2026 Honda Prelude.
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The all-new Honda Prelude isn’t out yet. Even though we’ve already seen photos and got some info a few months ago.
And this is what it looks like in black. For those who wondered. A black car with black wheels is to me one of the ghastlyest color choices. And yet, a rather popular one these days…
While the new Prelude, unlike all previous generations, doesn’t seem to offer a sunroof, it is at least Honda came up with a convenient hatchback. Something none of the previous generation offered. However, from previous photos, the cargo area still looks pretty small with the rear seats up. And again, just like in the Civic hatchback, not flat.
While the hatchback will make the car much more appealing, however, there seems to be zero headroom for eventual backseat passengers. The whole thing does feel less roomy than the previous Honda Civic Coupe. Which, I guess, might not be a problem for a car that could be competing mostly with the Toyota GR86 in the US. Which is not the roomiest coupe in the world…
The dashboard is yet another version of the 2020 Civic interior. Which is really too bad. I mean, it works. But I would expect something a bit more original in a Prelude. One original gimmick is different seats for the driver and front passenger. With more support for the driver and more comfort for the passenger.
This new Honda Prelude is basically the rebirth of the Honda Civic coupe. Almost 5 years after the sedan came out…
Honda has officially mentioned the new “Hybrid only” Prelude would return to the US later this year. I’m not sure if they intend to build it over here since this will probably be a low volume model. If not, it could be taxed out of the market with new tariffs.
I’m hoping its just my Honda cynicism creeping in, after so many long years of disappointments. This is giving me CRZ vibes all over again – and that’s not a good thing. It just doesn’t feel like a Prelude, in the same ways the CRZ didn’t feel like a rebirth of the CRX. Now THAT was a disappointment. Honda really should consider a truer expression of the original CRX design as both a hybrid and BEV. The CRZ was ugly, slow, smaller inside, and very blah. This Prelude so far is giving me the blah and smaller parts of that. I still love the original CRX!
I’m sorry. But nope.
This vehicle needs a “gotta have it” design. Unfortunately, it’s just not there. Honda was on a roll design wise with the previous gen Civic, CR-V, and Accord. Other than the new gen Passport, Honda’s current lineup is full of design duds.
I’m excited for the car to come out. Black would not be my color choice, but that picture is also a pretty bad picture. A black car photographed indoors with lots of ceiling lighting and funky reflections make it kind of indistinguishable. It will certainly look better on the road. Glad that Honda is taking a chance on a coupe in this world of cookie-cutter SUVs. As for the dashboard, like every other carmaker Honda is reusing kit, and it does provide a familiar space to any other Honda owner. Instead of IOS vs Android, automakers keep coming up with unique ecosystems designed to keep a customer in their brand. At least Honda’s interiors are pretty easy to grasp.