Honda Sold 30 Preludes During Its Launch Month as Prologue EV Sales Plummeted | Carscoops

      Honda’s sales in the U.S. experienced a decline in November, with SUVs and electric vehicles (EVs) seeing a slowdown, although the Passport performed well and the Prelude made its comeback.

      Reported 6 hours ago by Stephen Rivers

      Honda's sales have notably decreased compared to the same month last year.

      The expiration of federal EV tax credits significantly impacted the Prologue.

      The Passport SUV was the brand’s only significant sales success last month.

      Honda announced its sales results for November, revealing a disappointing trend. The company sold 91,582 units in the U.S., marking a sharp drop of 16.8 percent from last year’s 110,020 vehicles for the same month.

      Even with the monthly decline, Honda's year-to-date sales total of 1,190,328 vehicles shows a modest increase of 1.8 percent over the same time frame in 2024.

      Additionally, there was a significant surge in sales of Honda’s only American EV, which soared by 963%.

      Most of Honda's prominent models experienced sales declines in November, with only minor variations among them. The Accord saw sales of 10,613 units, down 9.1 percent from 2024, while the Civic sales reached 17,353 units, reflecting a 5.5 percent decrease. The Odyssey minivan faced a sharper decline of 17.3 percent, selling 5,492 units.

      SUVs and crossovers continued to dominate Honda's sales, with the CR-V leading at 29,421 units and the HR-V at 10,821 units, both of which experienced significant drops of 14.5 percent and 14.1 percent respectively. The Pilot dropped 27 percent to 9,234 units, while the Ridgeline pickup saw a 15.4 percent decrease to 3,352 units.

      As expected, the Prologue, Honda's electric vehicle, suffered the steepest decline, with an 86.8 percent drop in sales due to the recent changes in the federal EV tax credit. Sales fell from 6,823 units last November to just 903 this time.

      On a positive note, the Passport surged by 50 percent to 4,363 units, providing a bright spot in an otherwise bleak report.

      A Subdued Start for a Comeback Coupe

      This leads us to Honda's new addition, the Prelude, which officially launched in the U.S. market last month. According to company data, 30 buyers took delivery of the hybrid coupe after its release in the third week of November.

      This number is expected to increase as production ramps up and more units are imported, so conclusions should not be drawn just yet. Traditionally, a model with such heritage tends to sell quickly once supply is established, although Honda's pricing may affect that momentum.

      Since Honda confirmed the Prelude's return, it has generated considerable buzz, largely positive. In Japan, its popularity among those in their 50s and 60s was so high that dealers had to temporarily halt orders. However, not all coverage is favorable; the starting MSRP of $43,195 (including destination fees) places it within $1,000 of the Nissan Z, which has comparable seating capacity and significantly more horsepower.

      Interestingly, Honda offers the Prelude in only one trim with nearly all desirable options included. Buyers can add about $10,000 worth of accessories, special wheels, and additional features. The notable selling points for the Prelude, aside from its name and design, are its performance and fuel efficiency, achieving up to 46 mpg in city driving, 41 on the highway, and 44 combined.

      Honda US Sales November 2025

      Though $43,195 already appears steep for such a niche vehicle, dealer markups are exacerbating the situation. Recently, some dealers were reported to be asking $60,000 or more for the car, with one citing a “Protection Package & Market Adjustment” fee of $14,995. Such pricing is likely to hinder a swift rollout for now.

      However, not every dealer will adopt this pricing strategy; many will sell at MSRP or close to it. The critical question remains how many U.S. consumers will be willing to buy the Prelude and join the initial group of 30 owners.

      John Halas contributed to this article.