2026 Honda Prelude Achieves 44 MPG and is Priced at $43,195.
Honda
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On Tuesday, Honda revealed that the 2026 Prelude is arriving at dealerships now, with a starting price of $43,195, which includes delivery.
That price is unlikely to change significantly—barring any dealer-added accessories or possible markups—since the Prelude will be available in a single trim. This trim will feature adaptive dampers, Brembo brakes, leather-trimmed seats (and steering wheel), and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Honda has also shared the Prelude’s EPA-rated fuel efficiency, which falls slightly short of the Civic Hybrid from which it derives its powertrain, with ratings of 46 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 44 mpg combined.
However, in other aspects, the Prelude surpasses the Civic Hybrid, particularly in its pricing. At $43,195, it is nearly $13,000 more expensive than a base Civic Hybrid. It is only about $4,000 cheaper than the Civic Type R.
Comparing the Prelude to other compact cars poses a challenge as there are no direct competitors from other brands. Most vehicles of this size focus on being economical, efficient, or performance-oriented, and the 200-horsepower hybrid Prelude sits in between the latter two categories. For instance, the Hyundai Elantra N, which retails for $35,595, is an excellent budget-friendly driver’s car, but it may not offer the same level of comfort as the Prelude, nor will it match its fuel efficiency.
On the other hand, the Mazda3 features an impressive interior for its price and provides sufficient power if equipped with the 2.5 turbocharged engine, with a fully loaded sedan costing $37,975. However, while it has more power compared to the Prelude, it is likely to consume more fuel, and without a suspension comparable to the Type R, it may not be as suited for spirited driving.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Prelude has two fewer doors than either of these models. It's also important to mention that the rear-wheel-drive Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ target a different market than Honda’s compact coupe.
With this information, Honda has addressed our fundamental questions regarding the Prelude and even allowed us a few laps on a track in the vehicle. We look forward to spending more time with this budget grand tourer to get a clearer understanding of the day-to-day experience it offers—and whether the $43K price tag is justified. Stay tuned.
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2026 Honda Prelude Achieves 44 MPG and is Priced at $43,195.
That's nearly $13,000 higher than the base Civic Hybrid from which it takes its 200-HP powertrain.