---
title: '2026 Honda Prelude Review'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=EXr1RibBYuY'
video_id: 'EXr1RibBYuY'
date: 2026-07-24
duration_sec: 1083
channel: 'Throttle House'
---

# 2026 Honda Prelude Review

> Source: [2026 Honda Prelude Review](https://youtube.com/watch?v=EXr1RibBYuY)

## Summary

Thomas and James review the 2026 Honda Prelude, a hybrid coupe that has faced public criticism. They address its controversial continuously variable transmission (CVT), simulated gear shifts, and pricing, ultimately finding it a pleasant but overpriced car that is not a true sports car.

### Key Points

- **0-60 mph Time** [02:49] — The best 0-60 time achieved was 7.14 seconds without rollout, making it sub-8 seconds but slower than expected.
- **Comparison to 25-Year-Old Prelude** [03:05] — The new Prelude is quicker than the one from 25 years ago, but a manual version of the old one was faster.
- **Powertrain Explanation** [04:13] — The Prelude uses a hybrid system where electric motors power the wheels and the engine acts as a generator. It has a clutch for highway efficiency, making it more complex than a traditional CVT.
- **S+ Mode and Simulated Shifts** [06:04] — S+ mode simulates gear shifts by varying engine RPM, creating noise but not actual gear changes. It's smoother than a dual-clutch transmission.
- **Chassis and Handling** [08:16] — The Prelude shares the Civic Type R's wider track and dual-axis front strut suspension, improving cornering grip and eliminating torque steer.
- **Comparison to Elantra N** [09:10] — The Elantra N is vastly superior in performance and value, but the Prelude offers a smoother, more refined ride.
- **Driving Experience** [10:05] — The car is described as lovely, easy to drive, with a good ride and intuitive interior. It's a great grand tourer.
- **Exterior Styling** [11:03] — The Prelude is sleek and good-looking, with a 911-like rear tail light. It's wider and longer than the old model.
- **Interior Quality** [13:05] — Honda has mastered the modern interior with low visual noise, physical buttons, and comfortable seats. The driver and passenger seats are asymmetrical.
- **Pricing Issue** [14:52] — The Prelude is over $10,000 more expensive than a Civic Hybrid, and similarly priced to a Golf R or Civic Type R, making it hard to recommend.
- **Target Audience** [15:50] — The reviewers struggle to identify who the car is for—it's a fuel-efficient coupe with sporty pretensions but at a high price.
- **Nameplate Equity** [16:18] — Honda is leveraging the Prelude name to justify a higher price; it could have been called a Civic Coupe.
- **No Performance Variants Planned** [16:59] — Honda has no plans for an Si or Type R version of the Prelude, limiting its appeal to enthusiasts.

### Conclusion

The 2026 Honda Prelude is a competent, comfortable hybrid coupe with good fuel economy and refined driving dynamics, but its high price and lack of true sports car performance make it a difficult sell. It's a nice car that fails to justify its cost.

## Transcript

I'm Thomas. >> And I'm James. [music] >> And this is the new Prelude.
But is this newest generation strong enough to go against the tidal wave of negativity that surrounds its arrival? In many ways, it stands perpendicular to
the flow of the narrative. Can it wade its way into the hearts and minds? using them. >> Yeah, fair enough. We even got into true. Hey, >> camera fish. Let's move. Look,
review slightly differently and we're going to specifically address the public condemnation of this car and our own concerns because what if it's good? It's good enough that John Cena bought one. Come to think of it, he does seem to be
considering no one has ever seen John Cena, does the car even exist? What?
it? >> Well, when you have over two decades to >> Oh, yeah. It makes sense that you have the exact same horsepower number. [laughter] >> Yeah. Could they have made it quicker?
>> Listen, it's the same amount of horsepower as a Civic SI. >> And it's got more torque. 232 lb feet versus whatever the 190 something is. >> Yes. >> However,
>> well, there's been a lot of upset about the naugh to 60 time of this car. the naugh to 60 time of this car. >> Yeah.
to be all over the place. But our most representative time on the flattest bit of straight road over the entire week yielded a 7.14 seconds to 60 flat with no one roll out applied. So yes, at the very least it is sub 8 seconds.
know what though? I looked it up. Okay. It is quicker than the one from 25 years >> Is it? >> Yes. However, there was a manual one >> Right. [laughter] >> So,
confusing. >> All of this relates to the price, and we'll get to that. >> Yes. And to be fair, Honda do not claim their little pyramid, they claim it as their halo hybrid
>> performance car pyramid. >> Enthusiast car pyramid. Whatever. >> They say that this provides a grand touring experience. Yes, they do. >> That pro has a fun to drive feel, >> right?
>> Look at that. Oh, yes. 50 >> 60 >> 60 >> 52 [laughter]
>> All right. Listen, I'm going to try and unpack this. Bear with me for a second. to simplify it as much as I can. >> Well, first of all, what why would a CVT >> Well, everyone hates a CVT because it doesn't have actual gears. It's a string
noise. The string on a cone makes it sound like one of those cup communication devices. >> Yes, exactly. It's about that hateful. But this is not that. Okay. It's actually more complicated. I want you to
>> way more fun. >> Yes. Well, hold on. Because electric >> Yes. Well, hold on. Because electric motors are powering the wheels. >> And then there's an engine in the spot where an engine would normally be acting
as a generator giving the electric motor power. Right. complicated. The sound that you're hearing when you put your foot down,
that's just the engine spinning up and providing power to this an EV. So, can be powered, right? It's just powered by just electric motors with the engine >> Okay? >> Right? There's the engine on running and
powering it. And then there's the engine physically connected through a clutch, which only really happens at the highway speeds when the engine is more efficient >> Right. So when an EV would be bad, which is long highway drives, okay,
economy. So if you were upset that the CVT meant that this wasn't an enthusiast >> It's worse, actually. very innovative. >> They have
>> Yes. >> This time it's a huge one. It's S+ mode. I'm going to go into sport mode. >> All right. Sport mode. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Now, what happens is that engine
up there makes noises that sound like gear shifts. actually quite nice to the touch. >> Yes, they are. and no one really seems to understand this. When you're shifting through those
gears, the only thing you're doing is making that engine make noise. those gear shift noises, those aren't gears, first of all. They're just the engine moving up and down in RPM to simulate gears. And then they're just
giving power to the EV side of the car. >> So you're driving an EV with a motor on >> So that's slightly more real than an Ionic 5N which which just generated noise through a soundtrack. This is making noise through happens to have an
car for a week now. >> Yeah. >> And it's been so smooth. We all we keep saying it's so smooth through these that's because It isn't real.
>> It isn't real. The engine's just making noises. >> It's really, really, really strange. Okay, so that said, the actual >> Yes. >> is good. Like the shift like they did a
good job with that. >> Yeah. >> Honestly, that's not bad, is it? >> Cuz they're not real. >> And so I don't necessarily mind that. It is a bit like cheating, I think. And it
okay. >> But technically, the experience is it's way smoother than even something like a a a dual clutch transmission. >> Yeah. >> So, it's not looking good currently.
>> But the other stuff is where the Prelude starts to shine. starts to shine. >> Yes.
Civic Type R. It has a wider track. It gets the dual axis front strut suspension, which improves camber, which means that you've got a better cornering grip. It also means that it apparently, according to Honda, eliminates torque
according to Honda, eliminates torque steer. Hold on now. You have to have torque to eliminate it. >> Yeah. Yeah. But now we know it's got >> No, it's 100%. It's just steer. >> It's just steer now. Okay. Um, so the
>> Really good. >> It has that Honda deafness to it, right? depending on the mode. >> Ride is good. Rides a lot nicer than a >> It does. Yeah. It's all retuned for the Prelude. Yeah.
>> But the steering has a quicker ratio. So, this isn't I know everyone says it's just a Civic hybrid, but in all the chassis ways, it isn't. Genuinely good lot. >> Yeah, we've been hustling. Honda Honda
Honda are good with their chassis stuff. >> Yes, they really are. It's not a Type R >> Like if you got out of this and into a Type R, you'd be like, "Oh, that's what >> What about How would you compare it to an Elantra N, which I think this
>> Yeah, the Elantra N is is vastly superior in every conceivable and >> However, >> Yeah. [laughter] Okay. Ready? >> Questionably.
>> Questionably. >> 3 2 1 >> Well, >> it's not super heavy and we got a lot of that was some good stopping forces. >> Yes.
>> Like, could you have saved? Would you have knocked two grand off the the >> Great. >> All right. Hold on. Before we get into >> this is this is what I want to say. >> Mhm. you and I and our whole crew that's
>> Has liked it a lot. >> It is a truly lovely car. >> It really is extremely nice to drive. The ride is good. We've been driving a >> Yes. >> And getting into this has been like, oh,
it's just easy and nice and it just does what you want. The interior is just so easy to use from the driver's seat. It's just it's such a good car. >> It's really good. Maybe that's less to do with the Prelude and more to do with
>> Well, part of that is that this has some nicities going on, but also when you drive it, >> you know what people are looking at? >> What are they looking at? >> A super cool, sleek sports coupe. Drown
Touring, nice driving field coupe. Touring, nice driving field coupe. >> Yeah.
pretty. >> Yeah. >> Boost blue always has a way of winning me over. But
>> I think so. >> Which is boost blue, I think. >> Yeah. Yes. It does look a bit Priusy on the front, but it works. And they've >> It's definitely sleek. >> Sleek. It's a sleeker potato soup. This
It doesn't have an exposed antenna because they've worked it into the roof. >> Bit annoying. >> Yeah. Visually nice, but otherwise quite >> And then obviously the coupe. That's the That's the thing. Oh
>> yeah. It's good. No, no, listen. It's a good It's a good looking car. It's just basically you've minimized the back seat room compared to the Civic Hybrid. Yes, >> Yes, it's not comfortable in the back. No, that's not a manageable thing. But
bit upset because the Prelude was had a long boy stance, but this is actually point4 in longer than that. It's just got a very different profile. >> Lovely brakes. Huge brakes. I'm sure they're expensive and you can't option
>> Two-piece rotors, too. >> Uh, and also it's it's quite a bit wider than the old Prolude. Otherwise, >> styling wise, I don't have any problems >> Yeah. What do you see? I see a lot of cars in it. It's almost got like 911
with that rear tail light across. It's got I'm getting Infinity Q60 in this >> You know what I don't like? >> What? >> That Oh, the little lip piercing.
>> Well, they got it on the rear, too. The new RS3 had that on the rear in its >> Why is it a different blue? >> It is a different blue, isn't it? That >> That's just That doesn't need to be like that. But I mean, we're realistically
good-looking car. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. Let's go inside. >> Okay. >> I think Honda has mastered the modern interior. Is that That's a big
>> Modern economy. Yeah, for sure. >> Yeah. Yeah. think they may have just generally mastered the interior because as soon as you go up into the luxury world, >> things get too complicated and too
stylized. I'm gonna give credit to Mazda here that they've got low visual noise, infotainment. >> That's fair. That's fair. reach. It's got Apple CarPlay. It's got a volume knob. It's got a physical home
button. Right. It is a little stuck on screen, but I mean, other than that, buttons and stuff. These shifters are not my favorite. I wish it had a little to it, I guess. >> And S+ is exactly where you intuitively
would go to do engine onoff. >> Yes. Which is hidden back here. This little stitched prelude here in this fake suede thing. >> And these seats are particularly nice and they're asymmetrical. A Honda first
>> Innovation >> is the name of the game. >> Yeah. For some reason uh the driver seat and the passenger seat are different. In concentrating on driving. >> Hold on, let me test it.
livability. I think that has slightly stronger side seat bolsters and a firmer bottom. >> Okay. Um anyway, I think we need to talk
about this car and its placement amongst the competitors. >> This is a good car. >> It's a lovely little coupe hybrid that experience with a fun to drive feel. [laughter]
with the fun to drive feel. Yes. It's not a sports car at all. >> No. It has sporty characteristics. >> Yes. >> But it is not a sports car >> and it's really expensive.
>> By a significant margin >> Because a Civic hybrid, which is the >> Doesn't have the fancy chassis stuff, but the way you use these cars
is is over $10,000 cheaper US. And then in Canada, it's almost the same price as >> And that is a lot cheaper. >> That's dangerous because a Golf R has
can drift. The bigger thing for me that's a bit of an issue is that as you >> Yes. >> Um and it's pretty much this car. >> with more practicality. >> Yes. The Type R, which has so much more
performance, is an actual hothatch, >> is >> And the Civic Si, which is also a really great performance enthusiast car, is 10 >> So, it begs the question, who is this for?
>> We can't figure it out. >> Who wants a great fuel economy, cool >> with some sporty things, but it's overpriced? the price probably knocked you out of contention.
>> I like it, too. But I would like it more if it were $10,000 cheaper. If it were more affordable, I would heartily recommend this car if you're looking for a coupe experience in this hybrid Honda world. But I cannot recommend this car
>> What they've done is be cheeky. They've lent on the equity of a name. They're >> Everybody does it now. Cuz this could have easily been called a Civic Coupe
with a cool type R trim package. >> Yeah, exactly. >> It could have been eight six grand more. >> Yeah. No, you know what this is? This is >> Yeah. No, you know what this is? This is a a Civic SI coupe.
>> It's a Civic hybrid coupe. >> It's a Civic hybrid coupe with >> Yes, I get. >> And here's the saddest part. [laughter] Even if you remove price from the equation, Honda have said that they are
not going to make an S or an SI or an R or any type of variant more >> Yeah. >> Or have no plans to, which is always a >> right >> as it stands, lovely, lovely jubbly. But
>> Price or power, choose. You got to change one. Prelude is a lovely, easy to get on with, fuelefficient, streamlined coupe
that does absolutely nothing wrong. More than that, as the week went on, we used it as a camera car for some very serious metal, and it performed wonderfully, but
it is not a [music] sports car, and it is overpriced. And if you've got a problem with that assessment, John Cena, then come to Canada and fight us, you Ricky [music] Steniki little Thanks for watching.