Production 2026 Honda Prelude Revealed With A Potentially Ideal Mix Of Efficiency And Driver Engagement – Jalopnik

Less than two years after exhibiting it in “concept” type, Honda has formally revealed the 2026 Prelude, reviving the nameplate for a brand new two-door coupe with a hybrid powertrain, a liftback rear finish and Civic Type R underpinnings. The design of the manufacturing Prelude is strictly what we have already seen, each inside and outside, and we have already recognized loads of mechanical particulars (or not less than inferred quite a bit). Still, regardless of there not being many surprises to inform you about, I believe there’s quite a bit to get excited by, particularly after I received to spend time poking round two 2026 Preludes in a studio alongside examples of the prior 5 generations of Prelude.

Before you ask: Honda hasn’t launched gasoline economic system estimates for the Prelude but, and it additionally is not prepared to speak about how a lot it will price. But Honda says the 2026 Prelude will attain dealerships late this fall, so we should not have to attend lengthy. 

As we anticipated, the Prelude shares its powertrain with the Civic hybrid. It pairs a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter inline-4 with two electrical motors, one a generator motor mated to the engine and the opposite a traction motor linked to the driveshaft, which may regenerate vitality on deceleration. Honda hasn’t mentioned how large the battery pack is, but it surely’s mounted below the cargo flooring. Total output is 200 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque despatched to the entrance wheels, precisely the identical as within the Civic. No efficiency specs have been given but, however Car and Driver received a Civic Sport Touring Hybrid from 0 to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, which is not dangerous in any respect, and because of stickier tires the Prelude ought to be even faster.

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The Prelude additionally makes use of Honda’s eCVT, but it surely introduces a brand new system referred to as S+ Shift that “simulates a real performance transmission experience,” full with metallic paddle shifters that really feel very satisfying to click on. Activated with an enormous button on the middle console, Honda says S+ Shift delivers fast “shifts” and has conventional transmission features like blips on downshifts, rev matching and equipment holding. Turning it on brings up a tachometer on the gauge cluster and robotically kicks the engine on, however it may be utilized in any of the drive modes.

Honda additionally is not telling us gasoline economic system numbers, but it surely ought to be about the identical because the Civic Hybrid’s — perhaps even higher, because the Prelude appears a lot slipperier and has built-in aerodynamic options like a entrance below spoiler and useful fender vents. The EPA charges the Civic Sport Touring at 48 mpg mixed, 50 mpg metropolis and 47 mpg freeway, so even when the Prelude finally ends up being a bit much less environment friendly than that, it will nonetheless be simply probably the most environment friendly sporty automotive you should buy, particularly when it comes to two-doors.

The Prelude might share the identical platform and powertrain because the Civic, but it surely will get a bunch of chassis upgrades from the superb Civic Type R. Its dual-axis strut entrance suspension and wider entrance and rear tracks are nabbed from the Type R, and Honda says the Prelude’s steering and normal adaptive dampers have distinctive tuning for “a sporty yet comfortable grand touring experience with high levels of driver exhilaration and engagement.” The Prelude additionally has the Type R’s bigger, lighter Brembo entrance brakes, with 13.8-inch rotors and four-piston calipers (plus 12-inch rotors within the again), and just like the Civics the Prelude could have selectable regenerative braking.

Every new Prelude comes with 19-inch wheels carrying Goodyear Eagle Touring all-season tires sized 235/40, however high-performance Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 summer season rubber can be a manufacturing facility choice. There are 4 drive modes — Comfort, GT, Sport and Individual — that Honda says have a wider breadth of functionality than within the Civic, adjusting engine sound, powertrain response, steering weight, suspension damping and extra. The Prelude can also be the primary mannequin with the newest Honda Agile Handling Assist that’s mentioned to enhance dealing with “through integrated control of the powertrain and braking” that is adjusted primarily based on steering enter.

I’m positive y’all have already got opinions concerning the Prelude’s styling, because it has remained principally unchanged over the previous couple years, however particularly after getting to essentially pore over it in individual, I believe it seems to be actually nice. The extra upright windshield however steeply raked roofline and rear glass actually works, and regardless of lengthy entrance and rear overhangs and principally no dash-to-axle ratio I believe the proportions are fairly nice. The shark nostril entrance finish is nicely sculpted, and I particularly like how the decrease corners of the bumper jut out, forming the traces of the decrease physique alongside the doorways. It’s positively received a greater stance than each the present Civic and the outdated Civic coupe. The flush door handles fortunately aren’t powered however come out when unlocked, and the antenna is built-in into the rear window as a substitute of utilizing a sharkfin.

There is one factor you could be ready to be disillusioned about: Color selections. At least at launch, the 2026 Prelude will solely be accessible in 5 colours, solely two of that are precise colours. Boost Blue Pearl seems to be nice, as does Rally Red. Then there’s boring Crystal Black Pearl, Meteorite Gray Metallic and a brand new coloration referred to as Winter Frost White, which does look good and sparkly. A black roof is optionally available, as are manufacturing facility equipment like a black rear spoiler and entrance splitter. And not less than each Prelude has shiny blue accents within the entrance grille, rear diffuser and brake calipers.

The Prelude is notably extra premium inside than a Civic, with its personal dashboard design that ditches the dash-spanning air vent search for separate vents and a shelf-like design, plus a taller middle console with a push-button shifter and reworked cupholders and storage. The door playing cards are additionally a brand new design with armrests higher suited to the Prelude’s driving place. You can get the inside in black or in a wonderful white and blue coloration scheme that actually brightens up the cabin, and no matter your selection there’s blue accent stitching all through. The dashboard and middle console have a “synthetic leather” with a cloud texture that appears and feels extra high-end than what’s in a Civic, and different touchpoints really feel barely nicer as nicely.

Specific to the Prelude are heated leather-based efficiency seats which have a unbelievable houndstooth perforation sample and built-in headrests with an embossed Prelude script. The driver’s seat has firmer padding and extra supportive thigh bolsters than the passenger seat, they usually do really feel considerably higher than what’s in a Civic Si. You additionally get a thicker-rimmed steering wheel with a flat backside and a blue 12 o’clock marker, and grippy sport pedals.

While the Prelude’s inside feels wonderful for the 2 entrance occupants, with an incredible view out the windshield because of skinny a-pillars and the shapely hood and entrance fenders, and seemingly good visibility out the edges and sizable again window, the Prelude’s rear seat is not fairly as beneficiant. First of all, the again seats are simply plain black material, which is comprehensible from a cost-savings perspective, however there is no fold-down middle armrest, cupholders or air vents again there. Honda says there’s 32 inches of rear legroom, and whereas I used to be in a position to get my 5-foot-9 self again there fairly straightforward with out my legs or torso being too cramped, the aspect of my head rested in opposition to the tremendous thick plastic pillar surrounding the hatch. It’s positively greatest suited to kids, canine, or very temporary journeys together with your quick king mates.

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What is not too cramped is the cargo space, accessed by the liftback hatch. Even with the rear seats up there is a good quantity of house — you’ll be able to simply match bigger carry-on suitcases — however fold the 60/40-split rear seatbacks flat and there is sufficient room for golf baggage. I’m actually glad the Prelude would not simply have a traditional trunk just like the Toyota 86 or outdated Civic coupe.

Honda is simply providing the Prelude in a single fully-loaded trim stage, which I believe is a brilliant transfer, although I’m positive a lot of you’ll complain that there is not a stripper mannequin. Every new Prelude has a ten.2-inch digital gauge cluster and a 9-inch central touchscreen with wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the newest Google Built-In functionality. There are USB-C ports and a wi-fi charger, an 8-speaker Bose Centerpoint sound system with a subwoofer within the cargo space, and a WiFi hotspot. Other normal options embrace the complete Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist applied sciences like automated emergency braking and a brand new post-collision braking system, adaptive cruise management with lane-keeping help and site visitors jam help, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and site visitors signal recognition.

The firm says the 2026 Prelude will attain Honda sellers nationwide in late fall. A 2026 Civic Sport Touring Hybrid Hatchback will set you again $34,690, and given the Prelude’s further normal options and Type R bits I’m guessing it will be knocking proper on $40,000’s door, if not a bit extra — the Prelude can be constructed at Honda’s Sayama plant in Japan, so it could possibly be affected by tariffs. Before you get all upset over potential sticker shock, in 1999 a Prelude Type SH price simply over $26,365, which might be greater than $50,000 in right this moment’s {dollars}. The Prelude was at all times a extra premium providing from Honda that featured new applied sciences, so I believe the brand new one suits proper in, and as an reasonably priced hybrid coupe it will be in a category of its personal within the U.S. market.

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik

Daniel Golson / Jalopnik