2026 Honda Prelude

Of all the coupes Honda has sold in its day, the Prelude might be the most unique. We last saw the model in the brand’s lineup over two decades ago, but now it's set to make another run for 2026—only this time the front-engine, FWD two-door will feature a hybrid powertrain.

Other compact hybrids with sporting intentions include the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid.

Need a couple more doors from your gas-electric Honda car? Read about the Civic Hybrid sedan here.

What's New

Like the concept that toured in advance of the production model, the Prelude will feature upgraded front brakes and a gas-electric powertrain that’s already familiar to Honda fans. The car also comes with Civic Type R suspension bits and sporty sounds.

Basics

• Two-motor powertrain from the Civic Hybrid
• Honda S+ Shift system drive mode, which syncs vehicle speed with engine sound
• Suspension design from CTR with new fork in between damper and knuckle
• Adaptive dampers from CTR with tuning for Prelude 
• Honda Agile Handling Assist, which enhances handling by coordinating powertrain and braking systems with steering inputs
• Four-pot front brake calipers and two-piece rotors from Brembo
• Four drive modes: Comfort, GT, Sport, and Individual 

Exterior

• Berlina Black 19-inch wheels with tires sized 235/40R19; summer tires will be available 

• “Double-bubble” roof
• Flared fenders 
• Full-width taillight 
• Meteorite Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Rally Red, Boost Blue Pearl, and new Winter Frost Pearl exterior colors

Interior

• Heated, perforated leather-trimmed front seats

• Firm padding and more prominent lower thigh bolsters for driver seat;, wider bolsters, more relaxed seat for front passenger
• Leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel with alloy shift paddles
• Sport pedals  

Top-Ranked Competitors:

• Toyota Prius
• Honda Civic Hybrid
• Hyundai Elantra Hybrid

Which Powertrain Will It Get?

The Prelude gets the same powertrain that’s in the Civic Hybrid. It pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two motors (but it’s still FWD).

As with the Civic Hybrid, output amounts to 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque for the Prelude. In the Civic, the grunt enables sprints to 60 mph in as little as 6.1 seconds, quicker than the Toyota Prius, Corolla Hybrid, and the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid. The Prelude should do similar numbers.

Too bad the 2026 Honda Prelude won't get a manual transmission, and will instead be automatic-only. Honda seems to have considered this, though, and is including Linear Shift Control, which mimics gear-shifting noises, and Honda S+ Shift mode, which syncs vehicle speed with engine sound. The new car also comes with Civic Type R’s front suspension, including adaptive dampers.

The last Preludes for the 2001 model year came with a 2.2-liter non-turbo inline-four gas engine that made just 195 horsepower and 156 lb-ft of torque.

Fuel Economy

Like the Civic Hybrid and Accord Hybrid, the Prelude should benefit from strong fuel efficiency. Honda estimates the Civic Hybrid sedan gets 50/47 mpg city/highway, and the Accord returns 46-51/41-44 mpg city/highway, depending on model.

The Prelude should be in that mix, too, although the Toyota Prius FWD is currently setting the bar with an impressive 57/56 mpg.

Safety Features

Honda Sensing will be included with the next Prelude. Features include:

• Automatic emergency braking
• Lane keeping
• Adaptive cruise control
• Traffic sign recognition
• Automatic high beams
• Driver attention monitor
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert

How Big Is the Prelude?

We’ve written about the Prelude concept’s likeness to the last Civic coupe, and going by what we’ve seen, it would make sense if the car had about the same exterior dimensions as the current-generation Civic sedan.

Originally, we thought this would mean five passengers and a trunk, but Honda says the new Prelude will feature 2+2 seating, suggesting it might be smaller than we first imagined. The automaker also claims there will be only 32 inches of rear legroom, less than the 2020 Civic Coupe’s 35.9 inches.

Plus, there won’t be trunk but a lift-back hatch. Cargo capacity should be more than the Civic sedan’s 14.8 cubic feet of trunk space but not quite as spacious as the hatchback’s 24.5 cubes.

Technology

Every Prelude comes with a 10.2-inch driver display and 9.0-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A wireless phone charger, Wi-Fi hotspot, and eight-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium audio system are also standard.