The Performance-Built 2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid

[Dragoon]

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An in-depth tour of how the 2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid takes hybrid coupe performance to the next level of fun.

 

[El Chorizo33]

Neat video. The voice almost sounds like Jon Hamm.

 

[bluetwo]

I like it a lot.

 

[CiceroGirl6]

I was skeptical. I was *so* excited that Honda was bringing the Prelude back, but then was crushed when I heard that not only would it be a hybrid rather than a manual transmission, but that the horsepower wasn’t significantly increased over the Gen 5 Prelude that I loved and drove for 12 years (and regretted selling almost immediately). I had six months to get used to that info (I was driving an Accord hybrid), and kept an open mind. Five minutes into the test drive, as we were getting on the highway, I felt the smile coming to my face and knew I was probably buying it! Although the engine doesn’t provide more straight power than the Gen 5, the torque is significantly increased (~150 to +~235), so —even without a MT — it has decent response and pickup. (Let’s be honest… no one was ever going to take a Prelude to a drag race)! The new Prelude corners wonderfully and the sense of driving fun *is* there (which is what I was desperately missing driving the Accord for a decade).

It has a few things that I’m not crazy about, and would trade this one in for a “Type R” version with a 300hp engine and MT in a heartbeat, but all the people saying that the new Prelude is just a Civic hybrid coupe either haven’t actually driven it or never owned a Prelude (or incorrectly remember it being more of a ”sports car” than it actually was).

 

[rexracer15]

It has a few things that I’m not crazy about, and would trade this one in for a “Type R” version with a 300hp engine and MT in a heartbeat, but all the people saying that the new Prelude is just a Civic hybrid coupe either haven’t actually driven it or never owned a Prelude (or incorrectly remember it being more of a ”sports car” than it actually was).

There are many reviewers who admit they had a negative opinion of the Prelude before actually driving it. Many of those reviewers changed their opinions after actually driving one. Some admitted the Prelude was better than they gave it credit for. The CTR steering, suspension and brakes got praise from every reviewer. Just about all of them still feel the Prelude could use more power for the cost of the car. They compare the Prelude to other cars available that cost the the same or less that have more power. The flaw to that is there is really nothing exactly like the Prelude. In my opinion I feel an apples-to-apples comparison is impossible. A car does not have to be super fast to be fun. The GTI, GR86/BRZ, Miata, Mini Cooper, are all proof cars without more power can be fun. Even addictive. Personally I would make my decision based on how satisfying a car is to drive based on how much fun it is.