25 years since the last Prelude was sold, the sports coupe is back with a bang.
Don’t rush to your Honda dealer just yet, though – the Prelude is scheduled to reach UK shores in the first half of 2026.
Clearly it’s too early to know how much the new Prelude will cost, but we’d expect it to cost a few thousand pounds more than the Honda Civic hatchback, which starts at £35,000.
With all of Honda’s range now electrified (excluding the hot Civic Type R), the Prelude is going to feature a hybrid engine with a mix of petrol and electric power.
This is likely to mean the same 2.0-litre powerplant that’s in the Civic and the ZR-V, boosted by two electric motors and a small battery for low-speed electric driving.
Honda is keen to emphasise that the Prelude will be for keen drivers. The new car will feature ‘S+ Shift’ technology, which simulates the noise and feel of a quick-shifting automatic gearbox. In lieu of a proper manual gearbox, this is as good as it’s going to get – but if it’s anything like the simulated gearbox in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, that’s no big problem.
The Prelude gets smooth new styling with clean surfacing and slim LED daytime running lights. The headlights are joined by a slim air intake and the lower bumper integrates a spoiler into the design. At the back, there’s a full-width light bar giving an impressive night-time light signature, and curved haunches leading down to a sporty rear bumper.
When the Prelude launches in 18 months’ time, it isn’t likely to have many direct rivals – if any. There aren’t many coupes on the market, and there aren’t many hybrid cars that try to be fun and sporty. The Prelude looks to bring a unique mix of economy and performance.
Hone in on a Honda
Shop used Honda cars for sale at Motorpoint, or read our review of the Honda ZR-V.
