The Honda Prelude

If it seems like a long time since you saw a new Honda Prelude in the neighborhood, that’s because it has been. Out of production at Honda since 2001, the Prelude evokes memories of the boxy sedan version that hit the road from 1979 to 1991, that car your grandmother drove back in the day.

The Prelude got a bit more style from 1992 to 2001, with today’s reimagined version zooming past that OG memory into a gorgeous sports car that’s also a hybrid gas saver.

It’s bigger than the old iterations, five inches wider than the 2001 version, with flowing design lines that give it a completely different look and feel behind the wheel. From the front under spoiler to the aerodynamic roof design, the 2026 Prelude has a smooth aerodynamic thrust, with quick acceleration and firm handling.

The vehicle comes in five color choices, Winter Frost Pearl, Meteorite Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Rallye Red and the incredible Boost Blue Pearl. That brilliantly hued blue shade is spectacular, paired with a black synthetic leather interior to create a look that belies the Prelude’s $42,000 MSRP. This Honda has the visuals of a much more expensive car, and drives like one, too.

With a 2.0L, two-motor hybrid system, the Prelude gives up 200 hp and holds the road like a champ, be it highway driving or on curving mountain roads. It’s got four drive modes (GT, Sport, Comfort and Individual, the last set by the driver), as well as Honda’s S+ Shift. That allows you to take over, shifting gears with paddles on the steering when, for exactly the ride you want to take.

Add in the regenerative braking system featuring seven different adjustment modes and the result is a smooth stopping system that regenerates power as the car slows. That system also helps the hybrid motor to make more power when decelerating, thus saving gas and improving the mileage, which sits at 46 city/41 highway driving, with 44 mpg combined. That makes the Prelude the most efficient sports coupe sold in the USA.

The Prelude is technically a four-seater, but honestly the second row of seats are designed for children or very small adults. But considering it as a two-seater with backseat room works out well, as the hatchback style allows for 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space and adds even more with the two rear seats folded down flat.

It’s a perfect city car for a single or a couple, zipping easily through traffic and, with its 14.5-foot length, easy to slip into a tight parking space. It also has a Bose audio system with eight speakers and subwoofer, which makes a road trip to beach or mountains a ton of fun.

Safety comes first in the Honda Prelude, so you’ll be able to choose all the driving assistance you desire. With “Honda Sensing,” you can give over the driving to the car, with its Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Lane Keeping Assist System and even Traffic Sign Recognition System. We’re not very happy when a car starts driving itself, so the good news is you can choose to turn those systems off, too.

What we do like is the Blind Spot Information System, the Parking Sensors, the Auto(matic) High-Beam Headlights and the Adaptive Cruise Control, so those are always on when we drive this delightful Honda reimagination of the Prelude.

And we love looking like the coolest kid on the block, too, in that bright blue sports car with the reasonable sticker price!

For additional information about the Honda Prelude go to automobiles.honda.com/prelude