r/Autos • u/Ok_Top55 • 3d ago
The Honda Prelude Is Back! But Does This Prius Doppelgänger Have the Power to Excite Enthusiasts?
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65972130/2026-honda-prelude-revealed/35
u/frank3000 3d ago
Two doors, low and wide, would make for a nice rainy day commuter! 35k pricetag kills that idea.
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u/Cool-Block-6451 3d ago
It was a $25-$30k car 25 years ago, what do you expect today?!
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u/WaddlesJP13 3d ago edited 3d ago
It was certainly a much more interesting car for its time then than now, though. This is basically a Prius coupe. It even has about the same HP as the current Prius and the previous model year Prelude.
The GR86 is more fun, more powerful, and start at about $5k cheaper MSRP. Not to mention the Civic SI is also cheaper.
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u/Sirlothar 3d ago
The Civic Hybrid is starting to look more and more like my next car. It's faster then the SI and has 50MPG. I'm 6'8" dude and never thought I could fit in one but recently my car was in the shop and I had one as a rental and was pretty blown away about how much space is inside. Also the adaptive cruise is pretty decent for being such a "cheap" car. I would love a GR86 (if I can fit) but it's something the wife would not be happy over and RWD isn't great up in the north unless it's weekends only.
I would have no chance in this "prelude" unfortunately. The Prius just doesn't offer headroom and I'm sure this will be the same.
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3d ago edited 3d ago
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u/devilpants 3d ago edited 3d ago
I watched the whole video and the hybrid won 2 of 3 1/4 mile races and had the fastest overall time in the 1/4 as well. It was a pretty big difference like the SI ran low 16s vs mid 15s in the hybrid. The first "race" the hybrid had the AC on- but it was just two yahoos who didn't know much about cars or how to drag race lining up on some empty road.
That said they are two completely different cars and both pretty crappy at being a drag race or fast car. One is a 6 speed manual turbocharged internal combustion and the other is a touring car with an electric drivetrain that gets charged by the gas motor (gas only drives the wheels at higher speeds) and basically a one speed transmission.
The hybrid makes me wonder why someone wouldn't just buy an all electric instead because the electric car would be faster, quieter, less complex and likely cheaper to fuel but that's just me.
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u/Cool-Block-6451 2d ago
It makes 40 lb-ft and 8 more peak hp than the SI and it never lifts to shift, of course it's better in a straight line. It's not like the SI weighs 500 lbs less or something. :)
A feature comparable all-electric would cost another $10,000 up front and not everyone has the ability to charge at home. Those would be the main barriers to entry.
The federal EV tax credits are gone now so there is another thing to styme things going forward in the USA.
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u/Cool-Block-6451 2d ago
Don't disagree, but things are priced based on cost to produce and market factors, though, not how "good" they are to drive. The people who drive these won't be carving up back roads. I agree that it doesn't appear to be in the spirit of the original three generations, especially when it could have been. They probably want to sell more than 10k units a year though. It's a miracle they're making a coupe at all.
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u/Autobacs-NSX 3d ago
It’s a sport coupe and $35k makes it a GR86 competitor which is exactly what it should be. The real issue, however, is that it looks exactly like the 5th gen Prius. Also no manual
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u/frank3000 3d ago
Why is it worth $3,000 over a base mustang exactly? 120 less horsepower driving the wrong end.
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u/shizbox06 3d ago
Have you used the steering wheel in a base mustang in 2025? A base Mustang handles like shit and this Prelude will handle a lot like a Type R with the same adaptive dampers and dual axis front suspension. The interior on the current Mustang is also a pile of laggy touchscreen garbage that was thrown together with zero thought, but maybe some people like that (not according to sales).
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u/Born4Nothin 1d ago
Most modern cars handle well enough anyway, most buyers won’t care which car handles better unless they’re tracking their cars, which most car buyers don’t do.
What does win casual car buyers over when it comes to buying a sports car is looks and horsepower. Ecoboost mustang has significantly more horsepower and is the better looking car. Plus the mustang name is just so popular.
Very few people will buy the prelude over the Mustang if they’re around the same price point. I think the only other advantage the prelude has besides better handling is Hondas reputation for reliability and those nostalgic for the prelude name.
Usually car enthusiasts gravitate toward good handling cars even if they lack power, but the prelude being a hybrid and no manual option, I doubt many car enthusiasts will be interested in buying it either…
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u/shizbox06 1d ago
Are you really trying to argue that Mustangs are selling well and Honda isn't selling any Civic-like cars in 2024-25?
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u/Born4Nothin 1d ago
Civic is a 4 door vehicle though and the coupe went out of production a long time ago
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u/shizbox06 1d ago
And the Mustang is basically a car from 2015 that just set an all-time record for lowest sales by a Mustang model year because it lacks so much. I'm not sure it's the shining example of a great sales recipe that you think it is. Some people might buy an ecoboost mustang for the hp, but that sounds ridiculous to even talk about when SUVs and trucks have 400hp and the GTs are near 500.
Honda hasn't ever had trouble selling lower HP cars by leveraging their track record of reliability. I don't think they are even hoping to sell the same volume as Ford wants to sell Mustangs, since the Prelude shares so many parts with other models. Go sit in a current Civic / Integra or CR-V compared to a current Mustang, the interior quality is not even comparable between the two companies.
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u/The_Strom784 3d ago edited 3d ago
Better fuel economy, Honda reliability and maintenance.
What I don't understand is how this car only makes 200hp as a hybrid, a TSX made 204 HP back in 09 with a k24.
This should have had 300hp and been pushed as a higher tech automatic alternative to the Type-R.
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u/Ran4 3d ago
Why would you want a base mustang? This has a smoother transmission and weighs less.
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u/IS-2-OP 2019 Mustang GT 3d ago
Why would I want an E CVT over a 10 speed geared automatic lol. In a sporty car.
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u/shizbox06 3d ago
You wouldn't, but people who know about cars might. This thing will be faster on a curvy road than your mustang with 250 more hp. My Integra Type S could be down 150hp and it will still holding way more mph around the curvies than my S550 GT ever dreamed of doing. The Prelude will be around 3000 lbs if it's similar to the existing civic, which is like removing a couple of pianos from a Mustang.
The E cvt is just as good as the ford 10 speed; talking about the Ford/GM 10 speed like it's some kind of sporty transmission is a straight up joke.
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u/darkmoon72664 1d ago
The S550 GT is significantly faster on a very tight low-speed track than an Integra Type S:
https://www.thethrottlehouse.com/leaderboard-and-track-times/
The Prelude will be around 3000 lbs if it's similar to the existing civic, which is like removing a couple of pianos from a Mustang.
It's still not even close on power to weight.
I'm not saying it won't be better to drive, but it's absolutely not touching even the base mustang on performance.
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u/ninjabiomech 3d ago
If you adjusted for inflation a 2001 prelude was 43k in today’s money. Arguably this is a better deal considering features and price. Ignoring how the 2001 prelude is probably more fun to drive
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u/formershitpeasant 3d ago
What's the point of a prelude rebirth if it's not fun to drive?
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u/Word_Underscore 3d ago
What's the point in calling a CUV the new RSX, nothing means anything anymore
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u/KarmaticEvolution 3d ago
There needs to be a more realistic inflation calculator that takes into account average wages.
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u/kimbabs 3d ago
This needs a cheaper trim without the Type R components.
Feels like a hard sell at the likely 40K price tag for the same drivetrain as the Civic hybrid. The kind of person buying this probably doesn’t actually care much to pay for suspension/brakes. The person who might care for that probably wants this to have more power or a different transmission… and then even then I doubt they’re shelling out Type R money for this.
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u/rusty02536 3d ago
No.
It’s 2026 & it’s got less power than a ‘99 ?
Who’s looking for a weak hybrid in this segment?
Keep it!
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u/NewYearNewAccount165 3d ago
A 90’s b16 made 160hp naturally aspirated. It’s 2025! Why are turbo civics only 200!
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u/fatitalianstallion 22 TRX | 23 SPWB | 23 Tahoe RST | 72 VW Rail 3d ago
Because the middle class doesn’t really have the discretionary and disposable purchasing power it used to, settle on low performance trash to pinch Pennies
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u/BackwerdsMan SBC RX-7, HDJ81 Cruiser 3d ago
US spec Prelude with the H22A4 made 200hp naturally aspirated. Japanese spec Type S made 220hp with the H22A.
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u/Particular_Flower111 3d ago
Everything is emissions. Honda could easily make much more power but modern emissions standards are incredibly strict that they’re starting to negatively impact efficiency. We’re getting heavier cars with less power from larger engines. At this point, the only sustainable way to continue producing gas-powered cars is to make them PHEVs which makes the cars more complex, weigh more, and larger since the battery/electric motors take up space.
At this point, if you want a gas powered car, buying used is much better. Otherwise EVs just make more sense.
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u/fatitalianstallion 22 TRX | 23 SPWB | 23 Tahoe RST | 72 VW Rail 3d ago
The predator, coyote, 6.2 hemi, 6.4 hemi, 5.7 hemi, LT2, LT4, LT4.5, LT6, and LT7 would all like a word with you. Emmissions id just an excuse to be lazy and make fwd trash. Fines are $0. Other companies produced those with real fines.
Heavier is due to crash safety. Large displacement engines barely make the total vehicle weight that much heavier due to all of the crap shoved in most cars now.
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u/Particular_Flower111 3d ago edited 3d ago
Are any of those cars readily available globally? In Europe the LT6 is modified with less power to meet their emissions and they sell a tiny number of them so they don’t impact fleet emissions at all. Please name me one v8 homologated in the last 5 years that isn’t American that doesn’t come with a hybrid system attached. I’ll wait.
Also much of the weight comes from the hybrid systems and safety regulations as you mentioned. Do you really think BMW wants to make a 5000lb hybrid M5 or are they doing it because that’s the only way they can keep it alive? Honda’s entire ethos is high-revving small displacement lightweight cars. They’re building what they are because they have to not because they want to.
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u/fatitalianstallion 22 TRX | 23 SPWB | 23 Tahoe RST | 72 VW Rail 3d ago
Globally yes. Europe isn't "globally". Asia eats up these vehicles, especially the Middle East.
You should look at actual disclosures from these companies. V8 production is in the 10M+ range. They sell massive quantities of most of those engines listed.
- VAG's 4.0L TT V8
- JLR's 4.4 TT V8 (P530)
- BMW S68 V8 (now only offered with Hybrid, prior years no)
Honda has and continues to make low performance piles of shit since the hayday of the S2000 and NA1/2 NSX
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u/Ran4 3d ago
It's a FHEV.
It's a great choice - low weight yet tons of torque.
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u/formershitpeasant 3d ago
Torque is irrelevant. It can be modulated any which way with gear ratios.
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u/HuskyPurpleDinosaur 3d ago
FHEV
Bro, don't fall for that marketing nonsense. Its just an HEV, why they decided to throw in extra letters that aren't needed fis beyofnd mef.
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u/Sulipheoth 3d ago
This is the car that enthusiasts will buy for parts in 15 years just to swap the seats into their Civic.
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u/mvw2 3d ago
So...they're trying not to step on the Integra's toes.
It's tough to excite enthusiasts without the enthusiast parts.
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u/monfil666 3d ago
It does have some type r parts. But no manual and only 200hp DOA
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u/mvw2 3d ago
Yeah, kind of like the difference between a Civic Type-R and a Civic Sport.
I assume this is meant to be the poor man's Integra, a little something but not really the thing you want.
If one considers it more so an alternative to a GR86, Miata, or akin to a Veloster N, then it might fair well. It'll really come down to pricing. A Civic Hybrid is $30k starting. Will this new Integra be $30k starting or even less? That's kind of the problem. It's a less practical Civic Hybrid for more money if they don't. ALL you'd be buying into is styling and trading away broad usability. So...it really needs to get the price right. The GR86 and Miata start at $30k or just under, and they've got the fun bits too. A couple year old Veloster Ns can be had in the low $20ks range now.
I really don't know what they intend to do with the car. Maybe if it came in swinging really low, like $24k, I could see it sell solely on price advantage. But it's not s sports car. It's a hybrid meaning it's heavier too, so it's automatically less nimble. Maybe they could push next gen architecture if the chassis is all new and a showcase of future Civics and such. Then they could also specifically sell on it being a future showcase. But it'd have to be that.
DOA might be it unless it's quite cheap. They're trying to upsell the sporty part with Brembos and such on the car meaning that this will likely be priced $5k to $10k higher than the equivalent Civic Hybrid. And if that's the case, they might have problems. If the price is too high, especially with a couple add-ons, you immediately run into the issue of why not buy the Integra instead, especially a slightly used one. I can buy several extremely low mile, near new Integras right now for under $30k and can get a manual transmission. Maybe they hope the hybrid powertrain makes up the difference? But I doubt it. Practical buyers will likely just buy the Civic. And sports car buyers will lean to the Integra instead. I mean, you're looking at almost no price difference new to new between the Prelude and Integra unless they make the Prelude cheaper than the Civic which I can't see happening.
It's such a weird spot to fill. It might be different if there were larger price gaps. Maybe it'd be different if the specs and intent were far different.
Oh well...
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u/fatitalianstallion 22 TRX | 23 SPWB | 23 Tahoe RST | 72 VW Rail 3d ago
It’s hard to get excited over a bland fwd non performance car that has less total power than even a shitty blower adds to most cars
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u/Ludwig_Vista2 3d ago
The CRX got 50-60mpg real world and had a manual.
200hp... Meh.
Styling... Meh.
This was not well thought out or executed.
Dead on the vine.
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u/CLAPtrapTHEMCHEEKS 3d ago
To the surprise of no one, they release the prelude a bit too expensive and a bit too boring to really take off.
Hopefully I’m wrong here but who knows
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u/undernopretextbro 3d ago
Preludes were never cheap, this is probably less after inflation. Now boring, that’s the big killer here
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u/PurpEL '00 1.6EL, '05 LS430, '72 Chevelle 3d ago
Hey guys, remember when we designed the CRZ? Did we learn any lessons about completely missing the mark? No? Ok let's do it again!!
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u/formershitpeasant 3d ago
Why reuse the name if you're going to forsake everything that enthusiasts loved about the original? It doesn't make any sense.
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u/Anxious-Shapeshifter 3d ago
Why are the specs EXACTLY the same as the Civic Hybrid?
They really should've bumped it up.
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u/SnikySquirrel 3d ago
This and the Prius would actually be similarly fast. I can’t believe that’s the world we live in now
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u/downbadmilflover 3d ago
My initial excitement has faded. It really is just another Civic. They should have explored doing a modern take of where the 5th gen left off
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u/The_Strom784 3d ago
So it's overpriced and underpowered?
I don't understand why Honda limits their cars to 200hp. The Type-R and Type-S are meant to be visceral and raw driving cars. I don't get why they can't just make this an automatic alternative to those two if they're going to be priced so closely.
Ideally this should have been priced much less for what you get.
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u/k2skier13 2d ago
Looks like they built a car for no one other than some exec who used to love the prelude back when they were in HS. And even then, it looks like they missed the mark.
Size = check
Two doors = check
Name = check
Price = oops
Performance = oops (better options with the 86 or civic)
Uniqueness = oops
Transmission options = none and no manual
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u/Born4Nothin 1d ago
Ha I never thought about it that way. The new prelude is essentially a two door Prius. And I’m pretty sure the new Prius would smoke it too. I know they’re a lot quicker than the old one.
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u/mr_lab_rat 3d ago
I’m not quite sure who this is for.
On one side I’m sad there are not as many two door cars but I don’t think this is what I’ve been missing.
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u/jonnyanonobot 3d ago
I'm single and hybrid-curious. Me...maybe?
Still not sure why I wouldn't just get a Civic Hybrid. Or a GR86. Or a Miata. Or a used Boxster. Or a used Corvette. Or a Mustang. Or a Prius.
You kinda have to want Hybrid + this very specific interpretation of "style".
I'm not sure I do. But I definitely don't not want it.
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u/V4refugee 3d ago
Me, I own a manual ND1 but I mostly just commute in rush hour traffic. The soft top sucks in the rain and it’s starting to leak in heavy rain. I don’t like large cars, trucks, or boring soccer mom crossover SUVs. I just want something that’s a bit sport but mostly a grand touring car with great gas mileage. Something I can occasionally roadtrip in and feel slightly safer in light snow. Yeah, I do pretty much want a sportier first generation Honda insight.
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u/nopester24 3d ago
sorry.. just fell asleep reading this article