Driven. 2026 Honda Prelude
When I first heard that Honda was reviving the Prelude nameplate I was overjoyed; a contagion that was short lived upon learning it would deploy a hybrid drivetrain.
It wasn’t from a place of flippancy – I’ve been a passionate fan of the Honda brand for 25 years.
You could say I’m rather invested in the brand; my only return is the joy at VTEC crossover, in my DC2 Type R anyway.
A week in this new Prelude had me eating my words. Because the truth is that it possesses healthy dollops of the DNA that made the Prelude great, but it’s also a beautifully engineered vehicle that provides ample driving enjoyment.
External aesthetics are a highlight, with graceful swooping lines that grant it both a sleek and athletic feel from any angle. Whilst I’m not the biggest fan of black, it does a great job of highlighting the pumped guards front and rear. They stretch right out to meet with the 19-inch mesh-style wheels wrapped in Continental Premium Contact 235/45 rubber.
Theres plenty of engineering thought that underpins a cleanliness in finishing too; think Laser Brazing to create a flush finish between the roof and the side panels. Ultimately the new ‘Lude is equally beautiful to look at and completely unique when compared to any new vehicles on the market. A real boon for the brand.
The vibe continues inside, once you navigate the flush door handles which pop out on approach. Swinging open the long door allows entry to a suitably beautiful cockpit.
I’ve always been a fan of contrasting interiors, and the Prelude certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s a combination of bone and navy leather on the seats with blue-and-tan stitching, offset by charcoal finishes including the darkened roof liner. It sounds busy on paper but lovely in real-life.
The seat itself is bolstered enough without being too boy-racer, with manual controls for adjustments.
Some will baulk at that, but who needs the added weight anyway? I do however question why a vehicle with grand-touring intentions doesn’t have lumbar supports.
Up ahead sits a larger-than-expected steering wheel which falls nicely to hand, ahead of a 10.2-inch driver screen. That’s matched to a 9-inch infotainment screen running native Android software much like the CRV and Accord. I was thankful that the CarPlay connection issues in the CRV didn’t present here, leaving me to listen to my favourite tunes through the 8-speaker Bose sound system.
There’s a smattering of logical button-ware above the wireless charger, along with USB ports and a set of buttons to control the gearbox. It's a feature I found odd in the CRV that works here, as it follows the centre console’s angle perfectly.
Of note was the beautifully stitched Prelude logo ahead of the passenger, and the enjoyable view out the front windscreen. It’s been a while since I’ve sat in a coupe and the view through what felt like a letterbox slot was a true delight.
Some have bagged the rear seats, but they are what they are. They’re tight – plain and simple. Whilst my daughters would get back there, they weren’t particularly happy about it.
It’s strictly a 4-seater too (at best) because there is a plastic panel in the centre of the rear seat.
Luggage space is enough for a couple hitting the road to wine country for the weekend – a perfect example of the sort of activity one should undertake in a car like this.
Hitting the starter fires up the 2-litre 4-cylinder engine. It’s benign in nature, an attribute that remains steadfast regardless of what you’re asking of it. But this 6th generation Prelude is also a hybrid; the core reason behind the ire amongst old-school Honda fans, including myself.
It’s an Atkinson cycle setup (think Toyota Prius) which means there’s two electric motors within the ecosystem. One acts as a generator to keep the 1.1kWh battery charged, the other helps the ICE engine send 135kw and 320Nm of torque to the front axle.
These aren’t groundbreaking numbers in today’s motoring world – there are Chinese hatchbacks that will out do them comfortably. Adding insult to injury is the fact that power is sent through a CVT gearbox.
The difference here is that the it will emulate 8 artificial shifts when in Sport+ mode; one of 5 available. It’s not perfect, but it’s also not a novelty; making the acceleration process far more enjoyable than the screaming cacophony oft found in a CVT-driven vehicle. But it’s when decelerating that it adds all-the-more functional value.
Because whilst the Prelude is intelligent enough to read your inputs and “downshift” coming into a corner, you can also use the steering wheel mounted paddle shifters to do so yourself.
The process not only feigns a downward shift but results in a combination of electric motor and ICE compression braking, which helps set the car up for the corner.
On that, nothing prepared me for the cornering prowess on hand. The sharing of front suspension and braking architecture from the FL5 Civic Type R was just as exciting in practise, as it was on paper.
The 2026 Honda Prelude is quite simply an incredibly capable vehicle through corners.
From turn-in bite to mid corner pace and adjustability, it truly has it all. A run through a well-known twisty road with a group from ClubITR uncovered this. Its ability to hang with far more serious metal was quite simply astounding.
My only real gripe in these conditions emanated from a distinct lack of power-out punch.
An 8.2 second sprint to the tonne is hardly considered fast, and it certainly doesn’t feel it either. It piles on speed but I’m not sure whether it’s the lack of sound, or the way the power is delivered that exacerbates the feeling of numbness.
This means getting the Prelude to power out of a corner requires planning to allow for WOT as early as possible. It can be done, but it’s hard work.
Then there are tighter corners, where the body just rolls a little too much, and push understeer can become evident. But these are all responses that could be attributed to the driver, the road and circumstances.
The truth is the 2026 Honda Prelude could be the perfect daily driver for someone like me. The DC2R is in a perpetual convalescence undercover; too low and harsh to take out every day.
But this Prelude is a pleasure to drive regardless of the occasion. It’s easy to potter in, looks amazing inside and out and provides one with a sense of occasion when behind the wheel.
It can also provide ample enjoyment for the passionate driver, be it through a suburban roundabout, or a twisty mountain drive. In the process it sips the 98 at a rate of about 7L/100km and can be had for $65,000 driveaway.
It’s a compelling story that had me eating my words.
The pitfalls I’ve described above would have all been evident in the prior generations, because the Prelude was always designed to be a grand tourer, not an all-out racer. The 2026 Honda Prelude is 100% on point here.
But fundamentally as a long-term fan, it hopefully represents Honda’s desire to go back to its roots; building beautifully engineered vehicles designed to drive.
And that’s what excites me the most.
Like: Beautiful inside and out, exquisitely engineered, 5 generations of Prelude DNA is evident, it’s a driver!
Dislike: Not enough drama in the power delivery
Car Guy Rating 8.5
The 2026 Honda Prelude had me eating my words, and perhaps even had me looking in the mirror a little. I shouldn’t have doubted so heavily without trying – it’s all a little “bitter old man” really. Fundamentally this could be the perfect daily for someone like me. It looks great inside and out, is beautifully engineered and can straddle the line between mundane work with exciting driving. Before you judge me, take one for a drive.
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