2026 Honda Prelude Handles Like a Type R, Drinks Like a Prius, and Hurts Like a CVT

Quick Highlights:

• It’s a Civic Hybrid under the hood, but Honda slapped on Civic Type R suspension, dual-axis struts, and some real handling attitude
• You get around 200 hp and up to 49 mpg, depending on how you drive (or how angry your right foot is)
• Brakes and chassis are straight-up borrowed from the Civic Type R, including legit Brembos up front
• No manual, no dual-clutch—just a direct-drive setup with paddle shifters and a new S+ Shift mode for a sportier vibe
• Coming late 2025, priced around $31K to $40K, this Prelude is built for coupe lovers who hate boring hybrids

The Prelude Is Back — And It’s… Complicated

Honda brought the Prelude name back. But if you’re expecting a spiritual successor to the old VTEC screamers, tap the brakes. This one’s built on hybrid bones, designed more for balance than brute force. Think Civic Hybrid underneath, but sharpened up with bits lifted from the Civic Type R.

In short: it looks the part, handles better than you’d expect, sips fuel like a Toyota Prius, and unfortunately, sounds like a blender when you push it.

What It Is — And What It Isn’t

This isn’t a true sports coupe in the traditional sense—no turbo, no stick shift, and no high-revving four-cylinder ready to be unleashed. Under the hood, it utilizes the same two-motor hybrid system as the Civic Hybrid, delivering approximately 200 horsepower and 230 to 288 pound-feet of torque, depending on the tuning, through a direct-drive CVT-style transmission.

Quick Comparison: Prelude vs What It Mimics

But it’s not just a Civic in tighter clothes. Honda didn’t phone this in.

They gave it dual-axis front struts, wide front and rear tracks, and Type R suspension tuning. It’s the first time Honda’s used this trick suspension outside of a Type R or Acura Integra Type S. The steering’s quicker, the turn-in’s tighter, and body roll is kept in check with thicker sway bars. It’s not hardcore, but it’s no soft cruiser either.

And stopping power? Handled. The Prelude gets Brembo front brakes — yes, the same ones used on the Civic Type R. That’s a lot of brakes for a hybrid coupe, and we’re all for it.

Handles Like a Type R? Almost.

Is it a Civic Type R in disguise? Not quite, but it doesn’t embarrass itself in corners either. There’s real effort in how this thing turns. Grip is solid. The ride is firm but not punishing. It’s a hybrid, yes, but it still wants to be driven — not just commuted in.

Drinks Like a Prius

Here’s where it surprises me. Honda says it’ll return up to 49 mpg combined. That’s deep into Prius territory, but with none of the awkward proportions. It’s got a proper coupe profile, and from the right angles, there’s some Honda S2000 flair in the design. It looks way more fun than the mileage suggests.

Hurts Like a CVT

Now the bad news. No manual. No dual-clutch. Just a CVT with simulated paddle shifts. Step on it and you get that familiar rubber-band response — the revs go up, the speed catches up later. It’s the same setup as the Civic Hybrid, and it kills a bit of the fun.

You can fake-shift using the paddles, and there’s a new “S+ Shift” drive mode that Honda claims sharpens the experience, but if you’ve driven a real gearbox, you’ll feel the difference.

So Who’s It For?

This isn’t for the guy still chasing a used S2000 on Bring a Trailer. The new Prelude is for someone who wants something that looks good, drives better than a Camry, and won’t break the bank on monthly gas bills.

It’s for people who used to love driving, but now have other priorities — and still want something that feels special.

Final Thoughts

No, it’s not the return of the old Prelude. It’s not even a baby NSX. But it’s a smart, efficient, sharply tuned hybrid coupe that feels like Honda’s trying again.

It won’t satisfy purists. But for everyone else? It might just hit the right balance.

Expect it to hit showrooms by late 2025, with a starting price likely between $31,000 and $40,000.

Source: Honda

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