NewsBeat
Long-forgotten coupe is finally reborn after being discontinued 25 years ago
DRIVERS are starting to take orders of the new Honda Prelude – which is back after some 25 years away.
The Japanese car giant recently revived the Prelude name for a new hybrid coupe – costing a slightly alarming £40,995 at the bottom end.
The sixth motor to wear the badge since 1978 – the most recent being the late-1990s fifth-gen Prelude that’s best remembered as the high point – the sharp-looking new iteration has been portrayed as something you can own and enjoy, but not really modify in the same freewheeling sense.
Inside, it borrows heavily from the Civic’s dashboard layout and ergonomics, making it easy and intuitive to use day to day.
The cabin gets a few bespoke touches, including stitched “Prelude” lettering and colour options that lift the ambience.
There’s also an unusual approach to the front seats, with the driver’s side more heavily bolstered while the passenger seat is softer for comfort.
Practicality is described as adequate rather than brilliant as, although Honda calls it a four-seater, the dramatic roofline compromises rear space to the point that the back seats are best for children or only occasional use, or simply folded to increase luggage capacity.
Where the Prelude most convincingly fulfils the coupe brief is in the way it drives, as it is closely linked to the Civic platform and, crucially, benefits from engineering lifted from the Civic Type R.
However, rather than the Type R’s characterful turbocharged 2.0-litre, the Prelude uses Honda’s e:HEV system from the regular Civic – a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine that usually acts as a generator, feeding a small battery and an electric motor producing 181bhp.
Honda has tried to make this more engaging via software, most notably with S-Shift, which presents a rev counter and gear indicator and simulates stepped “ratios” – meaning you can use paddles to mimic upshifts and downshifts, complete with throttle-blip effects and added regeneration to suggest engine braking.
Ultimately, the Prelude has been positioned as a likeable, good-looking, sweet-handling two-door set of wheels that’s also easy to live with.
The Prelude is now on sale in several markets, including in the US and Europe, with orders open.
In the US, 174 units were sold in December 2025 – its first full month on sale – following a very limited release in November 2025.
Contrary to the slow US start, early reports suggest high demand in Japan – with orders exceeding initial production expectations.