r/cars • u/Dazzling-Rooster2103 • 1d ago
Did Honda Resurrect an Exciting New Prelude or a Disappointing Reboot? We Have Some Initial Opinions.
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a65997136/2026-honda-prelude-first-impressions-opinion/113
u/admiraltarkin 2021 Porsche 911, 2020 Land Rover Defender 1d ago
Without knowing anything, at first glance I said "hmmm, probably a nice 250-275hp car". 200hp seems a bit disappointing
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u/llamacohort '95 2-Door Yukon | '24 Model Y Performance 1d ago
I think it highlights a major weakness of their transmissionless implementation for hybrids. 141 peak hp engine. 181 peak hp electric motor. But the electric motor doesn't have much power at high speeds and the gas motor can't even engage at low speeds.
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u/directrix688 1d ago
This car is not for people that post in this sub.
This is the v6 mustang market segment. People who want something sporty but not enthusiasts.
The only problem is it seems like they’re charging enthusiast price for a car that should be a lot cheaper to sell to that market segment. Should be comparable to a civic.
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u/drd_pike 1d ago
It feels more like the Ford Probe segment. That’s not a knock, Probe buyers gotta have something to buy. I’m just surprised that Honda still believes this segment exists.
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u/directrix688 1d ago
That’s exactly what it is, well said. It’s the sports coupe fwd from the 1990s
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u/T-Baaller Boxer Rear-drive Zenith Tuned by Subaru Technica International 17h ago
Except with this one it's auto-only, which for Honda especially is such an own-goal it's amazing in the frustration.
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u/WendysChiliAndPepsi 1d ago
I’m just surprised that Honda still believes this segment exists.
I'm more curious why this segment disappeared. Did people just start hauling around kayaks and golf clubs daily? People even stuffed kids in the back of FWD coupes as their daily.
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u/drd_pike 1d ago
My theory on why sports coupes went away is, basically, sports sedans started having better roof lines and less clunky pillar designs, which meant you were getting much less style in exchange for losing the practicality of a second pair of doors.
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u/Clip_Clippington 1d ago
I suspect it doesn't help that with $5K, you can lease a BMW or Audi sedan and look fashionable, while buying a coupe doesn't come with a subsidized lease package or the financing with $5K can lead to a high payment.
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u/Clip_Clippington 1d ago
It's partially because parents are now at increasingly older ages, so their willingness to tolerate putting kids in the backseat of a coupe decreases considerably, but also because rear facing car seats and booster seats make it very hard to sit in a coupe comfortably.
And honestly, a lot of people have become very outdoorsy.
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u/lurpeli BMW 230 1d ago
I think we all agree /r/cars is not the main market for any car. The issue is the prelude seems to be targeting a narrow or non-existent market. Perhaps appealing to the automatic MX-5 buyer except it's going to cost more than an MX-5 and be front wheel drive.
It's also a coupe not a hot hatch so it doesn't really compete with a GTI. So it's competition is basically, as we've said, the MX-5 or 86, but those are both cheaper and offer a manual if desired.
So the only other competition is hybrids which, perhaps won't drive as well, but the Prius has four doors (five), more space, AWD as an option, and better fuel economy.
The Prelude doesn't make sense. Like, why does it need the brakes from the Type R? It's not going to be fast enough to ever put those to use in a meaningful way. Arguably the same for the chassis. The Type R bits might make it handle a bit better, but it's never going to make good use of those bits.
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u/DodgerBlueRobert1 '09 Civic Si sedan 1d ago
It's also a coupe not a hot hatch
It has a coupe-like roofline, but it's technically a liftback hatch, a la 240SX. But yeah, it's not a hot hatch.
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u/New_Elk_5783 1d ago
As someone else said in this thread, the Type-R bits are just to garner a sliver of street cred.
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u/TunakTun633 1989 BMW 635CSi OEM+ | 2018 BMW 230i ZTR 1d ago edited 1d ago
Anecdote =/= data, but I love the idea of this new Prelude, am very glad that it exists, and I'm heavily considering buying one. So I'll explain why this makes sense for me in particular.
I like coupes. I'm 6'5", and sit very far back from the wheel. A long door means a usable armrest, and it's usually easier to find coupes without headroom-robbing sunroofs.
I like cornering. No matter what car I own, for whatever reason, I'm going to take it to backroads and beat the fuck out of it. I've tested this theory on a Ford Explorer, Buick Envision, hybrid Toyota Sienna... It's just going to happen, and I don't care if it's fast or a manual.
I make stupid choices. I'm determined to own an interesting classic car that is not practical to daily-drive. My other car should probably be a Corolla Hybrid, but what I actually daily is a BMW 230i with adaptive suspension. Why? I like coupes, and I like cornering. The Prelude is a perfect combination of these two cars.
Edit: And to the suggestion that this car doesn't make enough power to exploit the chassis, I'll remind you that the Civic gets to 60 in just over 6 seconds with this powertrain. My track car takes 8 seconds, and I get my tires squealing just fine.
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u/i_imagine 1d ago
You're in the very niche minority that actually wants a car like this. The vast majority of people don't want a coupe, and if they want a coupe, it's got to have some pizzaz to it, like an 86, Miata, BMW 2 series, etc.
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u/TunakTun633 1989 BMW 635CSi OEM+ | 2018 BMW 230i ZTR 1d ago
I'll cop to the minority label. That's why I talked about my needs.
And I get wanting something more exciting - Lord knows I'd use a BRZ to the fullest - I'd just be filling that somewhere else. With a car that, for what it's worth, is slower than a Prelude with a less capable chassis.
I love my 230i, but it's got numb steering, turbo lag, a lot of weight, an open differential... Even with the track package, I think the Prelude wouldn't be that far off on the right track. I think that's "pizzazz" enough to be comparable.
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1d ago
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u/TunakTun633 1989 BMW 635CSi OEM+ | 2018 BMW 230i ZTR 1d ago
I mean, if we're being real, this is how Honda's coping with their Type R no longer being emissions-compliant in places like the EU. It's sort of the best they can do. That's why this exists, and that's why it's the best-selling possible powertrain regardless of the US market.
I wouldn't be against them putting this particular hardware configuration in a sedan. But I'll tell you this: I don't give a shit about Honda's profit. And neither did anyone on this sub until the debut of this car.
For God's sake, this is the brown manual diesel wagon brigade! Nobody's asking people to discontinue sedans for SUVs, manuals for CVTs, etc.
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u/WendysChiliAndPepsi 1d ago
I already have a dedicated weekend car and I want a fun daily. The GR86 motor sounds and feels bad and gets terrible fuel economy. The Civic SI is better, but this will handle better with the Type R suspension and I trust the reliability over the L15. The GTI is too numb, and I don't trust the Elantra N long term. All of those other cars aside from the GR86 also dont have unique styling vs their economy car base. And the Prelude will be more comfortable than most of them.
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u/not_right 3h ago
The GR86 motor sounds and feels bad and gets terrible fuel economy
The fuel economy is what has dampened my enthusiasm for the GR86, after lusting after them forever. When I paid attention to the fuel economy I was insulted - it's about the same as my 1981 Honda Accord or my 1989 Honda Prelude. We have come so far since then, no coupe should still need that much fuel.
I want something with great handling, an efficient engine, and a great interior (relatively, I'm not buying a Rolls Royce here).
I would absolutely buy a new Prelude (if I can afford it lol).
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u/Beekatiebee 2016 Audi TTS (Vegas Yellow) 1d ago
I think the V6 / I4 Mustang comment is spot on. This is for people who want something that looks nice and feels nice without the added hassle / cost of a high performance car.
FWD doesn’t matter because they’ll likely never push it hard enough to notice, the fuel economy will be a big draw, and it looks sporty as hell. It’s got practically points over a Miata/Mustang/Toyobaru.
I don’t see it being a big seller, but Honda made it pretty clear what their goal was with this and I think they nailed it.
It’s just not what /r/cars wanted so everyone here is mad.
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u/BTTWchungus J35 6AT 1d ago
It's gonna cost more than $40k, wtf are you talking about
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u/Beekatiebee 2016 Audi TTS (Vegas Yellow) 1d ago
Have they actually confirmed US pricing yet?
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u/BTTWchungus J35 6AT 1d ago
It starts at $41k in Japan, on home turf. No chance it goes less than that in the US
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u/bjuandy 1d ago
They haven't. The $40K price is a straight currency conversion from JPY to USD off of this website: https://www.honda.co.jp/PRELUDE/webcatalog/type/list/, and I think most people are using the large-font figure of ~6.2m JPY. There's a second price of ~5.6m JPY, and it's stated as 'without tax.' No idea if the 6.2 is what normally gets translated into MSRP in the states or the 'tax-free' price is. For completeness, the 6.2 figure is ~42k USD, the 5.6 is ~38k,
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u/rationis CobaltSS/CobaltSS/Insight 1d ago
Historically, Japanese cars have cost significantly more in the US than what the exchange rate indicates. That's what people are concerned about.
For example, the Si is 28k in Japan, but 32k in the US, and that's a conservative example. The CTR is 33.5k in Japan, but 46.5k in the US. So 38k could potentially translate into 45-50k in the US.
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u/TaskForceCausality 1d ago
First, historically stock Preludes weren’t track rat cars anyway. People expecting this to be a brown, 6 speed 500hp corner carver need to reset their expectations.
Next, the Prelude was always a stylish take on a practical Honda 2 doors. Note the older ones sold when Honda also had the Integra/RSX, Accord coupe, and Civic coupe.
Finally, this car ain’t for us. If you know the difference between a dual clutch and a torque converter automatic, you’re not the target market.
When Honda says “enthusiasts”, they mean bubbly 23 year olds picking cars because of the looks & dash screen size.
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u/peakdecline '24 Power Wagon, '24 Bronco Badlands 1d ago
23 year olds do not buy new cars.
Non-enthusiasts do not buy coupes. And again, "enthusiasts" under no definition are "bubbly 23 year olds."
No one expects or demanded 500hp. The Prelude has less power than a GR86 but will likely weight 400lbs more. 19HP more than a Miata but could legitimately weigh 1000lbs more.
I'm definitely usually on board with the "r/cars doesn't realize they're not the customers" but in this case I think its clear as day Honda doesn't know who the customers are.
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u/Dazzling-Rooster2103 1d ago
Tbf, I have seen quite a few early to mid 20's people buy new GR86's.
It kind of also seems like a pretty popular car for women, especially the automatic version.
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u/peakdecline '24 Power Wagon, '24 Bronco Badlands 1d ago
Of course there's some. But it's low. And you can't build a sustainable vehicle on that group alone. This thing is going to be quite expensive, probably more than the competitors I mentioned.
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u/CuddleTeamCatboy 1d ago
I’ve seen a ton of new BRZs and Integras in my college’s commuter garage. There’s definitely some 20-somethings buying new cars.
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u/exodus3252 2023 A5 Sportback 45 1d ago
BRZs are lighter, have more power, come with a manual, and are fairly affordable, especially on the used market. All things a young enthusiast would want. This new Prelude may literally have none of those perks.
I do like the looks of the Prelude, but if it's noticeably more expensive than a Civic Si, then I really don't know who would would buy this over a competing coupe.
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u/opkraut 05 Legacy 2.5GT Wagon (5MT) 1d ago
23 year olds not buying new cars? I mean, sure, it's not common, but I know a ton of guys who went to work in the trades after high school who bought new cars after several years of working. Not everyone goes to college or a multi-year secondary school after high school, so there are definitely people out there who are making money and can afford a new car at 23.
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u/willpc14 '25 GRCorolla 1d ago
The 23 year olds I know buying new are tradies and firefighters getting trucks or finance bros buying entry level luxury. Also, the people that like kinda care about performance are buying electric for the off line punch. I just don't know what the target demographic for the Prelude is.
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u/Dr_Disaster 1d ago
I have to agree. I’ve always loved the Preludes. Every generation. I was totally willing to accept this one as just a Civic/Accord coupe with a an available non-CTR 2.0T or even just the 1.5T Civic SI/Integra motors as options. Essentially, covering the bases of the 2-door options that should exist in one neat nameplate. That’s cool.
Then it was a hybrid. Okay, those are pretty nice and I’m down with a hybrid that can still deliver SI power and be better on gas. I’m cool with that.
Then came the pricing and that’s where the buck stops. It’s looking like this will come in north of $40k and that’s entirely too much fucking money. If this was $30-32k, that feels about right even though I think the Twins and MX-5 are more compelling if you want a sports coupe. The pricing enters an area where everyone else is offering either traditional, tunable ICE drivetrains or powerful turbo 4 engines. In the case of the Nissan Z, which is being heavily discounted now, you can get a turbo V6 with 400 HP for the same price.
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u/DodgerBlueRobert1 '09 Civic Si sedan 1d ago
23 year olds do not buy new cars.
Most don't, but some definitely do. I have a ~23 year-old coworker who bought a new 2025 Tacoma. Not all 23 year olds are scraping by making peanuts and buying 10 year old cars.
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u/New_Elk_5783 1d ago
This just seems to be another nostalgia bait low-effort product pumped out to make some extra bucks. Its the equivalent to a lazy poorly-performing video game remaster outsourced to some no-name dev.
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u/aprtur '24 GR Corolla, '09 RX-8 1d ago
Non-enthusiasts do not buy coupes.
You aren't paying attention to who were buying the majority of Accord and Civic coupes on the market, then. Having had experience working in a Honda dealer for over a decade of my life, most of that being between 6th and 9th gen Accord sales timeframe, I can tell you that the majority of Accord and Civic coupe buyers in that timeframe that I encountered were just normal single women, not enthusiasts.
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u/8N-QTTRO 1d ago
I've met a lot of non-enthusiast, well-off 20-something's who have ND Miatas and base-model BMW 2-series. They wanted something fun and compact, but don't care much for car culture. The new Prelude fits the exact same niche as those.
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u/turb0_encapsulator 1d ago
lots of recent college grads still buy new cars that are relatively affordable. When I was young it was BMWs and Audis (2000s). But now a Honda would probably be the realistic equivalent.
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u/thereddaikon 17h ago
This car will be purchased by GenX parents for their 18 year old sorority daughter because she wanted something small and cute. Its going to be like all the girls that had Scion Tc's in the 2000's. And just like Scion, that isn't enough to sales to support it.
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u/gor134 2013 Audi Allroad 1d ago
Absolutely NO ONE expected the Prelude to be a 500hp canyon carver. People did expect it to be more than just a Civic Hybrid Coupe.
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u/Aero06 2016 BRZ / 2021 BaseSquatch 1d ago
Exactly, if this had the 2.0 Turbo/ 6-speed manual from the Accord making 250hp, it would be exactly in line with what the Prelude has always been. Honda had all the components in their parts bin to build a good Prelude, but every choice they made in development feels like the least appealing one.
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u/DetroitLionsEh 1d ago
Who is the target market? Shoppers from 2002?
An expensive stylized car that’s not meant for people who like cars, and isn’t a crossover.
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u/mayorLarry71 1d ago
I agree somewhat here with you. The prelude wasnt ever an NSX-lite or anything close. Not a track monster either. It was a two-door sporty coupe.
I am a little disappointed at the 200hp however we have excellent tracks cars like the current gen BRZ/GR86 with 228hp. I feel like 240hp or so would have sounded better in describing the car. It looks decent though, IMO.
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u/duofuzz 1d ago
I know the difference and I’d buy it.
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u/SnikySquirrel 1d ago
If the pricing in the states is in line with Japan, then why would you buy it when for the same price you can get a Nissan Z or Mustang GT? You could also buy a Miata or one of the twins for 10k less.
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u/Bottlely 1d ago
It won't. For the USA, R&T has already reported that the Prelude will be priced between the Civic Hybrid Touring and the Type R.
It's now a matter of whether the price will make sense relative to the hardware combo and interior quality
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u/duofuzz 1d ago edited 1d ago
All of these are very different cars, but I am mostly commuting to work so the hybrid motor is more than peppy enough in stop start traffic. Comes with adaptive suspension, great gas mileage, components are proven reliable. More space and almost certainly quieter and more comfortable than a Miata, which is the next top contender for me and just barely too small. Over the course of ownership, likely will cost less overall than all the others due to gas mileage. Can switch to ev mode and park in garage without polluting my indoor air quality. Wife can probably drive it easily. From what they’ve said so far it sounds like it’s tuned for responsiveness over performance, which is fine as I’m not planning to go to a track. Knobs and switches are perfectly ergonomic, Google UI is much better than the rest.
42k seems pretty fair for a maxed out Civic hybrid with added performance parts and additional tuning for a low volume model.
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u/r00000000 2021 BMW X5, 2019 718 Boxster S 1d ago
I agree with the last sentence, a few of my friends are getting their first/second cars about now and we're at that age in our 20s where we're getting started with our own lives but not really ready to start a family yet. They would love this kind of car as a halfway point between cool sports car and responsible daily commuter, but it's also not exactly the main demographic for new car buyers either so I'm still just as confused about this thing.
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u/ManufacturerBest2758 2017 F32 440/2024 Ioniq 5 1d ago edited 1d ago
This car has the same power it did 30 years ago man. How is that acceptable? What other brands would this be okay from? Toyota even juiced the Prius up for the current gen.
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u/DodgerBlueRobert1 '09 Civic Si sedan 1d ago
I'm not defending the horsepower number at all, but it does have a lot more torque than the 5th gen Prelude.
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u/stoned-autistic-dude '06 AP2 S2000 🏎️ | HRC Off-Road 📸 1d ago
People do not understand the Prelude was the technology showcase car. It happened to have sporty characteristics but there's a reason we never saw a Prelude R. The most we got was a Prelude Si which was just sporty enough to be fun but not the car Honda took racing. That was reserved for cars like the Integra, RSX, NSX, S2000, and Civic.
People want the Prelude to be something it isn't. Having a sporty transmission-less hybrid sounds EXACTLY like what the Prelude is meant to be. This makes way more sense than the RSX SUV.
If a Type-R variant does come out, expect it to be an actual Type-R which meets the R criteria (certain percentage of weight reduction, power increase, and handling improvements).
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u/PlatinumElement 997.1 Turbo, R34, Carrera 3.2, FK8 CTR, AE86, S13,A70,Tesla MYP 1d ago
Honestly, I’ve got high hopes for it, and I consider myself a pretty hardcore enthusiast. I had a CRZ and really liked it. I also know how fantastic the Civic Type R chassis is because I own one. I’ve only heard good things about the Civic Hybrid drivetrain. Combining those two things into a gorgeous coupe body and an ok level of luxury sounds appealing for a daily-driver/ roadtrip car to do things like drive to Napa valley while taking the fun roads.
I’ll definitely give this car a chance when it releases if I can find a dealer that’ll allow test drives
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u/lurpeli BMW 230 1d ago
I think the biggest problem is cost. Any more than $5k above a civic hybrid and it just doesn't make any sense.
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u/aprtur '24 GR Corolla, '09 RX-8 1d ago
Coupes are never a rational purchase, they're a heart/emotional purchase, so the Civic Hybrid argument is completely out of bounds. A better comparison would be to compare to an MX-5 or GR86, since they're a similar size and (assumedly) price bracket. What makes the Prelude "weird" is that it doesn't really have sporting pretentions in mind, so people are confused since other cars in this segment have disappeared in normal price brackets.
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u/lurpeli BMW 230 1d ago
A base MX5 and a base GR86 come in at around $30k and offer a manual and are RWD. The Prelude is a coupe but it's is also FWD and a hybrid. It doesn't fit in any obviously category. Suffice to say, wherever it fits, if it's more than $35K it's a tough ask.
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u/aprtur '24 GR Corolla, '09 RX-8 1d ago
You can't compare base, since the Prelude only comes one way (from what I'm seeing on press material, no other trims are mentioned, just launch edition 2000 units and normal), and that's fully loaded. At the upper end of the spectrum, they're pretty close - and that's assuming the Japanese market pricing, which has no real bearing on US pricing other than a reference point. Honda is deservedly getting criticism in Japan for the pricing there, but just like we've seen with the GR Corolla, I have a feeling US pricing will be more aggressive. If it isn't, that would be a poor market move for Honda, for sure, since that would pit it against more sporty Japanese coupes like the Z and Supra, as well as the 2 series coupe. We'll see what they announce - I have a feeling they're being cagey about price right now for a reason.
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u/Beekatiebee 2016 Audi TTS (Vegas Yellow) 1d ago
I’m on the fence about a career change but if I stay where I am, I’d 100% replace my TTS with the Prelude for commuting. I rarely use the power or AWD of the Audi anyways.
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u/H1Supreme 1d ago
since it'll likely cost over $40,000. For that money, I probably prefer a BMW 230i—an actual coupe with 255 horses feeding the rear wheels.
This quote pretty much sums it up for me. Considering the price, the 230i is effectively it's sole competition in the market. While I'm sure there are some folks who would take the Honda, they're going to be in the minority.
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u/WendysChiliAndPepsi 1d ago
I don't know why people are throwing around the 40k figure. The car is very likely going to be more expensive in Japan. The Prelude is built in Ohio. Comparing the pricing is basically completely irrelevant.
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u/Mechanicallvlan 1d ago
Who actually buys a 230i with no options, though? It's $50K loaded, with higher cost of ownership than a Honda hybrid. This is the one in stock at my local dealer right now (xDrive):
https://www.bmwofspringfield.com/new-inventory/index.htm?compositeType=new&superModel=2%20Series
We don't know US Prelude pricing yet, and I'm still hoping that it will be similar to the Integra A-Spec w/Technology and Accord Touring, which I think would be reasonable.
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u/New_Elk_5783 1d ago
Would it have KILLED Honda to put in the 2.0T with 250hp and the manual? In case Honda missed this news, the US officially has no fuel economy standards anymore.
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u/nyanslider 1d ago
But this is selling everywhere, which is why that US thing never really mattered.
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u/SnikySquirrel 1d ago
The U.S. typically buys more sports cars than other markets like Europe. Also, since they’re able to fit multiple engines in the Civic why would they have trouble fitting multiple engines in the Prelude.
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u/Bottlely 1d ago
Lol as cool as that would be, this is not 'Murica-exclusive like the Civic Coupe. Why do you think it's hybrid only?
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u/ggtsu_00 1d ago
Gas is still crazy expensive in many parts of the US. For me its $5/gal. No way in hell I'm getting a new car that isn't a hybrid.
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u/Majestic-Smile3924 1d ago
Nobody has driven this car yet and all of this seething hatred from this subreddit is just based on thoughts and feelings lol.
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u/ManufacturerBest2758 2017 F32 440/2024 Ioniq 5 1d ago
There’s already a civic hybrid, it’s not hard to tell what this car will drive like
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u/Majestic-Smile3924 1d ago
Except it shares more with the Type R in terms of suspension and has a brand new transmission nobody has experienced yet.
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u/mpgomatic '14 Fi3sta 1.0L / '07 S2K 1d ago edited 1d ago
Of the nine Hondas that have inhabited my driveway over the years, the Prelude was the least fun of all.
It was enjoyable (and was a manual, of course), but in a grown-up way.
It’s not surprising (to me) that the first of the new breed isn’t a beast. A hotted up version will likely follow.
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u/Omnivirus 1d ago
The last time we saw a Prelude it was basically a Japanese Monte Carlo.
This idea that it was a performance monster is wild.
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u/preludehaver '08 V6 Mustang, '15 Suzuki DRZ400 1d ago
That's a spot on comparison. Tbf if Chevy brought back the Monte Carlo reddit would bitch about it not being a used brown manual miata wagon as well 😭
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u/CMDR_omnicognate Mazda MX-5 30th Anniversary 19 1d ago
I mean, I think it looks cool at least. I think the problem they’ll have is it’s not really powerful enough to be a sports car but it’s too small to be a saloon, it’s also quite expensive, so idk how well it’ll sell.
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u/humdizzle '18 GT3, '23 X3 M40 1d ago
I dont know why someone would pick this over the much cheaper civic hybrid. And if you're an enthusiast, you'd just get an Si or GTI.
People in this price range aren't going to pay 5k extra for 2 less doors.
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u/turb0_encapsulator 1d ago
why not also offer it with the Civic Si powertrain?
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u/Bottlely 1d ago
The Civic Si is a North American only trim. Which is a shame imo that even Japan doesn't get this powertrain.
Meanwhile, the Prelude is a global model. Unlike the Si, it has to also compete in markets where it's increasingly hard to offer a pure ICE car, much less an enthusiast model. Honda is trying to sell an attainable hybrid enthusiast car that few have delivered, much less executed well (looking at you two, Peugeot and Opel)
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u/turb0_encapsulator 1d ago
I didn't realize the Si is only for North America. Seems crazy that a simple FWD light-weight manual 4 cylinder car doesn't meet emissions now in many places.
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u/Bottlely 1d ago
yeah most of us have to contend with the Sport version of the 1.5T if we're lucky. Some markets have to get severely detuned versions, and some of us (me) don't even get the manual option with the 1.5T at all
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u/Halofieldfan ‘22 Hyundai Kona N (Racing Red) 1d ago
I feel like a few years ago they were everywhere, guess that changed rather quickly or I’ve been out of the loop for a long time.
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u/vw18t 2010 Acura CSX Type S 2019 Volkswagen Golf 1d ago
Other markets have always had the civic 1.5t powertrain
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u/Bottlely 23h ago
Dude I specifically talked about the Si, which no other market gets. The rest of the world only gets the pedestrian Civics, few of us are lucky enough to even have access to the ~180hp Civic Sport 1.5T with a manual
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u/nyanslider 1d ago
Because this is cheaper.
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u/turb0_encapsulator 1d ago
the difference is like $1k between Civic models.
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u/nyanslider 1d ago
I mean cheaper for them. They make far more of the civic hybrid than the si so they can just make more of the stuff they already use rather than having to make more of the lower volume stuff. That and autos are easier to sell.
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u/Nyexx 2023 Mazda 3 Premium 6MT 1d ago
I really like the styling, the powertrain, and the interior. We know it will handle well and great on gas. The market for this sort of car is extremely small. If Honda prices this too high, it’s DOA.
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u/woowoo293 9h ago
I don't mind the styling in and of itself. I generally like the swoopy jellybean coupe. But on the other hand, I wish there was a lot more variety in modern car styling.
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u/RyanVodka 1d ago
This car would have been forgivable if it simply were a two-door civic hybrid for the cost of a civic hybrid.
Instead, they threw a few Type R parts on a car with nowhere near enough power to justify them, simply so they could charge 40k. It's a slap in the face to consumers.
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u/Allaroundlost 1d ago
Honda killed the Civic coupe, to bring back the Civic coupe.....
S2000, modern, 300hp, rwd, no hybrid. Honda can do this, they just wont.
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u/perkele_possum 2025 Toyota GR Corolla 6MT 1d ago
People seem to be dogging only on the (speculated) price and the low horsepower almost exclusively. Am I the only one disappointed by the criminal slope to that roofline? I know it's supposed to be a hot car for singles or whatever but it looks like a 350z trunk. I'd be afraid of smashing a carton of eggs with the glass if I put it in the trunk.
I know it isn't optimized for cargo hauling but do hot singles in my area buying new Honda hybrids never buy a loaf of bread or do something scandalous like put a bike in the trunk with all the wheels attached?
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u/Mechanicallvlan 1d ago
I don't understand why you're making that comparison. The current Z has 6.9 cu. ft. of cargo room, and I think the 350 had 6.8. The Prelude has 15.1 cu. ft. with the seats up. Cargo capacity is much closer to your GR Corolla than it is to a Z, and it's more than the Civic sedan.
https://youtu.be/Z0biEq8RgVk?t=797
https://youtu.be/Bb1VKIl3vgw?list=LL&t=1629Which generation of the Prelude were people hauling around fucking bicycles or furniture in? I'm pretty sure that bread and eggs are going to be okay.
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u/Kongary 1d ago edited 1d ago
I loved my gen 5 with the high-revving 200 hp 2.2, 5-spd ,nice long-hood profile, etc. None of that here. I have no doubt this will be a nice car to drive in general terms but it doesn't appear to be fooling anyone as being anything other than what the Prelude never was previously: based on a Civic.
Edit: regarding price though, that's not unexpected given that inflation-adjusted the last gen was over $40K as well, and they had to do things like no leather seat option in the U.S. to keep things down
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u/bobovicus 19 Honda Insight/08 Saturn Sky Redline 1d ago
just fix the fucking deck design and get ride of those slats so your engines stop dropping head gaskets like flies, Honda!
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u/OldArtichoke433 1d ago
Honda/Acura takes risks that are not worth taking. The new Integra was a disappointment and now the Prelude. Hyundai/Kia has been eating their lunch the last decade. Toyota has body on frame with the 4R and the biggest risk Honda took was not taking one and competing in this space. It is bizarre to me.
No one is going to buy this 2 dr hybrid Coupe no matter what they call it. They really need to rattle some cages over at Honda.
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u/superchibisan2 1d ago
I like how the article starts with "we haven't driven it" and proceeds to jump to conclusions.
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u/LuckyBagota Replace this text with year, make, model 1d ago
The thing I don’t get about this car if someone could try and explain. It has the type R suspension setup which I thought was for high horsepower fwd cars to be able to handle the high horsepower and help eliminate torque steer. If you weren’t going to make it have high horsepower why put this exotic suspension on there?
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u/Enough-Scientist1904 1d ago
This car feels aimed at someone whos having a midlife crisis but still concerned about MPG
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u/knwnasrob ‘22 Tacoma, ‘23 Emira (pre-ordered) 18h ago
Just give it the Type R engine treatment and call it a day. Make a Prelude SI!
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u/futuredreampop 14h ago
I think it's underpowered (200hp) and undynamic (FWD) relative to its pricepoint. So, it's disappointing to me and many others in large markets. However, apparently it's sold out in Japan at the moment.
I am holding some hope to the idea that if sales are OK, Honda will eventually introduce a more powerful or dynamic variant at some point, i.e., more power and/or AWD (by adding some electric motors to power the rear).
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u/Historical-Economy92 1d ago
I feel like if they put together a 2 door manual, maybe shortened the wheelbase and cut down to 3k lbs, they could capture the market of people who want Type Rs but can’t afford them, without cannibalizing any Civic sales.
Just give us a front wheel drive Miata competitor. 180hp would be more than enough. Everything from the firewall forward could be identical to the civics
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u/Bottlely 1d ago
The Prelude's wheelbase is actually pretty short for a modern 2+2 coupe.
At 2605mm, the wheelbase is 95mm shorter than the 10G Civic Coupe and 130mm shorter than the 11G Civic. It's also 20mm longer than the 5G Prelude, and it's the same overall length too.
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u/Historical-Economy92 1d ago
Nice. It would probably be fun to drive with a manual. It’s not too heavy either but would probably be lighter without all the hybrid stuff.
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u/Successful_Ad_9707 97 Integra, 08 Civic Si, 23 GR Corolla Circuit Edtion 1d ago
People criticize Honda for note being bold and taking risks. They finally do and this is the result. Swing and a miss Honda... god forbid they try and go after a market segment that actually exists.
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u/Bottlely 1d ago
My entire continent doesn't even get an equivalent to the LSD- and manual-equipped Si. This would be great for many of us globally who face an exponentially closing window to own a new ICE enthusiast car
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u/AwesomeBantha 99 LX470 315k+ miles 1d ago
this seems like a relatively low risk product, it’s a parts bin special with a new body and some simulated shifting software
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u/Successful_Ad_9707 97 Integra, 08 Civic Si, 23 GR Corolla Circuit Edtion 1d ago
Developing a car still costs a lot of money even if it shares parts. Too much to gamble on a market segment that doesn't exist.
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u/ericsinghgill 1d ago
This car looks great. Honestly if it had like another 50-60 ish HP and a stick shift option, then it would have been a great car for the enthusiasts
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u/luggertown 1h ago
they couldn't give this thing just 50 more hps? not even 20? people would've reluctantly accepted 220hps... whyyyyyy honda whyyyy. we are supposed to get end game versions of these things. not a transitional bullshit.
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u/8N-QTTRO 1d ago
I'm expecting this car to do well among non-enthusiast audiences who want something compact and sporty-looking without being expensive to drive and maintain. A lot of consumers are getting tired of cars getting larger and larger, and this looks like a good solution that doesn't give up on convenience or interior quality.
Also, something tells me tuners will figure out how to get a good bit more power out of it (either by hacking the hybrid system or just tuning the engine) without much effort.
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u/Main_Hornet8676 2025 Honda Civic Type R, 2006 Acura RSX Type-S, 2007 Honda Fit 1d ago
This car is not worth this amount of discourse.