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Honda discontinued its Prelude sports coupe in 2001, but it’s making a comeback as a hybrid.
The 2026 model, expected this fall, will feature the same two-motor hybrid-electric system as 2024’s Honda Civic hybrid. Thanks to the CR-V hybrid, Accord hybrid, and Civic hybrid, hybrids now make up a third of Honda sales. The Japanese automaker plans to more than double its hybrid business to 60% of sales “in the coming years.”
(Credit: Honda)
Adding in some electricity boosts the Prelude’s performance, offering “a responsive and engaging shifting simulation,” Honda says. A main feature is a new drive mode, Honda S+ Shift, which simulates the manual transmission driving experience, making the driver feel as if the car is changing gears. Honda plans to continue to offer the S+ Shift feature on future hybrid models.
S+ Shift button (Credit: Honda)
(Credit: Honda)
Tech-wise, drivers will enjoy a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster with “clean, easy-to-read graphics and an extensive selection of displays, including a large tachometer and a multi-information display.” Google’s software powers a 9-inch HD color touch screen featuring apps like Google Assistant, Google Maps, and Google Play. Honda is tossing in a three-year unlimited data plan for free as well.
The sound system also sounds pretty epic. Co-developed with Bose, it puts all passengers “regardless of their seating position…in the middle of the music.” It’s powered by eight speakers, plus a new type of speaker mounted on the doors, and a “large subwoofer” in the trunk.
(Credit: Honda)
Is Honda trying to make hybrids cool? We’d argue they’re already there, but having more options for shoppers will undoubtedly help boost their popularity. By reviving the Prelude, Honda is suggesting it’s going back to basics but also moving into the future for new generations.
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“The first three products in the Honda lineup in the 1970s were Civic, Accord, and Prelude, and soon all three will be back together again in the Honda passenger car lineup as hybrids,” it says.
(Credit: Honda)
The focus on hybrids is a notable shift from the past few years, where fully electric cars took center stage. Honda got a slow start releasing EVs, though when it finally debuted the Prologue in 2024, it was a hit with buyers. Honda told us at CES 2025 that with Trump back in the White House, it planned to slow, not abandon, EV development. Since then, US electric car sales have slowed, so shifting to more hybrids could be a way to keep evolving, albeit at a slower pace.
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About Emily Forlini
Senior Reporter
