Say Hello To The New, Hybrid-Only, 2026 Honda Prelude

The wait is almost over for the anticipated 2026 Honda Prelude.  Honda made its return official in January of this year, and this month the all-new coupe finally made its North American debut.  It will hit the road late this fall, and you don't need to worry about choosing between trims, because you won't need to. It only arrives with one. 

In terms of performance,  in a Honda-first, the Prelude pairs the automaker's two motor hybrid powertrain with Civic Type R chassis components.  The automaker says the coupe's been engineered to deliver a sporty yet comfortable 'Grand Touring' experience with precise steering and responsive handling. The new Prelude also introduces a new "Honda S+ Shift"drive mode, designed to enhance driver engagement with features virtual rev-matched downshifts.  It also amps up the sporty sound of the engine. All this said it will come as no surprise that we are looking forward to getting  behind the wheel of this one.

Credit: Honda.

"We are thrilled to be bringing back such an iconic nameplate to the Honda lineup," said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. "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."

The first-ever electrified Prelude is powered by the same two-motor hybrid-electric system found in the Honda Civic hybrid models. It combines two large and powerful electric motors with a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle direct injection gasoline.  The system delivers 200 horsepower and a 232 pound-feet of torque which Honda says gives the new Prelude quick and responsive acceleration both off the line and out of corners.

Credit: Honda.

As we mentioned earlier, the Prelude is only available in one trim - though you do get to choose from five exterior colors: new Winter Frost Pearl( available with either a body color or black roof option), Meteorite Gray Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, Rally Red and Boost Blue Pearl.

Standard exterior and performance equipment includes:

• New Honda S+ Shift system
• 19-inch machine-finished Berlina Black wheels and 35/40R19 tires
• Brembo™ four-piston aluminum front calipers (shared with Civic Type R), finished in unique Prelude Blue
• Dual-axis strut front suspension (shared with Civic Type R)
• Adaptive Dampers (shared with Civic Type R, uniquely tuned for Prelude)
• Four driving modes: Comfort, GT, Sport and Individual

Owners can customize their coupe with an extensive new line of Honda Genuine Accessories, including uniquely styled 19-inch machine-finished Berlina Black wheels, black decklid spoiler, front underbody spoilers, black emblems and door mirror covers.

Credit: Honda.

In the cabin you'll find:

• Leather-trimmed front sport seats with perforated houndstooth pattern, integrated head restraints and three-way heating
• Leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel with alloy shift paddles
• Sport pedals
• 2+2 Seating with 60/40 split fold-down rear seat
• 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• 9-inch HD touchscreen with Google built-in
• Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto™ compatibility
• WiFi Hotspot capability
• Wireless phone charger
• 8-speaker Bose Centerpoint premium sound system

As for safety, standard features include:

• Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies
• Post-Collision Braking System (PCB)
• Blind spot information with Rear Cross Traffic Alert

For a complete list of specs on this great-looking Honda, click here.