The Honda Prelude Returns To America As A Hybrid Hot Rod

The 2026 Honda Prelude has been revealed as a sporty grand tourer that combines fuel efficiency with fun. The Prelude name returns for the first time since its original 1978 to 2001 run ended.

The two-door liftback features a chassis derived from the high performance Civic Type R combined with the front-wheel-drive powertrain from the Civic Hybrid that was named 2025 North American Car of the Year.

The 2.0-liter four-cylinder based hybrid system is rated at 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, the latter of which is more overall than the performance Civic Si’s 200 hp and 192 lb-ft. Honda reengineered automatic drivetrain with an S+ Shift feature that mimics gear changes, complete with engine rev blips.

The Prelude chassis features a widebody stance and the Civic Type R’s dual-axis strut front suspension, which is designed to reduce torque steer and improve steering feel and comes with adaptive dampers. its been retuned for the Prelude to take some of the high performance Civic Type R’s hard edge off. Brembo brakes with 13.8-inch front rotors handle stopping duties.

Honda hasn’t released performance figures or fuel economy, but the four-door Civic Hybrid is rated at 49 mpg combined.

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The Prelude features 2+2 seating, with about four inches fewer rear legroom and headroom than the four-door models provide. The dashboard is similar to the Civic’s, but with redesigned vents and other details.

As with previous generations, the Prelude will be built at Honda’s Sayama plant in Japan. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it will only be offered in one high-end trim that includes leather seats and a
Bose Centerpoint audio system when deliveries begin late this fall. The Prelude lists for ¥6,179,800 in Japan, which is approximately $42,000, but there’s no telling exactly where the U.S. price will land.

This story has been updated with new pricing information