Sleek new Honda Prelude returns to rescue drivers who love being on road

14 Nov 2026

Ian Lamming gets behind the wheel of Honda’s revitalised Prelude

At the risk of appearing entitled, cars are starting to look a bit samey.

Designed by the wind tunnel and filled full of TV screens, it’s hard for designers to set their vehicles apart from the other also-rans.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s actually nothing wrong with these homogeneous, androgynous facsimiles.

They work okay, they are affordable to buy and they trog along for years covered by comprehensive warranties and an inherent inability to break down. Job done, then, or so you would think.

For 85 per cent of the driving public, these bland-mobiles are more than enough.

They take them happily to and from work, they are more than capable of shunting them to the shops and they act as decent transport for the annual jolly abroad.

But I’m one of the 15 per cent who still loves to drive for pleasure and I demand more than just efficiency.

I want looks, spirit and joie de vivre. I want to feel proud when I park up and walk away, and enjoy a bit of swagger when people stop and stare at my ride.

In recent weeks, that ego-stroking has been lacking in my test cars – until now.

So thank you, Honda, for bringing back the Prelude. You have made my day.

There have been five generations of Prelude and they tickled our collective fancies from 1978 to 2001.

Twenty-five long years later, the coupe is back and it’s a beauty.

From the minute you set eyes on its svelte lines, you know you are going to be in for a treat.

Long, low, wide and sensuous, the Honda instantly catches the eye and I lose count of the number of people who openly stare, captivated by its looks. It’s a very smart coupe indeed.

A sexy-looking exterior demands an equally gorgeous interior and the Prelude scores highly in two respects.

Firstly, it feels just right with wonderfully sculpted seats, perfect ergonomics and high-quality, tactile materials.

It has a proper cockpit that drivers will adore and the whole feel of the inside is absolutely spot on.

Then there’s the gubbins. Yes, it heads back to good old-fashioned knobs and buttons with a vengeance and the touchscreen is small and put firmly back in its box.

Yes, a knob for the heating, yes, another for the high-spec Bose radio sound system and buttons for all the other good stuff. I love this car.

I love it as I can spend all my time looking through the windscreen, which is the whole point. It also allows me to enjoy the ride, which is brilliant.

Hondas are renowned for their handling prowess and the Prelude is no exception. If you are familiar with the breed, then you’ll know that it will round bends as if on rails with next to no body roll and perfect poise.

It’s joyous along country roads and down the back lanes. Its sharpness and accuracy prove their worth when a van suddenly flies around a blind bend and I’m able to brake, flick the steering to one side and easily place the Prelude in the sanctuary of a gap.

Performance is good too, and enough without being silly.

After driving myriad petrol turbos and electrics, the Prelude can feel a bit lacking.

There is little torque from the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder hybrid, so don’t expect a push in the back. But just check your mirrors when you put your foot down and watch the traffic behind you disappear.

Like all Hondas, it gains rapid forward propulsion through revs and it does this so quietly and smoothly that you don’t really notice the result.

The 186PS engine is so incredibly refined that sometimes you forget there’s a combustion engine there at all, especially when it will run in pure hybrid electric as well.

It also has S+ Shift, a technology that simulates virtual gear changes in the otherwise constant e-CVT gearbox, offering more pronounced shifts and dynamic, performance-inspired engine sounds.

So well done, Honda, well done for recognising that there are people out there who still appreciate a lovely-looking car, who still want to revel in the experience of driving a beautifully engineered jalopy and need a vehicle they will be proud to park on the drive.