2027 Honda Prelude

The Honda Prelude is back, but it’s nothing like the originals. This time, Honda’s front-wheel-drive grand tourer appears as a hybrid hatchback coupe. Its powertrain and chassis tuning makes it a unique offering amongst both sporty cars and efficient hybrids. Competitors include the likes of the Toyota GR86 and the Subaru BRZ, while hatchback rivals range from the Toyota Prius to the Volkswagen GTI. Honda just introduced the Prelude for the 2026 model year. The automaker doesn’t typically make a lot of changes outside of midcycle updates, so we suspect the 2027 Honda Prelude will carry over largely unchanged. This page will be updated with more insights and photos as information becomes available. Think of the Honda Prelude as a Civic Hybrid coupe with Si-adjacent driving excitement. Its hybrid powertrain delivers decent but not thrilling acceleration, so you need to drive this sporty two-door as a momentum car. Thankfully, suspension from the Civic Type R and sticky summer tires allow you to keep up the pace in the curves. The Prelude also poaches its brakes from the Civic Type R, but you may want to avoid using the stoppers since the powertrain doesn’t have the zing you might want for enthusiastic driving. The simulated gear shift mode isn’t as convincing as Hyundai’s program, and there isn’t any advantage for performance or driver engagement either. Thankfully, instant torque from the electric motors makes for zippy maneuvers below highway speeds. From a more practical perspective, the Honda Prelude is attractive both in its design and equipment. Not only does the styling turn heads, but its hatchback trunk also provides usable storage. Although the second row is too tight for adults and uses black cloth instead of the more upscale upholstery fit to the front-row seats, you can flip down the bench to open even more cargo volume. As for the rest of the interior, the Prelude’s cabin splits the difference between the Civic and the Integra, helping to justify its price tag. Speaking of pricing, the Prelude’s MSRP is perhaps its biggest shortcoming. Without having increased output as a distinguishing factor between it and the Civic Hybrid, some shoppers might not see the point in spending more on a car with less overall utility. Still, for those desiring sporty styling backed up by great chassis dynamics, the Prelude makes a case for itself. The 2027 Honda Prelude is expected to return with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and dual electric motors. The wheels are primarily driven directly by the electric motors while the gas engine can couple with the wheels during highway driving for maximum efficiency. Output totals 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque, which should allow the Prelude to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. That’s based on our test results of the Civic Hybrid Sport Touring, which tipped our scales at 3,228 pounds, nearly identical to Honda’s claimed curb weight of 3,250 pounds for the Prelude. Due to the nature of Honda’s hybrid powertrain system, there’s no manual transmission available for the Prelude. As a consolation prize to driving enthusiasts, Honda equips the Prelude with Linear Shift Control, which mimic gear-shifting noises. There’s also Honda S+ Shift mode, which syncs the engine’s sound with the Prelude’s speed. We suspect the 2027 Honda Prelude’s fuel economy won’t change compared to the prior model year. For 2026, the Prelude was good for 46/41 mpg city/highway and 466 miles of range. The Toyota Prius is fun to drive but isn’t meant to be as sporty as Honda intends the Prelude to be. The Prius instead focuses on sheer fuel efficiency, returning as much as 57/56 mpg. Toyota’s hybrid is capable of a 644-mile range. The Prelude is far more efficient than the Volkswagen GTI, however, which is rated at 24/32 mpg and 356 miles of range. The 2027 Honda Prelude should return with the Honda Sensing suite, equipping the following standard features: The Prelude’s front seat feels about as roomy as that of the Honda Civic. Its second row is too cramped for most adults to squeeze into the back. Cargo volume is great for a small, sporty car, but the Volkswagen GTI is overall a more practical option. Note that cargo volume is measured differently for hatchbacks like the Prelude and vehicles with enclosed trunks like Toyota GR86. We expect the 2027 Honda Prelude to return with a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9.0-inch central touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Honda also equips a wireless phone charger, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and an eight-speaker Bose premium sound system. The 2027 Honda Prelude should return with the same standard equipment as it did for 2026, though the automaker could throw in a few new standard features to sweeten the deal. Honda equips black 19-inch wheels, heated side mirrors, and LED headlights on all Prelude models. There are heated front seats with leather trim, metal padel shifters, and Bose audio inside the cabin. For 2026

2027 Honda Prelude

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