First Drive: The 2026 Honda Prelude Is Back, and It's a Hybrid

Honda's Prelude nameplate is back after a 26-year absence, and it arrives as a hybrid rather than the naturally-aspirated coupe longtime fans might expect. The single-trim model pairs a 2.0-liter inline-four with a two-motor hybrid system for 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, built on Civic architecture with chassis, brake, and adaptive-suspension tuning borrowed directly from the Civic Type R. EPA ratings land at 46 city and 41 highway mpg, and pricing starts at $43,195 including destination.

"If we wanted to focus on power, it would be a different concept than this model." — Yoshiharu Saito, Honda Chief Engineer

There's no manual transmission and no limited-slip differential — a deliberate choice, according to Chief Engineer Yoshiharu Saito: "If we wanted to focus on power, it would be a different concept than this model." It's a car built around chassis feel and efficiency rather than a horsepower chase, which is a genuinely different brief than the badge's reputation might suggest.

The Drive's Joel Feder came away won over regardless: "Stepping out of the 2026 Honda Prelude, the smile couldn't be wiped from my face." The Prelude began arriving in US showrooms in November 2025, meaning the car itself has had several months on sale — this is a first-drive verdict on a genuinely new nameplate revival, not a same-week reveal.