Is the new 2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid the stylish sports car we’ve been waiting for, or just a Civic in a fancy suit? We pit it against the Mustang, BRZ and Miata to find out.
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Honda Prelude Edmunds review — https://www.edmunds.com/honda/prelude/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube_description
Ford Mustang Edmunds review — https://www.edmunds.com/ford/mustang/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube_description
Mazda Miata Edmunds review — https://www.edmunds.com/mazda/mx-5-miata/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube_description
Ford Mustang Edmunds review — https://www.edmunds.com/ford/mustang/?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube_description
00:00 Intro
01:18 The Numbers
05:54 Driving Impressions
12:10 Interior, Tech, & Comfort
15:58 Value
17:19 Edmunds’ Take
The Honda Prelude is back after a 25-year hiatus, but it’s not exactly what enthusiasts might expect. Now arriving as the 2026 Honda Prelude Hybrid, this coupe shares its powertrain with the Civic Hybrid but adds the sophisticated front suspension of a Civic Type R. In our Honda Prelude review, we found that while the Prelude’s horsepower might seem modest, its real-world performance is more nuanced.
During testing, the Honda Prelude 0-60 time clocked in at 7.2 seconds in Sport mode — quicker than a standard Civic Hybrid but trailing significantly behind the Ford Mustang, Subaru BRZ and Mazda Miata. However, the Prelude shone on the skidpad, pulling a massive 1.02 g, proving it has serious grip. On the track, the 2026 Honda Prelude feels more like a front-wheel-drive grand tourer than a hardcore sports car, offering simulated gear shifts that add engagement to its hybrid car efficiency.
While the 2026 Subaru BRZ remains the best pure driver’s car and the 2026 Mazda Miata is a delight for those who don’t need space, the 2026 Ford Mustang EcoBoost struggles without its performance package. The Prelude’s biggest hurdle is its price; at over $43,000, it’s the most expensive and slowest car in this group. Yet, with an EPA-estimated 44 mpg combined, it offers a level of everyday practicality and efficiency that no other rival can touch.
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We gathered four of our favorite coupes for this test and found that each has its own strengths and weaknesses. But were there any other two-doors you'd consider around the $40,000 mark? Let us know in the comments below!
Terrible considering the Prius Prime blows the doors off this thing. Why are we still fucking with hybrids? This should have been a 2.0T at very least or a banged out N/A 2.4 they definitely missed their mark on this especially when they have late 90s early 2000s Type SH that'll do 0-60 in 7 sec or under.
Everyone: I hate CVTs
Also: haters who don’t even know enough about the car to properly hate on it.
So it’s literally just half a second slower than the other overpriced “sports” cars and everyone is shitting on it? 😂 a half second. 😅
A shame to the name "Prelude".
Of EVERYTHING the Prelude does wrong, the one thing it would have been better off without is the CVT. At LEAST give it gears.
Front wheel drive. Cvt. Low hp engine. Yeah… perfect recipe for a sports car.
What an awful noise this honda makes …ugh…ew
Not only is this a terrible and grossly overpriced car…but the engine is not efficient at all. It has a 140hp combustion engine, with a 180hp electric motor… But a combined power figure of 212hp. It really takes 80% of the combustion engine power to run the electric generator?
“Definitely handles better than a run-of-the-mill Civic” damn bro that’s a pretty low bar to aim for
All 3 are overpriced. You can get a new GTI for 33k.
If you have to occasionally bring your friends, the Mustang seems to be the best answer. It’s a great looking car, and it can be had as a convertible. Sure, it doesn’t handle as well, but it is quick.
If you’re looking for fun, it’s the BRZ or the Miata, though I’d expect the Miata to be a bit more dependable than the boxer-engined Subaru. Of course the Miata gives you roof choices, while the BRZ allows for a tight back seat.
I can find no argument for the Prelude. It’s slow, ugly, and overly complex. Honda missed the mark completely.
As for me, I drive an Nd Miata daily. It’s fun to drive, economical, and dependable.
The Prelude is easily the ugliest of the bunch.
I hope Honda decides to put a 2.0T from the Accord manual
Or auto with lunch control
The Honda would be my last choice and they aren't even close…..
I hate CVT transmissions in anything…. But especially bad in any car with "sporting" pretentions …..
The prelude is a joke. Especially the price.
I hate CVTs 🤮🤢
Any other brand and this thing would have car reviewers destroying it with negative reviews. But since it's a Honda it gets a pass.
What a pooch! Have Honda's motorhead engineers retired and been replaced by wannabes? No stick shift is bad enough, but to replace it with a CVT that imitates a dual-clutch is strictly for wankers! Its weight is grotesquely bloated. What we have here is a geezer-mobile for squares from Omaha!
How does one say that a particular car ate everything else in the group for lunch, and then follow it up by saying that it "can't compete". That's like giving a trophy to all these other racers who were behind the leader at the finish line because they felt more confident in their vehicles.
The Mustang gets no love but the 2.3 proformace up graded handles packed is so fun to drive ten speed transmission the brakes and and upgraded torso is fast and under rated of course it not a G t but it is economical it is sad I don’t think they make them anymore
Looking forward to brand new 2026 Preludes rotting at dealerships in 2028.
Not bringing the BMW 230i to the fight is criminal. It absolutely waffle stomps the competition. It is in the price range and is a 2 door coupe. It should be included.
None of these… buy something much better used
Just throw a v6 into this car, change that ugly front bumper and sell it with same price
Honda's fan base is getting sick of them
Honda just isn't living up to it's reputation years ago as a fast than most in it's class, car anymore. I blame it on engineering and economics.
Should have made an Integra Coupe with this
How hard is it for car companies just to make what people ask for? Stop trying to reinvent the wheel, just sell us a coupe with a six speed manual. Stop with the fake sounds, and all the stupid screens everywhere. I just want a car that's fun to drive, not something to post YouTube videos about.
That thing is so slow
What is Honda doing? 😩
Honda really shot its self with this one…why not going it a more powerful system??
My 2024 mustang gt was 41k
At that price it should have been a turbo power train with a manual transmission—people would have bought that.
i feel as this should have been the new insight
2:46 that's a huge difference wow
who knows wtf they were thinking
Sad that Ford killed the Performance Package on the Ecoboost models. Would've made this test a lot more fun.
Every single time I see a channel run a mx5 against the brz they nerf the results by going with the rf… the most expensive worst performing version of the car.
Cutting another 100 pounds off of an already insanely light vehicle is huge.
I want to see the brz top trim against the soft top club with the bbs brembo package.
Another honda fanboy review disguised as journalism.
Seems like nobody can drive the brz. How do you get a 6.4 when the car can get a 5.4 and I consistently get 5.6-5.8ish on a gps test.
0:00 that sounds disgusting
Subaru BRZ.
The new Prelude is just as fast as the 90's version. Fuel consumption probably not all that different as well.
What makes it more disappointing is how sexy it really looks
公開処刑
🤦🏾♂️ Whoever was the editor/producer of this comparison needs to be terminated from EDMUNDS effective immediately.