2026 Honda Prelude First Drive — So Close to Great… But Why Am I Frustrated?

The Honda Prelude is back after 25 years, but after driving the all-new 2026 Honda Prelude, I’m left feeling something unexpected… frustration. Don’t get me wrong — there’s a lot to like about this car. The styling is clean and modern, the hybrid powertrain is smooth and incredibly efficient, and Honda even borrowed some serious performance hardware from the Honda Civic Type R including upgraded suspension and Brembo brakes. But here’s the problem. At over $50,000 in Canada, the new Prelude sits thousands of dollars above the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda Civic Si, while coming dangerously close in price to the much more powerful Honda Civic Type R. And when you start comparing it to other sporty coupes like the Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, Mazda MX-5 Miata, Ford Mustang, and Nissan Z, things get even more complicated. Many of those cars offer: More horsepower Rear-wheel drive Manual transmissions Lower prices So the big question becomes: Where exactly does the new Prelude fit? Honda clearly had all the tools to make something truly special — heritage, hybrid technology, great chassis components — but somehow the final result feels good… not great. In this first drive review, I break down: • The styling and design • Hybrid powertrain performance and fuel efficiency • Handling with Type R suspension and Brembo brakes • Interior features and technology • How it compares to Civic Hybrid, Civic Si, and Civic Type R • And why this car left me feeling both impressed and frustrated The Prelude is back… but is it the comeback we were hoping for? Watch the full review and decide for yourself.