by Price Expectations
It was always clear that the Honda Prelude would be expensive, but the new information might be shocking. It is reported that the car will have a starting price of $38,000.
This figure was recently published by MotorTrend, but Honda representatives remain cautious in their comments. A brand representative stated:
We have not yet announced the price for the Prelude for the US market.
International Comparisons
In Japan, the model costs from 6,179,800 yen, which is equivalent to $40,060. Furthermore, the company had previously stated that the price would be between the cost of the Civic Sport Touring and the Civic Type R.
The Civic Sport Touring starts at $32,295, and the Civic Type R starts at $45,895. The average of these two numbers is $39,095, which is an intermediate option between the MotorTrend data and the Japanese price.
Market Competition
Comparisons with other sports coupes show that the Prelude might turn out to be more expensive than its competitors. For example, the 2026 Toyota GR86 starts at $30,800, the Subaru BRZ starts at $35,860, and the Ford Mustang starts at $32,320. At the same time, all of them have more power than the Honda.
Technical Features
The Prelude is equipped with a hybrid setup based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, which produces 200 hp and 232 lb-ft of torque. Although these figures are not impressive, the model is only offered in a richly equipped trim.
Standard equipment includes wireless smartphone charging, heated sports seats with perforated leather, an eight-speaker Bose audio system, a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel, and a 9-inch multimedia system with Google support.
Additional Advantages
Other advantages include adaptive dampers, Brembo front brakes, 19-inch wheels, and the Honda Sensing driver assistance systems suite.
All this suggests that Honda is positioning the Prelude as a premium coupe, which may partially justify the high price. However, the combination of low power and high cost may raise doubts among sports car enthusiasts.
The premium positioning of the Honda Prelude may attract buyers who value comfort and innovation, but for a market where power is often a key factor, this could be a challenge. The model may find its audience among those looking for a stylish and well-equipped car, despite its modest performance characteristics.
