clearly driver-centric and offers such welcome features as a leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, alloy paddle-shifters, sport pedals and leather-trimmed front sports with integrated had restraints.
Related: Honda Prelude Fans Fight Tooth and Nail To Earn the Right to Buy One
Tech and Safety Features
The instrument panel features a standard-issue 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a 9-inch touchscreen. That latter display has unique pages to track the performance of the hybrid powertrain. Other tech features include the Google built-in infotainment system, as well as wireless versions of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a wireless phone charger, an 8-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium sound system, and a WiFi hotspot is among the options.
Prelude adds the Honda Sensing suite of smart safety systems, including forward collision warning with automatic emerging braking, blind spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert and post-collision braking.
November Launch, Pricing TBD
All versions of the 2026 Honda Prelude will be imported from Japan. That exposes the coupe to the new Trump tariffs, though it’s unclear whether the automaker will absorb those costs – as many of its competitors currently are doing. Pricing is another number we’ll have to wait for, though Prelude is widely expected to slot into Honda’s U.S. line-up just below the Civic Type-R which starts at $46,690.
Current plans call for the new coupe to land in U.S. showrooms right at the beginning of November, though Honda is likely to start taking orders before then.
