We Inquired with Honda About Whether the Prelude Will Actually Begin at $38,000 | Carscoops

We Inquired with Honda About Whether the Prelude Will Actually Begin at $38,000 | Carscoops

      Honda downplayed the reported figure when approached, yet suggested that the actual price of the Prelude may not be far off.

      A report indicates that the new Honda Prelude is set to begin at an MSRP of $38,000. While official pricing has not been revealed, Honda acknowledges that it will not be inexpensive. The coupe is expected to debut this fall, equipped with a 200 hp hybrid powertrain.

      We always anticipated the Honda Prelude would carry a high price, but this could lead to some surprise among buyers. A recent report claims the starting price will be $38,000.

      MotorTrend mentioned this figure in a recent article, but Honda played it down during our conversation. Although they did not state that the publication was incorrect, a spokesperson indicated, "We have not announced Prelude pricing yet for the U.S."

      Additionally, they mentioned that the model starts at ¥6,179,800 in Japan, translating to about $40,060. The spokesperson also highlighted that previous statements suggested pricing would be "somewhere between the Civic Sport Touring and Civic Type R."

      The Civic Sport has a starting price of $32,295, while the Type R begins at $45,895. This creates a broad pricing range, but the average of these two figures is $39,095, which falls roughly in between MotorTrend's reported estimate and the Japanese pricing.

      While the exact cost of the Prelude remains uncertain, it is likely to be quite high. For context, the 2026 Toyota GR86 starts at $30,800, and the Subaru BRZ costs $35,860. We cannot ignore the $32,320 Ford Mustang, especially since these three rivals all offer more horsepower than the Honda.

      Limited Power, Yet Well-Equipped

      All of this does not bode well for the Prelude, which is set to arrive at U.S. dealerships later this fall. To recap, it features a hybrid 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a combined output of 200 hp (149 kW / 203 PS) and 232 lb-ft (314 Nm) of torque.

      These figures are not particularly impressive, but the Prelude will be available in a single, well-equipped trim that includes a wireless smartphone charger, heated perforated leather sport seats, and an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system. Additional features will include a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 9-inch infotainment system with built-in Google.

      Other key features comprise adaptive dampers and Brembo front brakes, along with 19-inch wheels and the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance technologies.

      All these elements suggest Honda is positioning the Prelude as a premium coupe, which could help justify a higher price point. However, the combination of low power and a high price does not seem to appeal to enthusiasts.

We Inquired with Honda About Whether the Prelude Will Actually Begin at $38,000 | Carscoops

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We Inquired with Honda About Whether the Prelude Will Actually Begin at $38,000 | Carscoops

Honda played down the number when questioned but suggested that the actual price of the Prelude could be close.