It’s been 25 years because the Prelude nameplate was final seen in a Honda showroom. And standing on a easy, closed take a look at circuit in Japan, it’s clear the title is all that hyperlinks this new automobile to its high-revving, VTEC-powered ancestors.
The unique Prelude was a technical flagship for Honda, a showcase for sharp, naturally-aspirated, front-wheel drive dealing with. This new sixth-generation coupe is a hybrid, sharing its e:HEV powertrain with the common-or-garden Civic and CR-V.
On paper, it feels like sacrilege. However Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe has been adamant that the model’s “pleasure of driving” philosophy should be carried into its electrified future.
The Prelude is the primary actual take a look at of that promise – a hero automobile designed to show that effectivity and driver engagement can co-exist. The query is, can a hybrid coupe with a simulated computerized transmission ever be a ‘actual’ Prelude?
How a lot does the Honda Prelude price?
Honda Australia has confirmed the born-again Prelude will launch domestically in mid-2026however is but to lock in pricing.
Nevertheless, we all know it’s at the moment supplied in Japan solely in a single, high-spec variant. The Japanese home market worth is ¥6,179,800, which on the present change price equates to simply below A$64,000.
Tellingly, that is similar to the value of the Civic Kind R Racing Black Package deal in Japan.
In Australia, the Civic Kind R is priced from $72,600 drive-away. Given the Prelude shares a major quantity of the Kind R’s high-cost componentry — just like the dual-axis entrance suspension, adaptive dampers, and Brembo brakes — it’s secure to imagine will probably be positioned as a premium providing.
So you’ll be able to anticipate the 2026 Honda Prelude to land in Australia with a drive-away price ticket someplace between $65,000 and $70,000.
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What’s the Honda Prelude like on the within?
Hop inside and also you’ll instantly see the Eleventh-generation Civic. The clear horizontal dashboard, the honeycomb mesh air vents, and the clicky, high-quality local weather controls are all lifted straight from the Honda elements bin.
That’s not a foul factor, because the Civic inside is among the greatest in its class for ergonomics and construct high quality. However the Prelude makes an attempt to justify its premium price ticket with various key upgrades.
The usual 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and 9.0-inch central touchscreen are acquainted, together with Google Constructed-in with native Google Maps and Google Assistant, in addition to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The principle occasion is the seating. The Prelude will get distinctive leather-trimmed sports activities seats with fastened head restraints, aggressive bolstering, and a perforated houndstooth sample.
They’re heated as customary, and out there in both a conservative all-black or a much more placing two-tone blue and white colourway.
These seats, mixed with a flat-bottom leather-wrapped steering wheel, do loads to make the cabin really feel extra ‘sports activities automobile’ and fewer ‘commuter hatchback’.
Honda says it even designed the seats asymmetrically, with the driving force’s facet extra closely bolstered for cornering and the passenger facet barely softer for additional consolation.
It’s a strict 2+2-seater, and also you’d need to be legless or a baby to slot in the again. The rear pews are greatest considered a fantastically upholstered parcel shelf, which isn’t any actual shock for this section.
It feels premium, however whether or not it feels $65,000-premium when the sprint structure is shared with a $45,000 Civic is the query patrons should reply.
From a practicality standpoint, the Prelude incorporates a liftback rear-end, opening to a 428-litre boot (based mostly on US specs). That is monumental for the category, simply beating the 237L of a Toyota GR86.
The 60:40-split, folding rear seat backs increase the area additional, with Honda claiming it’s giant sufficient for 2 medium suitcases or perhaps a pair of surfboards.
What’s below the bonnet?
Neglect high-revving VTEC turbo engines like within the Kind R. The 2026 Prelude is powered by the identical e:HEV hybrid system discovered within the Civic and CR-V.
It pairs a 2.0-litre Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder petrol engine making 104kW of energy and 182Nm of torque with a two-motor hybrid system. The principle electrical drive motor produces 133kW and 315Nm. Mixed system outputs are 147kW/315Nm, despatched solely to the entrance wheels.
Whereas the facility determine is modest – lower than the 170kW/250Nm of the Toyota GR86 – the torque determine is the headline. That 315Nm isn’t solely considerably greater than the naturally aspirated GR86, however it’s additionally delivered immediately by the electrical motor.
The largest speaking level is the transmission – technically, there isn’t one. As a substitute, it’s Honda’s direct-drive e-CVT system. Nevertheless, to fight the ‘rubber band’ really feel and create driver engagement, Honda has engineered the ‘S+ Shift’ system. Geared up with steering wheel-mounted paddles, this method emulates an eight-speed computerized transmission.
It’s a purely artificial expertise, however it’s designed to supply the “sharp gear shifting really feel” of a standard auto, full with rev-matching ‘blips’ from the petrol engine on downshifts and the power to ‘maintain’ a gear.
Then there’s the chassis. To deal with the moment electrical torque, the Prelude borrows the dual-axis strut entrance suspension from the Civic Kind R, which is particularly designed to mitigate torque steer.
It additionally will get the adaptive damper system from the Kind R (retuned for the Prelude’s grand touring transient) and the identical Brembo four-piston entrance brake calipers.
How does the Honda Prelude drive?
I must preface this by saying our drive was extremely transient – just some laps on a brief, easy take a look at circuit in Japan. A full verdict should await a correct Aussie highway take a look at.
That mentioned, the Prelude is an interesting and complicated bundle.
Absolutely the crux of the expertise is the S+ Shift system. Let’s be clear: this isn’t a CVT with belts and pulleys. It’s an e-CVT, as a part of a two-motor hybrid system during which the electrical traction motor is primarily driving the wheels.
At greater speeds, a clutch can have interaction the two.0-litre petrol engine for direct drive, however the S+ Shift programming is the true story.
While you’re in S+ mode, the system convincingly emulates the texture of a dual-clutch transmission. It’s a purely artificial eight-speed map, however it delivers speedy, distinct upshifts and downshifts, fully eradicating the droning, elastic band-like sensation typical of many CVT-equipped hybrid powertrains.
The end result is a fascinating and attention-grabbing drive that feels far faraway from a typical eco-car.
The {hardware} is the opposite half of the story. This isn’t only a Civic that’s gone on a weight loss plan; the engineers have grafted within the dual-axis entrance suspension from the Civic Kind R and given the Prelude a wider monitor.
On this quick circuit, the steering was responsive and the chassis exhibited minimal physique roll, feeling planted and interesting.
It’s not mega-fast in a straight line like a Civic Kind R. As a substitute, it subscribes to the ‘gradual automobile quick’ philosophy, the place the driving force can extract 100 per cent of its efficiency and benefit from the dealing with with out reaching excessive speeds.
Regardless of the moment 315Nm of torque from the electrical motor, torque steer isn’t a difficulty. With a mixed 147kW, there isn’t sufficient energy to overwhelm the front-end, and the Kind R-derived suspension does a great job of managing energy supply.
Even when making use of energy aggressively out of tight corners, the Prelude stays composed and balanced. It’s a promising and complicated bundle, and we’re eager to place it via its paces on a correct Aussie monitor.
What do you get?
With a single high-spec variant anticipated for Australia, the Prelude will come loaded with customary tools.
2026 Honda Prelude tools highlights:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Brembo 4-piston entrance brakes
- Adaptive Damper System
- Twin-axis strut entrance suspension
- LED headlights with adaptive high-beam
- 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster20
- 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Google Constructed-in
- Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
- Wi-fi telephone charger
- 8-speaker Bose premium sound system
- Heated, leather-trimmed sports activities seats with houndstooth sample
- Flat-bottom, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters
- Twin-zone local weather management
Is the Honda Prelude secure?
The Prelude hasn’t been crash-tested by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, however it should come customary with the complete Honda Sensing suite of security applied sciences.
Normal security options embrace:
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Adaptive cruise management with low-speed observe
- Lane-keep help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Site visitors Jam Help
- Site visitors signal recognition
- Unintended acceleration mitigation
- Publish-Collision Braking system
CarExpert’s Tackle the Honda Prelude
After a really transient stint behind the wheel, it’s clear the Prelude is an interesting and deeply engineered automobile.
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It’s completely not the uncooked, analogue, high-revving coupe many lovers had been hoping for, however it’s additionally removed from a cynical badge-slap on a two-door Civic.
The powertrain is the perfect instance why. On paper, a 147kW hybrid with an e-CVT is the weak hyperlink. In follow, the ‘S+ Shift’ system is the surprise-and-delight characteristic.
It’s a genuinely intelligent and interesting simulation that delivers the distinct, stepped really feel of a dual-clutch auto, full with rev-matched downshifts. It fully removes the hybrid drone and makes the automobile enjoyable.
Whereas it’s not mega-fast in a straight line, its real-world efficiency is in its chassis.
This isn’t only a Civic in a smooth go well with; the engineers have grafted within the Civic Kind R’s dual-axis entrance suspension, adaptive dampers, and Brembo brakes. The end result, even on this quick monitor, is a automobile that feels planted, responsive, and secure, with glorious steering and minimal physique roll.
So, who is that this automobile for? At an anticipated $65,000-70,000 drive-away, it’s not a competitor for the Toyota GR86. It exists in a category of 1, simply as its predecessors did.
The Prelude is a contemporary compact grand tourer. It’s for the mature fanatic who desires a classy, sharp-handling, and sensible coupe for the day by day drive — somebody who appreciates the moment electrical torque and 5.0L/100km gasoline economic system as a lot because the cornering grip.
It efficiently proves that Honda’s “pleasure of driving” philosophy can survive electrification, and that’s a really promising signal for the Japanese model’s future.
Click on the photographs for the complete gallery
MORE: 2026 Honda Prelude – Reborn hybrid sports activities coupe detailed forward of Australian launch
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