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
Imagine how many decent 2nd gen Prius units you could buy for one new of these… you could be the next TURO hero!
For that price I’d expect more colors. Might be just out of my price range, but here’s hoping they actually have a used market.
Give us the orange from the Passports!
I wonder how thin the sheet metal on the hood is. It’ll be interesting to see how much cash the dealers can put on it before it dents.
43k for a a parts bin special is delusional. Can’t wait for them to literally never depreciate anyway because muh honda
Although I do agree it’s fun watching people freak out this isnt a “true” prelude like it’s some storied name. One, there’s a reason there weren’t NfS boss battles against preludes. And two, the rsx (whatever acura made into a boring cuv) and eclipse would’ve killed to come back as this
Reminds me of the CRZ. Reviewers heaped praise on it and justified it’s existence, but no one bought it. I get that it says “prelude” but it’s really the new civic coupe, and there won’t be enough people to buy it at that price.
Every time I see pictures of this thing, I have the same reaction as when I see a new Integra: it’s a missed opportunity. The styling is OK, I guess. The performance will likely be OK, I guess.
But I could go an buy a Civic Si for less (most likely), and get the 1.5T and a manual. Why would I buy this new Prelude? It’s not like the Si is bad on gas. And from what I hear, it’s a lot of fun to drive.
I was very excited to see the new Prelude at the Seattle Auto Show last week, especially since a sign on the car claimed the starting MSRP to be $38,000. At that price, I thought this could be the next car we’ll buy next year (to replace my beat-up Protege5 that works well as my daily driver). I even took a picture of the sign (and the car, too). I was a happy camper!
But $43k is too much for this car (and I feel a bit conned, admittedly.)
Sigh…
Perhaps a Civic Hybrid instead. Or keep fixing the MP5 until it dies…
I think this is the best looking Honda in EONS. But who is it for? It’s pretty, but impractical, likely not particularly fast even if a tidy handler, hybrid drivetrains are not exactly known for driving involvement and excitement, and the price feels utterly stupid. The Prelude was generally rather more than just a Civic stuffed into a coupe shell (even if that is exactly what the first generation was). How many sports coupe drivers give the first shit about fuel economy as long as it’s not ridiculously bad? I can see making the hybrid an option ala the original CRK HF, but this really should have been a Civic Type R in a pretty frock, not a too-expensive Civic Hybrid.
I didn’t realize it had been almost 25 years since the last Prelude. Time flies.
“hybrid drivetrains are not exactly known for driving involvement and excitement”
Not yet anyway.
Not likely ever, IMHO. No stick, no fun, and the one hybrid you could get with a stick wasn’t much fun either. Dull but worthy at best.
There were three US market MT hybrids that I know of; 1st gen Insight, Civic and CRZ. Outside the US there are a few more.
Whether those are”fun” I would think you’ll agree is very much in the eye of the beholder. To someone coming out of a race ready Porsche? Doubtful, not much else would be. A wallowy Avalon? Maybe. A pair of Brooks? Certainly.
Then there’s the question of if they’re not fun whether they could be MADE fun with a few tasteful mods while retaining the hybrid MPG. They may not be fast but at least they might be made to take a corner.
Nope, in this case fun is absolute. And having driven a stick Honda hybrid, they were fun free zones unless you get your jollies squeezing miles out of a gallon. The stick just made them more work without improving the situation at all. If gallon squeezing is your jam I suggest a VW TDI of the era is both more effective AND more fun.
Toyota hybrids aren’t any fun either, but they were a whole lot more effective and generally HELL of a lot more reliable.
“If gallon squeezing is your jam I suggest a VW TDI of the era is both more effective AND more fun.”
That reminds me, somebody on my local CL was selling a 1.9 TDI swapped 1st gen Insight a while ago. I wonder how fun THAT was to drive.
It would certainly have WAAAAY more grunt than the original.
Have you seen the YouTube videos from the guy who swapped a Kubota diesel triple into one? Then turbocharged it? A lot of work to go really slowly, LOL.
The coal rolling is just the chef’s kiss.
LOL!
I really loved my diesels back in the day, but reality is a properly tuned diesel should basically NEVER smoke any noticeable amount other than the coldest of cold starts.
I was actually pretty excited to see this (in red) at the Seattle car show last week, with a sign on the window claiming the MSRP started at $38k. At that price, I was thinking “hmm, $5k more than a Civic hybrid, but I want one.” I even took a picture of the sign (and a few of the car.)
Now, I am thinking, “hmm, I think I was conned…” Very disappointing. Back to the Civics for me.
This is the car I’d buy if I wanted a Type R but had to compromise with the better half on one vehicle. I care more about suspension and handling than how fast a car goes. See: her endlessly laughing at me whining about how sad my car looks and drives with OEM 16s and winter tires compared to the 18s and summer tires. Which, to be fair, I mostly do to make her laugh. She’s fuel economy and creature comforts above all else. I drive because I enjoy it; she only drives when necessary because she hates it. It’s a car we could both live with without complaint, even if we both knew it wasn’t exactly what we wanted. And for the price? Probably worth it, because it’s pretty hard to find a meeting point for her and I on a car.
There’s a certain auto journalist/pod caster/youtuber who teaches us the we need to “Believe” cause it’s the new “Prelooode.
Believe
I wonder is it not a bad deal for Honda or the dealership or the buyer?
Just this morning I found out that my brother bought an RV at probably double the Preludes cost. So the gloves are off – I guess I’ll be getting the wife a new car as well…
I… don’t get it. You’re saying you have to keep up with the Joneses?
Not the Joneses, just a little sibling rivalry!
Reminds me when my wife laughs at my balking at $200 concert tickets. “That’s what they cost! Stop living in the past!” Well, I STILL don’t want to pay that much, and tough shit if I miss out on a two- or three-hour experience I can only remember.
I don’t want to pay that much for this car, unless they could make it a wagon. I’ve got stuff to haul around!
And, I’d rather see the whole CTR business in it Engine, manual. A Two-door PTR!! That might be worth it. Yeah, I won’t get 44mpg. I’ll try to get 30 by playing nice. I’d have to keep my wagon, I guess.
Given the average new car is going for a shade under $50k and this thing undercuts that by around 15%, maybe the pricing isn’t crazy.
Would they sell more if it was cheaper? Yeah. Would it be financially viable for Honda to make it and sell it for a lower price? Dunno.
At least these aren’t as ridiculously priced as the Supra. I think I’ve seen exactly three of those in the wild.
I would loved to own this if this was available when my Polestar 2 lease was due, I like the styling, enough space for me and my spouse for our solo trips with no kids, and getting decent MPG with this cheap gas prices, its a win win. Instead, I went electric again because of the tax credit.
Time to lick my thumb and index finger and pinch out that match. It was pretty while it burned. And this is before dealer “market value adjustment.” All I really wanted was a better looking Civic. Turbo four, two wheel drive, manual transmission. Hybrids are fine, but they should always be an option.
This had me looking at 10th generation Civic Si coupes. $26K in 2020, no doubt $15k used today. 205hp, manual.
Way too much money. I’ve been excited about this thing since the first rumors. I stayed excited as the news dribbled out that it wasn’t going to be the traditional enthusiast car everyone had been wanting, hybrid only, no manual, etc, etc. But this is way too much money yall. Like $8k too much. I’ll just keep my BRZ thanks. I wish it wasn’t so but this is going to be a sales flop.
It has CTR suspension but does the CTR suspension costs that much more to make? I think the R&D has been recouped since they’ve been using it for 2 gens of the CTR. In fact, the FL5 CTR costing $10k more than the FK8 is ridiculous itself.
Honda is just going nuts with its prices.
Honestly would be funny to find a totaled type r and swap some suspension gubbins onto a civic hybrid and see how close it is
43K??? What crack pipe are they smoking? Exactly who is this for?
I can’t fathom this thing at this price. It is so, so crazy. Every time I try to conjure a hypothetical person who would buy this in my mind, I recall reality and they go poof.
All I got out of this is that the CTR doesn’t have heated seats available. How is that even possible in 2025 for a brand new $45k daily?
Yeah it’s a bummer, but they make up for it by being so freaking awesome in every other way.
No, it is absolutely overpriced and most of you are on crack.
If I didn’t spend all my money on crack, I might be able to afford one.
On a price-per-door, and useability as a family-car: the Civic TypeR and Corolla GR are both ahead of the Prelude. Both offer a hatch, LSD, and decent sporting intentions.
How does it compare to a Z? I know the Z also doesn’t have a hybrid, but I feel like it’s a closer comparison than the BRZ given they’re both hatch-shapes.
You’re asking how a four seater hybrid coupe compares to a two seater twin turbo sports car that has literally double the horsepower?
I don’t think anyone will be cross-shopping those two vehicles unless your only criteria is “car with two doors”.
Ya know, I forgot the Z didn’t have “rear” seats. My bad, you’re right.
Even the Z’s rear cargo area has always been a bit wonky since the 350Z because of the rear strut tower brace. It was a cheaper way to solve the potential rigidity issues back there, but compromises cargo space.
As a former long-term Z33 owner – you’re absolutely right about the terrible cargo capacity. I quite literally took out the spare tire for the few week-long road trips I took in it. To it’s credit though, it actually fit a lot more than you’d think with the spare out, provided you used soft-sided duffles and not rigid luggage.
Yeah, they aren’t the most direct competitors, but the Z was what immediately sprung to mind when I started reading this article. Especially because everyone moaned that Nissan really screwed the pooch with their pricing and that it is way too expensive. Except that the Z is a RWD twin-turbo 400HP sports car on a standalone chassis and yet it costs the same price as this facelifted Civic hybrid.
Seriously, why would I buy this over a Z unless I absolutely needed a +2? Sure, 44 mpg, but if you want mileage in a hatch go buy a prius/corolla and then you can actually use the back seat.
Even sporting use I’d pick the prius.
Yeah, I don’t think there’s a market for these. Hardly anyone buys 2-doors anymore, and if they are looking for a 2-door, they probably want something sportier than this. They will probably sell a handful to some long-time Honda fanboys, but that’s it.