The Honda Prelude is back. After 25 years in hibernation, the Japanese automaker has confirmed that its beloved two-door coupe will return to U.S. dealerships in the fall of 2026. For car enthusiasts, this is no small announcement.
The Prelude was once the definition of affordable performance — a machine that blended sharp looks, nimble handling, and Honda reliability in a package first-time buyers and tuners alike adored.
Originally launched in 1978, the Prelude’s popularity peaked in the late ’80s and early ’90s. It was part of a golden age for Japanese sport coupes, alongside the Toyota Celica, Supra, Acura NSX, and Nissan Skyline.
For young drivers, the Prelude represented a ticket into sports-car culture without the financial pain of owning a Camaro or Mustang. Yet by the late ’90s, as SUVs took over and Honda shifted its lineup, sales dried up. The Prelude was quietly retired in 2001 after five generations.
Now, it’s being revived for a new era — but in hybrid form. The 2026 Prelude will feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder paired with a small battery pack, together generating about 200 horsepower.
That won’t set Nürburgring lap records, but it will plant the Prelude firmly in the modern market, where efficiency and electrification are now table stakes. Honda says pricing will hover around $40,000, though final numbers remain under wraps.
What has purists grumbling is not the hybrid drivetrain but the transmission setup. Instead of a stick or even a traditional gear lever, Honda is giving drivers console buttons to select gears — a design borrowed from Acura SUVs.
To soften the blow, paddle shifters on the steering wheel will allow for manual-style driving, and Honda is adding simulated gear changes and exhaust notes, even in electric mode. It’s a nod to enthusiasts who want the experience of a sports car even if the drivetrain is whisper-quiet. Still, one driver summed up the reaction bluntly: “The dang Acura center console in a Honda is scary to see.”
Despite the controversy, Honda insists the Prelude’s return signals its commitment to fun, exciting cars. Jessika Laudermilk, assistant VP of Honda sales, put it plainly: “The Prelude’s return demonstrates our commitment to exciting, fun-to-drive vehicles and will help to accelerate our hybrid-electric sales in the years ahead.”
