The Honda Prelude, a beloved nameplate from the past, is gearing up for a highly anticipated comeback in 2026 after a nearly 25-year hiatus, making it the top trending car search with a staggering 650.0% surge in interest for the “2025 Honda Prelude” in late 2024 . This revival signifies Honda’s strategic move to tap into its rich heritage while embracing modern automotive trends .
The new Prelude will be a sporty, two-door coupe featuring a hybrid powertrain, potentially drawing technology from the current Civic Hybrid . This aligns with the growing consumer demand for more sustainable yet engaging vehicles . Positioned to fill the void left by Honda’s discontinued coupe models, the 2026 Prelude is expected to have a starting price around $30,000, placing it in competition with established sports coupes like the Toyota GR86 and Mazda MX-5 Miata .
While the design of the 2026 Prelude takes a contemporary approach, it is expected to retain the sleek, two-door coupe silhouette that defined its predecessors . Honda’s large project chief engineer, Tomoyuki Yamagami, has indicated that the new Prelude will prioritize engaging handling over being the absolute sportiest car on the market . The hybrid powertrain will likely be a two-motor system, similar to that found in the Honda Accord hybrid, focusing on a balance of performance and efficiency . The return of the Prelude as a hybrid-electric sports model underscores Honda’s commitment to offering a variety of exhilarating and eco-friendly products . With its expected arrival in late 2025 or early 2026, the automotive world eagerly awaits the revival of this iconic nameplate .