Here’s Why We’re Excited for the Return of the Honda Prelude
My friend’s boyfriend had a Honda Prelude in high school. He was a conceited sort and thought it was funny to continually call it the “Honda Quaalude.” Clever, bro. But in truth, the Prelude was the opposite of a prescription depressant; fast, sleek and sexy, it would spark your adrenaline just looking at it.
So it’s good news that after 23 years, the Honda Prelude is finally returning to American shores as a small, sporty, comfortable, attractive hybrid electric sports car.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
She’s Back and She Looks Goooooooood
We first got a taste of the Honda Prelude‘s curtain draw at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year, where attendees were excited by the development of a modernized example. Now, it’s confirmed – she’s back, she’s got her revenge bod, new driving tech, and she’s ready to make (very little) noise.
Official pricing, trim options and other details haven’t been announced yet, but since it won’t be available until late next year, we’ve got plenty of time to be excited about it anyway. Here’s what Honda’s got planned for this two-door sports car.
Related: The 2024 Honda Prologue is the Golden Retriever of EVs
The Honda Prelude Will Debut New “Driver Engagement” Technology
S+ Shift is meant to “advance the joy of driving,” the company says. It’s a new driving mode that pays homage to what made the Honda Prelude so lovable in the first place – it was a blast to drive without breaking the bank or costing a fortune at the pump.
With the Linear Shift Control altered to be more responsive, the Prelude is sure to be a valuable contender in the sports car segment. Especially now that Honda’s 25 years of electric integration has proved to be incredibly successful.
Related: Why the Honda Prelude is One of the 17 Best New Cars of 2025
The Hybrid-Electric Setup Opens Doors to Efficient Performance
Honda’s no stranger when it comes to making hybrids. The Insight, first introduced in 1999, was the first hybrid-electric vehicle to be sold in America. This means after nearly 30 years, there’s plenty of room to figure out how to make a hybrid sports car fun.
The hybrid-electric powertrain will likely be similar to what they’ve been using in the Civic, Accord, and CR-V. That means the horsepower figures should float around 200 since that’s what the Civic Sedan and Hatchback models achieve.
Even with 200 horses at the ready, the Civic still has an incredible EPA-Estimated Fuel Economy of 50 mpg in the city, 45 mpg on the highway, and 48 mpg combined. If the Honda Prelude will have 200 horses and a new, sporty drive mode, it’s likely to be anything but boring.
Related: The New 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line is a Breath of Fresh Air
The List of Competitors is Short
We all know (and sadly accept) that Americans are falling out of love with sedans, and two-door coupes are not far behind. Especially performance-oriented ones, since they don’t get as good MPG. However, as of right now, there aren’t many hybrid-electrics with sporty intent to compete with the Prelude.
The only likely competitors for the upcoming Honda Prelude would be the Toyota GR-86 or the Subaru BRZ, as they’re closer in size, horsepower figures, and drive-train layouts (though, the Honda will likely be front-wheel-drive to keep to tradition, while the Toyota and Subaru are rear-wheel).
That means the Honda Prelude will be truly one of a kind. Hopefully, the revival will inspire Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, and Ford to bring back their competing models from 1978 to resuscitate what Americans need: fun, affordable, yet stylish sports cars.
More About:Car Technology
Read This Next
