Twenty-four years after it disappeared from the roads, the Honda Prelude was reborn last month at the Japan Mobility Show. We drove this iconic car that now has a hybrid heart but sportscar soul.
What is it?
The Prelude was produced from 1978 to 2001, but was discontinued as the market shifted away from affordable sports coupes. But it was relaunched in 2025 as Honda said it “wanted to re-establish the joy of driving in an electric future.”
How’s the design?
It’s vastly different from the older model, but the coupe design with two doors remains. The older models were petrol-powered, but the new one is a sleek, front-wheel-drive hybrid. Like the older models, it has a low, wide and aggressive stance. It gets a sloping roofline, 19-inch wheels, and a massive rear hatch door. The boot space is substantial, making it different from far more expensive sport coupes that just don’t have enough cabin room for you to carry your golf bags.
How’s the cabin?
It’s unlike any Honda – seats are well-bolstered, the flat-bottom steering wheel neatly falls in hands, and the blue stitching looks tasteful. The button-type gear controller, however, is exactly Honda. Unlike some modern cars that get huge touchscreens, the Prelude has a 9-inch infotainment screen and a 10.2-inch digital cluster – maybe because Honda wants you to enjoy driving instead of getting distracted by a large screen. The net-type AC vents round up its cool cabin design.
How does it drive?
It’s powered by a 2.0-litre, two-motor hybrid system that delivers combined 200 horsepower and 315 Nm torque. Although 315 Nm reads lesser than what higher-end sports cars produce, the way this car accelerates is mind-numbing. The Prelude has mechanical components from Honda’s performance division, including the dual-axis strut front suspension, adaptive dampers, and Brembo brakes, and the way it drives is similar to the Civic Type R – possibly Honda’s finest driver’s car.
Where the Prelude shines is cornering, and accelerating out of a corner – when its instant electric torque and almost-perfect suspension make it drive like a supercar. A great feature is the S+ Shift – a new technology from Honda that simulates the feel and sound of a traditional stepped transmission for its hybrid vehicles, aiming to enhance the driver’s connection with the car.
It’s not a 0-100 km/h car – as my rough test showed it reaching the ton in 6-7 seconds – but more like a car that is fast enough for daily use, and nimble enough to enjoy on a race track.
Another area it shines is fuel efficiency, estimated at more than 20 km/litre – which is far better than 5-10 km/litre figures returned by more expensive sport coupes.
What about pricing?
Honda hasn’t yet announced its pricing, but it’s likely to be in the range of $40,000. And while Honda’s has yet said when, and if, it would be launched in India, the current focus on the subcontinent means the Prelude could be available in India as a CBU import, in the price range of Rs 80-90 lakh.
