For months, everyone’s been wondering what the new hybrid Honda Prelude was going to cost. Would it be a little bit more than a loaded Civic Hybrid? Would it be a little bit less than a Civic Type R? Would it be more than the hottest Civic? Would it be somewhere in between? Well, Honda just pressed the launch button on the U.S. Prelude configurator, and now we know for sure: The 2026 Honda Prelude starts at $43,195 including freight.
Yeah, that’s a lot of money, and if you want two-tone white-and-black paint, you’ll be spending another $1,195 on top of that. Honda wasn’t kidding when it said that the Prelude would arrive in one well-equipped trim level. Then again, Prelude models have always been on the more expensive end of the Honda hierarchy, so what’s new? A base 2001 Prelude was only $300 cheaper than a base Odyssey, or around $550 cheaper adjusted for inflation. Considering a base 2026 Odyssey starts at $44,290 including freight, not much has changed on that front.
Then again, nobody’s comparing Preludes to Odysseys, so let’s line things up against more common, more cross-shoppable Hondas. On the one hand, the new Prelude is $8,505 more expensive than a top-trim Civic Hatchback Hybrid, a car that’s already pretty excellent and offers essentially the same 200-horsepower hybrid powertrain. For a pure daily driver, that’s a big jump in price for a step backwards in practicality, but chances are the regular Civic Hybrid won’t have quite the same tenacity as the Prelude.
On the other hand, the Prelude is $3,855 less expensive than a Civic Type R yet comes with the same suspension hardware as the hottest Civic. Sure, you don’t get the limited-slip differential, divine shifter, or sheer pace of a Type R, but you do get outstanding fuel economy and classic sport compact coupe proportions. Oh, and the Prelude also gets some creature comforts the Type R simply isn’t available with, namely heated seats. For those in cold climates, that’s a huge upside.
So what can you get for less if you look outside of the Honda world? The obvious competitor is the Subaru BRZ, but it’s not exactly apples-to-apples. The BRZ may be a rear-wheel-drive, stick-shift coupe, but it isn’t a hybrid or a liftback, and its rear seats aren’t nearly as usable as those in the Prelude. If you want a BRZ with fancy suspension and big brakes, you’re looking at the $39,530 tS trim. That’s $3,665 cheaper than a Prelude, but for those who keep cars for a long time, the Honda’s hybrid fuel savings could very well tip the scale.
Back in 2001, a Prelude was $1,160 more expensive than a Mustang GT, so that should be a point of comparison, right? Unfortunately, just as Ford V8 power has moved into another echelon, so has pricing. A new Mustang GT starts at $49,250 including freight, so that means you’re looking at an Ecoboost if you’re tempted to go Blue Oval. Unfortunately, the Ecoboost Performance Package is no more, which means you won’t even get paddle shifters on a Mustang Ecoboost, which are absolutely necessary because the 10-speed automatic transmission mapping isn’t good. Add in a dimensionally larger body, and it’s not really a close comparison anymore, is it?
A wildcard option is the BMW 230i, which starts at $42,875 including freight. True, it isn’t a hybrid and it doesn’t have a hatchback, but it’s an exceptionally competent coupe with a reasonably brisk two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, it doesn’t come with a whole lot as standard. If you want a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a branded premium audio system, and adjustable lumbar support, you’ll be shelling out at least $45,125. Still in the ballpark, but not cheaper than a Prelude.
The thing is, there really isn’t anything quite like the Prelude on the market, and it’s going to be a low-volume car anyway. For Honda fans who want to pair Civic Type R suspension hardware with 44 MPG-combined hybrid fuel economy, the new Prelude is the only option. It’s no secret that niche vehicles are expensive, and sometimes we just have to pay for them to exist. At nearly four grand under a Civic Type R, the Prelude might just be worth it.
Top graphic image: Honda
I just hope they crank out enough to find these reasonably on the used market.
If these go from upscale niche right into a rare find, it’s going to be a bummer.
My partner really likes the Prelude, we were just talking about how picking up one off lease could be a contender for his next car in a few years. He would like a hybrid and since it’s just the two of us, four doors isn’t necessary. We maybe have one or two backseat passengers a year in our cars.
This is taking me back to the CRZ hybrid.
Good looker. Period.
At that pricing, this would have made more sense as an Integra Coupe.
“Citing slow sales, Honda to cancel Prelude after 18 months.” T. Hundal article in, The Autopian, March 2027.
“10 Reasons Why the Prelude Didn’t Survive (slideshow)” , Jalopnik, April 2027.
Hahaha. I nearly choked on my lunch. Thanks for the laugh!
Painfully accurate.
Idk how to nominate CotD but this should be a contender.
Then again, I’m not sure how much the new site likes punching down at the old site; Autopian may take the high road in that regard.
COTD!
It’ll be properly Jalopnik if the slideshow is ten comments they picked from the comment section of a previous article about the Prelude being cancelled set to stock Honda photos.
“Turns out it was a bad deal after all”
I understand the arguments as to why it’s not a terrible deal.
But man. Not even including an LSD is disappointing. 8k more than the Hybrid Hatchback is a ROUGH proposition. Especially when it’s lacking things like vented seats. I know that in comparison to other sporty coupes, it’s a pretty good deal, but those sporty coupes are at least rear wheel drive. If this had e-AWD at least… then it’d be interesting. Preludes are meant to be technological previews, at least from what I can tell from their previous releases. The only tech preview I can see on this is the S+ Shift Mode. And I’m sorry, but a bit of extra software tuning does not make this worth almost as much as a Civic Type R.
But then again, I haven’t driven the Type R or the Prelude yet. I’ve only driven the standard Hybrid Civic, but that was already quite enjoyable.
In a world where GR86/BRZs and Miata RFs are thousands of dollars less than this, it’s pretty hard to justify. They’ll sell a few, but I just don’t see its hybrid-ness being a big enough draw to overcome that price delta.
It can’t have an LSD because it doesn’t have a trans or diff as far as I can tell. Its direct drive single speed electric motor that allows the engine to engage the drive wheel only at cruise speed via a clutch in the hybrid system.
You have to have a differential. Otherwise the car wouldn’t be able to turn.
If you stripped the badging and told me this was a reborn Mitsubishi Eclipse, I’d believe it, and it wouldn’t rankle me that much, especially considering what Mitsubishi has already done to the Eclipse name.
Honda calling this a Prelude while making it look like a computer mouse and a deliberately-nondescript coupe-shaped vehicle had a baby is just a bit insulting, regardless of the price tag.
Quaalude looks like a more-appropriate name.
I have identified the exact market for the new Prelude.
Newly empty-nest dads, ranging from mid-40s to early 50s. Those that either had or lusted after Preludes, Celicas, or DSM coupes/hatchbacks. Now that they no longer need a really viable back seat, they can ditch the CUV or minivan and relive their youth. It’s kinda like Ford’s “new-retro” Thunderbird of 20 years ago.
Beat me to it by seconds lol.
Yeah, this is ultimately, a car for empty nesters. The timing of it lines up perfectly for elder millenials/gen Xers whose children are on their way out of the house. It’s something for the parents to trade in their CRV/Pilot/Odyssey for.
The price point and unwillingness to offer anything other than a single loaded trim is part of this. Honda wants to sell this to people in their prime earning years as a sort of “safe midlife crisis”.
I think that’s always been the thought process behind keeping some of the last few coupes around, it was a similar justification when the Subaru announced a CVT WRX. But it may not always shake out that way – a firm riding, low slung coupe might not blend so well with aging backs or knees.
I’m not newly empty-nest, but I’m a dad “ranging from mid-40s to early 50s. Those that either had or lusted after Preludes, Celicas, or DSM coupes/hatchbacks. Now that they no longer need a really viable back seat”, I don’t hate this car, I hope it does well and sell well.
However I’m not dropping $43k on this. I have the financial means to drop $43k on a primary car, weekend car etc, so it’s not the pricing. If I itched for a Prelude, Celica, DSM, which I do and window shop, I’ll just buy a nice one of that era for about $20k-ish. If I wanted a weekend car for $43kish, I can get a used Cayman, BMW, Z, maybe Supra for a little more?
I hear what you’re saying. You’re the right demographic, but the wrong market. I’m talking about dads that still need to commute, only want to own 1 car, and lack the time or skill or desire to own a weekend fun car.
My comment didn’t mean to come off suggesting you are wrong! But I am that demographic, I’m having a hard time finding someone excited about this, we all grew up in that era, none of us hate this car, but also none of us talking about buying one. I hope Honda did research, there must be someone out there who wants the handling of the type-r, but none of the other type-r stuff.
Maybe it’s for me when I’m really old, dont want a manual, but still want to hit the occasional canyons at my retirement cabin and get it for $20k used.
hey! I resemble that remark
The more I read articles on new cars, the more it is becoming clear I will never own one. There is little about it that I find appealing, and I have owned a prelude in the past and loved it. This just seems so boring, like an appliance trying to look cool. It makes me think of poorly built fridges but with WiFi, or when a company sells a limited edition color of something. Just not really worth it.
I ran into this issue a long time ago. I realized what I truly wanted was… expensive.
I very diligently saved for over a decade, and cut most other things (but savings) to the bone. To get exactly what I wanted. Was brutal to do, but I did it responsibly.
There’s still good value on the low end (Miata, Toyobarus save oiling issues, Mustang but the S650 I’m not about) and even the mid-range, but I’ve also learned how to identify the “compromises” required to cut costs, broaden appeal, and stay within the boundaries of both regulatory compliance and safety requirements.
Bought something non-depreciating to hold me over, just went straight to the end. Off the treadmill, got what I wanted. Sometimes something new surprises me, but I’m not sure what comes next that would make me EVER do it again.
I think my issues are mix of desire, (nothing new really appeals to me) and an understanding that I just cannot ever see myself paying so much of a basic car. I live in the Midwest and not in a metro area. Living is pretty cheap, but pay is far lower than what companies figure for the average consumer around here.
I think mostly I have just turned into a tight old man very early in life. I haven’t had a car payment in 9 years and it was $224 per month. I just can’t square my cheapness with a $700+ car payment. That’s a house payment, well my house payment anyway.
I didn’t save for 10+ years to make a car payment.
I saved for 10+ years to not have one. Not paying interest saves a ton.
EDIT: Paying no interest instead of 6.5% for 60 months — typical rate right now for someone with amazing credit — saves 17.4% on total cost of the car.
My only issue is the price. I get the target: someone who wants a fun-looking coupe that’s really cheap to run, but a good daily driver in terms of comfort and fair real-world performance (except, of course, for all the enthusiasts who live in the magic fairy land of no other road users, pristine roads, and no traffic enforcement where they drift to the grocery store), I just don’t think there are a lot of people who will do the math against a Civic Hybrid or Prius and pay that much more for less practicality. OK, it’s fully loaded, but they’re aiming it at someone who’s going for a car that’s cheaper to run over the more fun GRZ that’s cheaper and the extra weight of crap won’t help the sporty feel match the looks and probably make it slower than a base Civic Hybrid. People aren’t buying impractical cars, but when they do it’s for the experience and/or simplicity. The GR86 is a bit impractical for me, but I bought it anyway because it’s perhaps the last of that type of car and also to enjoy the time I have to spend driving and that it has less BS in it than almost anything else right now was a major point of appeal, more so, even, than the RWD.
The Civic hybrid is, at best, still $12,000 cheaper. Same powertrain, well enough handling, and 2 more doors.
The Prelude is foolish, and just because it may yet separate fools from their money, that does not make it less so
It’s a shame, because this should be a compelling party piece in their lineup, but they’ve priced it as though it were much more interesting and special than it really is. How Honda
Every coupe is foolish. They basically exist to tell the world that you have enough money that you can spend more than a sedan for an impractical 2-door car just because you like the way it looks.
This is what I think every time guys on here start making noise about wanting a 2-door pickup truck.
I think the price is comparable to how it was in the past, even being pretty darn close to equal when adjusted for inflation. However… I still really struggle to see how this fits in Honda’s current lineup and broader car market.
Despite being more compact, it doesn’t weigh any less than the current Civic Hybrid at just over 3200lbs. That makes it 850lbs heavier than an ND Miata, and only about 125lbs shy of a Subaru WRX.
Despite it’s smaller size, similar weight and same powertrain, it somehow manages to be considerably less fuel efficient than the Civic Hybrid. It’s fuel economy rating actually matches that of the much bigger and more practical Accord Hybrid.
So if it’s not the most practical, most efficient, not the lightest, not very pretty, and isn’t particularly sporty or engaging, then what is it getting right? For the life of me, I can’t figure out how this car justifies it’s price tag – especially in today’s market and in Honda’s current lineup.
That being said, I’m sure it’s a perfectly good car. Even though I can’t imagine it lasting long, I’m happy that it exists.
Same as most other 2+2s, they’re often the highest thing someone can “reach” for. It’s the “a bit more special” thing that meets the requirements of someone’s day-to-day and they can afford to pay for it. That’s all the job that segment needs to do.
“Compromise” is a major point to this exact market segment.
It isn’t about the performance or practicality – it is about the look of a 2-door coupe. Same reason people bought a 1995 Prelude making 135 hp for the equivalent of $42K today.
My wife who has always loved small Japanese semi sporty coupes has this on her radar for her next car. Her eval so far – nice looks, needs more power, same as her reaction to the g86/brz.
Prices in the final gen Prelude had climbed: in 2001 it was almost 2k more than an Accord EX manual, a couple grand less than a top EX V6. The SH was a grand more than the V6. But at the end of the 4th gen in 1996, the Prelude started just under $20k, roughly between an LX and EX Accord.
This is 3k more than an Accord Touring (hybrid) or an Integra A-spec Tech (manual option). I am glad they’re making it, but with the pricing, appeal seems limited even for a low volume vehicle.
The constant bellyaching over this car has never really made sense to me to be honest, but then again I didn’t understand it with the Integra either. At the end of the day it’s more or less a really nice looking parts bin experiment that they’re not relying on to be a volume seller. I think it’s as much a proof of concept as anything else-hey look! We can make a hybrid fun and interesting.
If people buy it and it’s reviewed favorably maybe the sporty hybrid trim finds its way to more practical models. I’d certainly be interested in an Integra that has all the same modifications but I know that’s a distant pipe dream.
With that out of the way, the old Prelude isn’t even some JDM legend anyway. It was a nice looking grand tourer/sort of halo car that was a tech showcase. In fact they were considered fairly uncool until recently and it’s basically the same situation as always. The actual “cool” Hondas from the era have become unobtainable and now enthusiasts are trying to retcon other models into being legendary.
OH BRO I TOTALLY LUSTED AFTER A PRELUDE IN 2004! IT WAS SUCH AN ASPIRATIONAL CAR BACK THEN THIS IS A DISGRACE TO THE NAME! No you didn’t and no it wasn’t. You lusted after an NSX or Type R Integra and now that most of us can’t afford one of those anymore you’re trying to talk yourself into what’s objectively a lesser Honda.
Everyone needs to chill out. If you don’t want one then don’t buy one. If you do then do. If you find this somewhat appealing and are interested in sporty/handling oriented hybrids then maybe think about getting one, because I feel like this is an underserved niche that not enough people are open about liking. I’m an enthusiast who’s concerned about their carbon footprint and I know I’m not the only one.
I do look forward as it gets easier to drop in EV batteries and motors into non-working classics. It’s a joy to see it already happening to many.
I actually really like the idea of this car, I was heavily considering one to go with my EV but it’s at least $10k more than anything it can be compared against. I’ll wait until they are begging people to get rid of them
This is absolutely correct. In the late 90s and early aughts, Preludes were for the dweebs. Why would you get a FWD 4 banger Honda when you could get a used fox body mustang with real GT power? Not a whole lot of people went for the Honda…
But for the record, I owned a 1990 Preludes 4WS SI which I did (and still do) lust over. I was undergrad econ major and I purchased it from a USAF doctor – what drew us to this car was the intersection of sportiness AND sensibility – we were in it for its overall competence as a package. We were real dweebs.
I am a real dweeb and thus find the new Prelude cool. I could never make one work, but I’ll admire from afar and maybe jump on one down the line if they get super cheap. But the idea that cars like the OG Prelude, non Type R Integras, etc. were TOTALLY FAST JDM PERFECTION BRO is completely wrong and basically just an excuse to whine about how they don’t make cars like they used to anymore.
I also wonder if maybe some younger enthusiasts don’t fully get this. I’m in my mid 30s and remember when a lot of what we’re now forcing ourselves to remember the halcyon days of was considered uncool. Perhaps some younger folks don’t get it. But still, let’s stop rewriting history and forming opinions off of our revisions…
The hierarchy of ’90s Japanese cars was CRX > CRX SI > Accord 4 banger > Accord V6 (coupe preferably) > Prelude (it was more rare and larger than the CRX). So, in some areas it was the cool halo car. That was until some downstate kid (this was real upstate NY) showed up in his mom’s Lexus SC and used to go out at lunch and thrash it. Never mattered to me, the guy with the fixed up fox body Mustang ruled all and me in my ’90 Olds with the 3.8 was faster than everything off the line except for the ‘stang and Lexus.
Your hierarchy doesn’t include the Civic, or more especially, the Civic SI, or anything other than a Honda, including the Integra. I agree Prelude was pretty far down the list, but you skipped a few steps in your rundown.
You are spot on! I had the Prelude in the good spec and yet what I really craved was a red CR-X. Or a rare-as-hens-teeth 92-93 Integra GS-R in Aztec Green Pearl.
To be a little more charitable, most of us didn’t realize that the early 2000s were essentially the end of the line for a whole class of automobile. It’s easy to wistfully remember cars like the Preludes and Eclipses when we haven’t really had much like it since.
I think it’s also safe to say that the new Prelude feels like it’s 90% there. I’m a Honda fanboy so for me, it’s the front end – it doesn’t need to look like an OG prelude but it shouldn’t be cribbing the current Toyota design language.
In no way were the late 90s and early aughts full of people deciding between Mustangs and four banger Hondas. That time period is literally the peak of the import/rice era. EF and EK civics were EVERYWHERE tricked out to look fast if they weren’t going fast. But they were also going fast.
Preludes might have been for dweebs, but that is because the cool kids were driving CRXs, Civic SIs, and Integras. You were either domestic or JDM, not many were moving between those two camps.
I get the sense that this was highly regional – I was cross shopping Preludes, E30s, and Mustangs in 2000.
I do take your point – the first Fast and Furious also came out in 2001 by which time, half of the Civics and Accords on the road already had a bodykit, Altezza taillights, and a Mugen sticker. But I also don’t think this conflicts with Nsanes point – folks weren’t buying these carsfor their performance. They were often hand-me-down cars and cheap on the used market. The beauty was that you could lower it, toss on some parts and create the illusion of performance.
I can’t say people were choosing between a Mustang of FWD import. You generally were either into one or the other.
The Mustang and Camaro guys couldn’t understand why anyone would spend more on a 135 hp Prelude than a 5.0L Mustang. Then there was the part about the engine driving the wrong wheels.
TBH, there are dozens of us 4th/5th gen Prelude apologist. Harken back to the Fast and the Furious days, the Lude was one of fastest cars a high school graduate in 2009 could actually buy. You wanted a Type R or NSX, but even those were worth actual money. If you wanted to take your friend’s Mazdaspeed Protege by a couple car lengths on University Ave outside of Dinkytown White Castle in Minneapolis. But, you only had 3k, it was either a Lude, Sentra Spec-V or you roll the dice on 3kGT that someone gave up on. And before anyone suggests a Fox Body or something like, domestics were all dweeb dad cars.
Granted, the Prelude was never actually that fast. Just fast for shitbox street racing. but there are whole dozens of us who remember the day when the Lude was vicious street fighter that you could buy off some dude for hella cheap.
People online are always saying that automakers don’t make interesting/unique/non-crossovers and every time they do, the response is “well not like that!!” As I said in a previous comment my partner may be looking at one of these when off-lease ones come on the market. We are in our 30s, no kids, no need for four doors. He wants something different and efficient to commute in and this seems to check those boxes.
The questions is, at this price point who is the buyer? Hybrid buyers are going to want either maximum efficiency or value, sports car buyers are going to want either more power or a manual and whatever few personal luxury coupe buyers still exist probably won’t want a Honda over a 2 series or Q60
I genuinely don’t see the market for this
It’s a car that’s decent at many things without being excellent at anything, while looking good.
I think it will succeed just fine, even if it isn’t a paradigm shift.
It’s not priced like a straight B student though. This is going to be one of the most expensive cars in its class
What is its class though?
I think a lot of people are missing that this comes fully loaded for that $43K price and there are no options. That might not be ideal but it does make comparisons to base prices of other vehicles less fair. It also leaves space for Honda to add a base trim later by removing items.
The Prius, which looks incredibly similar (identical front styling and continues only slightly differently from there) and is around the same size is very much THE competition and is more than $10K cheaper.
I am not interested enough in this segment to go through and compare feature by feature but a FWD Prius Limited Premium is $38,395, or a difference of less than $5K.
Remember the Prelude comes only fully loaded and will presumably be much more entertaining to drive than the Prius.
Honestly this is the competition. You have a long commute with traffic, you want a small car dimensionally, and you actually want to save money over using an electric car or German car.
There is a night and day difference between how a Honda 2-motor hybrid and a Toyota 2-motor hybrid drives.
Even the most recent Prius just drones and drones and drones when you hit the gas.
Ah, true. I did not realize that this was only fully loaded. Lower trims will make this make more sense.
I think the crime here is that Honda offers an excellent manual transmission, paired to a 1.5 Turbo or 2.0 Turbo, and they refuse to offer it in this gorgeous coupe.
That would make for a unique value proposition. The 1.5T/6MT would be be more than an Integra, but with some of the CTR bits it would act like sort of a bridge between the two.
If I wanted a compact hybrid with coupey styling, I’d just get the Prius and buy a used Miata with the leftover $14,645
I’d do the other way around (new Miata, used Prius) but your point is still 100% valid
The Prius would have to be new or lightly used because only the latest gen is appropriately coupe-y for this comparison. But without that limitation, yes absolutely.
I’m one to let the Miata do the lifting in the looks department and just getting a used Prius to do cargo duty and inclement weather. That way I really don’t have to worry about it.
It’s still not clear to me who this car is for. The Venn diagram of people wanting an efficient fuel-saving commuter but with none of the practicality of a hatchback or sedan can’t be that large.
Cars like this (well besides the hybrid part) used to be everywhere. Every mainstream sedan had a coupe variant. They weren’t particularly sporty to drive, but they looked good.
Even if those buyers are only 10% of what they used to be, that’s still enough to sustain a single entrant in the market I think. 40+ mpg is just a bonus.
You could argue that those coupes were the ‘lifestyle vehicle’ of their time. Would someone who’s considering a Bronco or Wrangler ‘for the aesthetic’ consider the Prelude? Probably more likely than we’d think, though likely not a large number. It’d fit for people who want something sporty looking yet still seemingly accessible in a way the BRZ/GT86 isnt. Maybe it could steal a few potential buyers away from the CLA-class?
I agree that the list of vehicles this will be cross shopped with is probably much wider than what’s listed in the article or being discussed in the comments.
Seriously. This Prelude is for the market segment that will unironically cross shop it with a Wrangler, MIni Cooper and a non-V8 Mustang.
I get they used to be everywhere in the ’90s, but this is 2025. Nostalgic Gen X’s and elder Millennials like me who loved the Radwood-era Japanese coupes are more likely today to just buy one of those, or have more income and buy a true sportscar.
I’m squarely in the demographic for loving the Prelude nameplate. The old ones were awesome, and it was a top contender for my first car, but this doesn’t scratch my nostalgic itch, and if I wanted an efficient and stylish small car at this point, I’d just get a Prius and be done with it (which seems crazy to say).
This would appeal to the folks who bought warm coupes in the 90’s an 00’s that don’t exist anymore.
Celica
RSX
Solara
G6
TC
you get the idea.
Is this really that warm of a coupe though? The RSX Type-S had 200hp in the early aughts.
I guess I’m just puzzled why they made this a distinct car vs. slotting a different trim level in on the Civic: like a Civic Hybrid A-Spec or something.
Yes, but lots of people bought automatic non-S RSX’s.
I was going to say the exact same thing about the Venn diagram. Calling it a “commuter” seems to downplay the price and Honda’s own PR push. I can see that with a trim sliding under the $40k mark, but this is the most expensive car (edit: emphasis on car) from Honda/Acura south of the CTR/ITS.
This car is for the GenXers who grew up in the 90’s that wanted a Japanese 2 door coupe but couldn’t afford it at the time. Now they’re in their peak earning years and got some disposable income for a 2nd or 3rd car.
In earlier, less PC times, this would’ve been called a “girl’s car.”
A ‘hairdresser’s’ or ‘secretaries’ car I believe is what it would have been called. So now it’ll be a ‘Stylist’s’ or ‘Executive Assistant’s’ car.
Most people drive far more vehicle that they actually need. This might appeal to people without kids, people with a single kid, people who don’t actually need to vehicles that can haul a soccer team?
I get the sense that if more couples were happy to swap their cars back and forth, they might end up with a combination of vehicles that’s more exciting than two SUVs.
Looking at total cost of ownership, I think a rare, sporty-ish Honda, that will be cheap to own and run will hold on to quite a bit of value.
Of course, I hope they depreciate like a rock as soon as they are on sale but that certainly won’t be the case.
It’s flawed and not an amazing value, but lets all just take a step back and be happy Honda is making a Prelude at all. They had no NEED to bring this to market, but they did. In a world where all sub-60k 2-door cars are endangered, just be glad it exists at all.
You guys. It’s $12k more than a 4 door with the same powertrain. Stop justifying insanity
There are probably two parts to consider for this.
A) Is the Prelude price fair compared to the market? Yes.
B) Is the Prelude price fair compared to how much nicer it is than a fully loaded Honda Civic hybrid? No. $8,505 for Type R underpinnings and active dampers doesn’t quite seem like a great ROI. I also had the chance to at least sit in it during the NACTOY fall test drive in Ann Arbor. The interior seemed nice, but like an Elantra N, not a Ford Mustang fully-loaded GT with leather seats. It is also a significant step down from the Acura Integra Type S, which this feels like it wants to be the budget, hybrid version of.
The CR-Z was $20k in 2016, and adjusted for inflation, it would be $28k today. I’d be pretty happy with a $38k price point for a mid-range trim Prelude. Heck, right now a GR86 Premium with Performance Package (I’m a sucker for heated seats) is $36k. I’d happily pay Toyota another two grand if they threw in a sport-tuned version of the Prius powertrain. Also, the rear seats are somewhat usable in the Prelude because they fold flat, but you can’t sit in them unless you’re 5’4 or under. I would be significantly concerned about head trauma from being in the back seat, going over bumpy roads. The Honda reps didn’t let anyone sit in the backseat during the test drives for NACTOY, so there are likely concerns about comfort.
Interior pics with my head next to the glass, sitting in the back seat. For reference, I’m 5’8 on good days. https://imgur.com/a/yCIT2Em
Omg your head is literally IN the liftback.
Damn that can’t be safe.
GRZ seats also fold flat.
Why even bother with the back seat? It looks like it wouldn’t fit a rear facing car seat, and even forward facing would give zero leg room for even a 4 year old- is it just for double leg amputees who don’t mind if their head is amputated as well by the rear hatch?
They’re for emergency short trip use only and increased cargo capacity, like every 2+2 built for many decades to slightly better or worse degrees, which is why they’re not called 4-seaters. These are not intended as modern kid schleppers, that’s what 99% of the rest of the market is for. It also can’t carry a pallet of concrete.
$43,000 for something that ugly is a crime.
It’s certainly a good deal for Honda.
It is a totally fine price. If you want a commuter that will return excellent mileage, be comfortable, and is fun to drive if/when you require it, it’s a decent choice. It’s definitely a niche car and won’t sell in massive numbers, but it probably didn’t cost Honda a ton to develop anyway.