2027 Honda Prelude

Overview

The Prelude nameplate carries a lot of weight in the Honda-sphere. The newest generation of the sporty hybrid coupe still retains many of the attributes that made the Prelude popular among enthusiasts in the past. But is that enough?

The Prelude has always borrowed heavily from the Honda Civic, and the newest model is no exception. Its 200-hp hybrid powertrain is shared with the Civic Hybrid, and it is built on the same platform that underpins all Civics. What the Prelude lacks is a slick six-speed manual transmission, and we wish it had more power to match its sporty handling. The Prelude's low-slung silhouette gives up some practicality, but it still has a small back seat and reasonable cargo capacity under its hatch.

Expert Tip: While nothing else in Honda's portfolio looks as sleek as the Prelude, the Honda Civic Type R offers far more performance and practicality with a 315-hp turbocharged four-cylinder and a four-door hatchback body style.

What's New for 2027?

The Prelude returned to market just last year, so we don’t foresee any important changes for the 2027 model year.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

The Prelude only comes one way, so your sole choices have to do with color selection. A two-tone color scheme with white paint and a black roof costs $500 extra. Otherwise, there is a single fully-loaded trim level, and Honda offers various accessories. Grippier summer tires are available as a $1200 dealer-installed option, and we can vouch for the fact that the summer rubber improves the Prelude's steering feel and handling.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

• Hybrid Powertrain: 2.0-liter four-cylinder and one electric motor, 200 hp combined
• Transmission: direct-drive
• Drivetrain: front-wheel drive

The Prelude's standard hybrid powertrain is shared with the Civic Hybrid. This combination provides 200 horsepower, which is in the ballpark of other affordable sports cars such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Toyota GR86.

We’re bummed that a manual transmission isn't on offer, but the car's new S+ Shift system is at least able to replicate some of the fun thanks to paddle shifters and faux rev-matching capability. (The Prelude's direct-drive transmission behaves like a continuously variable transmission.)

When we drove the Prelude we found it to be fun in the corners, but we wished for a more grunt from the hybrid powertrain. The S+ system didn't add much in terms of driver engagement, and it's no replacement for a true shift-for-yourself manual. Bottom line: for a Civic coupe, forty-four grand is a lot of money.

0–60-MPH Times

• C/D 60-mph Estimate: 6.6 seconds

In Comparison: We think the Prelude's acceleration figure will trail other competitors such as the Mazda MX-5 Miata and GR86, both of which get to 60 mph in under 6.0 seconds. We'll report its 60-mph time here when we get to put one through our full testing regimen.

View Exterior Photos

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

• EPA City Rating: 46 mpg
• EPA Highway Rating: 41 mpg

The EPA rates the Prelude to deliver 46 mpg in the city, 41 mpg on the highway, and 44 mpg combined. Those numbers are slightly below the Civic Hybrid's, but they far outpace any of the Prelude's sports-car competitors. We've yet to run the Prelude on our 75-mph highway fuel economy test, but we'll update this section when we do. For more information about the Prelude's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

First Row: The Prelude’s cabin looks much like the Civic’s, but Honda spices things up with different color upholstery and trim choices. The front seats come standard with heating and contrasting stitching.

Second Row: The Prelude’s rear seat is tight, especially in terms of headroom, but adults can fit in a pinch if needed.

Cargo Capacity: The Prelude is a hatchback with the trunk accessible through a liftback. The rear seats fold to expand the cargo area.

View Interior Photos

Infotainment and Connectivity

• Infotainment: 9.0-inch touchscreen
• Connectivity: Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Audio System: 8-speaker Bose audio system

The Prelude’s infotainment setup is the same as what you’ll find in the Civic’s upper trim levels. It comes with a 9.0-inch center touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster display. The screen uses Google software, and you can connect your smartphone wirelessly using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Prelude comes standard with a wide range of driver-assistance features, as there’s only one trim level and no optional features.

• Standard Safety Features: adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automated emergency braking

For information about the Prelude's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

The Prelude offers the same warranty package as other Honda models, which is average in terms of coverage compared to other manufacturers. Complimentary maintenance is a nice plus.

• Limited Warranty: three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: five years or 60,000 miles
• Hybrid Warranty: eight years or 100,000 miles
• Complimentary Maintenance: one year or 12,000 miles

C/D Test Results and Specs

Each year, we put hundreds of vehicles through our rigorous instrumented testing regimen. If the data in the chart below is for a different model year, that's because this vehicle hasn't changed from when we last tested it, and the test results remain accurate.

Specifications

Specifications

2026 Honda Prelude
Vehicle Type: front-engine, front-motor, front-wheel-drive, 4-passenger, 2-door coupe

PRICE
Base: $43,195

POWERTRAIN
DOHC 16-valve 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-4, 141 hp, 134 lb-ft + AC motor, 181 hp, 232 lb-ft (combined output: 200 hp; lithium-ion battery pack)
Transmission: direct-drive

DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 102.6 in
Length: 178.4 in
Width: 74.0 in
Height: 53.4 in
Passenger Volume, F/R: 52/33 ft³
Cargo Volume, F/R: 40/15 ft³
Curb Weight (C/D est): 3250 lb

PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
60 mph: 6.6 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.4 sec
Top Speed: 115 mph

EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 44/46/41 mpg

More Features and Specs