What to Expect from the 2026 Honda Prelude: Release & Updates

The Return of the Honda Prelude

After a 20-year absence, the Honda Prelude is returning. While details are still limited, we do know a few essential details about the legendary Honda. The automaker has shared images of the interior and exterior as well as an exciting new performance feature. Around Clearwater and Lutz, drivers can expect to see the 2026 Honda Prelude arrive on the lot at Westshore Honda in late 2025.

Let’s take a look at what we know so far about the exciting new 2026 Honda Prelude!

An Agile & Sporty Hybrid Coupe

The 2026 Honda Prelude will be a two-door coupe - filling a role left empty when Honda stopped building the Civic Coupe after the 2020 model year. While the new Prelude will be similar in size to the current Honda Civic, it will have a slightly shorter wheelbase and a wider track. This design will give the Prelude more agility than the Civic to excite drivers who enjoy a lighter and tighter suspension. Honda has also announced that the Prelude will have adaptive dampers for a smooth and sporty ride.

Exciting New Shift Mode

Along with the upgraded, sporty suspension, the 2026 Prelude will also feature a hybrid powertrain. Like the Honda Accord, Civic, and CR-V, the 2026 Prelude will feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. The engine will be tuned to deliver 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque.

Drivers can expect a continuously variable automatic transmission in the new Prelude, but Honda has announced a new shift mode. S+ Shift mode will give the driver access to the hybrid control unit, so they can rev the engine up or down, simulating the experience of changing gears. Honda will put the S+ Shift mode controls on the steering wheel with sporty steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles.

Modern & Sleek Design

The first Prelude arrived on dealership lots in 1978 with a look that complemented the Accord and Civic, and the new 2026 model is expected to do the same. The front end of the 2026 Prelude has a wide, minimalist look with slim, wrap-around LED headlights that are matched on the rear end as a full-width LED bar. The lighting design gives the Prelude a more aggressive look compared to its compact and midsize siblings.

Honda has shown very little of the interior, but we do know that it will have seating for four with bolstered front sport seats. The Prelude does not have the honeycomb accents like the Accord and Civic. Instead, the accents are smooth, more like the Acura interior styling.

Learn More About the 2026 Honda Prelude at Westshore Honda in Tampa, FL

The Westshore Honda team is excited about the impending arrival of the new 2026 Honda Prelude. We invite you to visit our dealership in Tampa, FL to chat with us about the vehicle’s arrival. Meanwhile, we invite you to learn more about your vehicle’s trade-in value and prepare for your 2026 Prelude by checking out your financing options.