The Performance-Built 2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid
- Thread starter Dragoon
- Start date
- Dec 18, 2024
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- 58
- Admin
- #2
Neat video. The voice almost sounds like Jon Hamm.
- Feb 26, 2026
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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).
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).
