Honda Prelude

Honda Prelude at a glance

The Prelude has always been a compact two-door coupé with a transverse front engine and front-wheel drive, positioned above the Civic and close to the Accord, whose mechanicals it often borrowed. Until 2001 it was a petrol-only car with four-cylinder engines between 1.6 and 2.3 litres. The new model keeps the layout but swaps the high-revving VTEC engines for Honda's two-motor hybrid.

Data from the ADAC catalogue for the German version.

Generations

The SN and AB codes for the first two generations are the ones commonly used by enthusiasts; Wikipedia gives chassis codes only from the BA1 onwards, and the second and third generations both used BA-series codes.

First generation (1978-1982)

Honda launched the Prelude in Japan on 24 November 1978, and the car reached the United States in March 1979. Japanese buyers had a 1.6-litre EL engine with 59 kW (80 PS); export cars used the 1.8-litre CVCC unit, rated at 66 kW (90 PS) gross in Japan and 54 kW (72 hp) net in the US. Power steering was standard, and the Prelude was the first Honda with a power sunroof as standard. Transmissions were a five-speed manual or the semi-automatic Hondamatic, later a three-speed automatic. Honda built about 313,000 cars, more than 80% of them for export.

Second generation (1982-1987)

The second Prelude arrived in Japan on 25 November 1982 and in most export markets in spring 1983. It was the first Prelude with pop-up headlights and offered optional A.L.B. anti-lock brakes. The 1.8-litre twin-carburettor engine gave 77 kW (105 PS) in Europe; later a 2.0-litre DOHC 16-valve engine with fuel injection produced 118 kW (160 PS) in Japan and 102 kW (137 hp) in European trim. The car weighed about 1,025 kg. It was the most successful Prelude in the US, with 336,599 sales.

Third generation (1987-1991)

Launched on 9 April 1987, the third Prelude was the first mass-production passenger car with mechanical four-wheel steering, offered as an option. In its first year about 80% of home-market buyers ticked that box. The body had a drag coefficient of 0.34. European versions used 2.0-litre engines from 98 kW (133 PS) to 110 kW (150 PS); Japan later received a 2.1-litre with up to 110 kW (150 PS). A facelift followed on 21 November 1989. Wheels magazine in Australia named it Car of the Year for 1987.

Fourth generation (1991-1996)

This generation, launched in Japan on 19 September 1991 and in Europe in early 1992, switched to electronic four-wheel steering and introduced VTEC to the Prelude. The 2.2-litre H22A VTEC engine produced 140 kW (190 PS) at 6,800 rpm in its first form, with 147 kW (200 PS) quoted for the Japanese Si VTEC. Other engines were a 2.0i with 98 kW (133 PS), a 2.2 with 99 kW (135 PS) and a 2.3 with 118 kW (160 PS). The weight split was 58% front and 42% rear, and a 1992-1994 car weighed about 1,254 kg.

Fifth generation (1996-2001)

The fifth Prelude was introduced on 7 November 1996 as a notchback coupé, 81 mm longer than its predecessor on a 36 mm longer wheelbase. The headline was ATTS, an active torque transfer system that sent more power to the outside front wheel in corners. In Japan the Type S with ATTS produced 162 kW (220 PS) at 7,200 rpm and 221 Nm. European buyers got the 2.2 VTi with 136 kW (185 PS) at first and 147 kW (200 PS) from 1999, plus a 98 kW (133 PS) 2.0i. Production ended in 2001, and Honda left the segment for more than two decades.

Sixth generation (since 2025)

The BF1 Prelude went on sale in Japan on 5 September 2025. It is the first Prelude with a liftback body and uses a 2.0-litre petrol engine with 105 kW (143 PS) and 186 Nm, which mainly works as a generator, plus a 135 kW (184 PS) traction motor with 315 Nm. Wikipedia quotes a combined 149 kW (200 hp) for some markets; Honda's European data, listed by ADAC, give 135 kW (184 PS) as system output. There is no conventional gearbox: Honda S+ Shift simulates eight ratios through the paddles. The car won the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car Design of the Year for 2025-2026, and HRC races a Prelude-GT in the Super GT GT500 class from 2026.

Engines and performance

For the 2026 European car, ADAC lists 0-100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 188 km/h. The hybrid delivers its 315 Nm from the electric motor at low speed, far more than any earlier Prelude: the best torque figure of the petrol cars was 221 Nm in the Type S. Older cars relied on revs: the H22A peaked at 6,800 to 7,200 rpm depending on version.

Space and practicality

The new Prelude has a 264-litre boot under the hatch. With the rear seats folded it grows to 663 litres to the window line or 760 litres to the roof (ADAC). Older Preludes had a conventional boot lid instead of a hatchback, so the liftback is the most practical Prelude so far.

Fuel economy and running costs

ADAC lists WLTP combined consumption of 5.2 l/100 km and CO2 emissions of 117 g/km for the 2026 Prelude, with a 40-litre tank. Honda Germany gives a three-year or 100,000 km warranty, extendable to eight years or 160,000 km if the car is serviced at Honda dealers.

Trims and prices

Germany has one version, the Prelude 2.0 i-MMD e:HEV Advance, at EUR 49,500 (ADAC, from March 2026). Elsewhere, the car went on sale in Indonesia in January 2026, the Philippines in April 2026 and Malaysia in June 2026. In the US it is sold in small numbers: 204 cars in calendar year 2025. Mugen planned a limited Prelude Spec III of 16 cars.

Safety

No Euro NCAP result for the 2025 Prelude had been published in the sources used for this guide. Of the older cars, the second generation was the first to offer anti-lock brakes and the third generation added high-strength roof pillars. Results for other models are in our safety ratings.

Reliability and known issues

We found no sourced reliability survey or recall summary for the new Prelude. For the older cars, the main consideration is age: the youngest fifth-generation car is now about 25 years old, so condition and rust matter more than the original design. The four-wheel steering systems of the third to fifth generations add parts that a buyer should have checked.

Rivals

The Prelude has few direct rivals: most affordable coupés have rear-wheel drive and no hybrid. The Mazda MX-5 is cheaper and lighter, the GR86 more powerful. Compare them side by side in our comparison tool.