Honda has revived the Prelude nameplate as a self-charging hybrid coupe, resisting the industry trend toward electric SUVs, according to a review of the car. The new model, driven by reviewer Rob Hull over several days, starts at £41,595.
The Prelude keeps the two-door, 2+2 layout that defined five generations of the car sold between 1979 and 2001. Honda has chosen a full hybrid powertrain rather than making the car fully electric, in contrast to other nameplate revivals such as the Renault 5 E-Tech and Ford's electric Capri SUV.
Filling the gap left by the Civic Type R
Honda discontinued the Civic Type R hot hatch in January 2026 because of EU emissions regulations, leaving a gap in a lineup otherwise made up of the Jazz supermini and a range of SUVs. The Prelude now takes over as the brand's flagship performance model, priced almost £10,000 below the Type R it replaces.
Honda has historically used the Prelude as a showcase for new engineering. The third-generation car, launched in 1987, was the first mainstream model sold with rear-wheel steering as standard.
Design and options
Chief engineer Tomoyuki Yamagami said the car's shape was inspired by a glider, with a low nose, a double-bubble roof and body sides shaped to reduce drag. The headlights wrap around the front flanks and there is a single LED light bar at the rear. Buyers can add a £1,390 Black Pack that includes a small rear spoiler and a more aggressive front splitter.
Drivetrain shared with the Civic
The Prelude uses the same platform as the Civic hatchback. Its e:HEV hybrid system combines a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, two electric motors and a 1.05kWh battery, producing 181bhp and 315Nm of torque, matching the output of the standard Civic hatchback. Honda's official 0-62mph figure is 8.2 seconds, and top speed is 117mph.
A feature called S+ Shift simulates an eight-speed gearbox over the car's single-speed CVT automatic transmission. Drivers can change through the virtual gears using metal paddles behind the steering wheel, and the system adjusts engine revs to mimic the sound of a gear change, delivers a physical "shift shock" through the wheel and produces a simulated throttle blip on downshifts. With S+ Shift engaged, the reviewer timed 0-62mph at 8.3 seconds; with the system switched off, 0-60mph took 7.5 seconds.
The Prelude also borrows chassis components from the Type R, including dual-axis front struts, multi-link rear suspension, adaptive dampers, electric power steering and brakes.
Interior and practicality
The cabin layout, infotainment screen and instrument cluster are carried over from the Civic. The review noted the graphics looked dated compared with rivals and that the reversing camera had poor resolution. The car is sold in a single trim level, Advance, which includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.
Despite being marketed as a four-seater, the review found the rear seats suitable only for small children because of the low, sloping roofline. Boot space is 264 litres with the rear seats in place, similar to a Hyundai i10 city car and more than 100 litres less than the nearest rival in the sports coupe segment. Folding the rear seats down increases capacity to 760 litres.
How it drives
Honda has said the Prelude was not engineered for outright driving thrills but to offer the refinement of a grand tourer, and the review found it did not feel especially quick even in Sport mode. Driven conservatively, the car can return around 50 miles per gallon, and Honda's combined economy figure is 54.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 117g/km.
The review found the car improved in Comfort or GT modes, with softer suspension giving a supple ride, weighted steering and strong body control through corners.
Limited numbers
Honda's only direct rival for the Prelude is the BMW 2 Series, a rear-wheel-drive coupe that also starts at around £40,000. Honda plans to bring 400 Preludes to the UK in 2026, of which 216 had been sold at the time of the review, with 500 units planned per year after that.
The reviewer said he wished Honda had given the car more power, noting the comparison after previously criticising Porsche's Cayenne Electric Turbo for having more than 1,140bhp, over six times the Prelude's output, from a 2.5-tonne SUV. The review concluded that self-charging hybrids are generally engineered to conserve fuel rather than to maximise excitement.
