Honda Prelude (2026) | Expert Rating
Summary
Sharing its name with Honda sports cars of the 1980s and 1990s, the Prelude is a petrol-electric hybrid coupé that first arrived on UK roads in early 2026. It joins a small field of three-door coupé models on sale in the UK, competing against the Alpine A110 and BMW 2 Series Coupé.
Powered by the same hybrid engine as the current iteration of the Honda Civic, the Prelude has picked up plenty of reviewer praise for its composed and agile driving dynamics, as well as its handsome exterior design, but those same reviewers found the car’s performance rather underwhelming.
“If you’re after a fun weekend toy, you’ll be better served elsewhere”, explains Tom Jarvis of Auto Express. The prelude can complete a 0-62mph sprint in just over eight seconds, which isn’t particularly fast by modern sports car standards.
“It’s not quick, rear space is tight, and the price is on the high side”, concludes Parker’s Keith Adams. “But if you’re after something elegant and different that still loves a good road, the Prelude deserves a place on your shortlist.”
As of September 2026, the Honda Prelude holds a New Car Expert Rating of C, with a score of 62%. While the car’s set of review scores are above average, this overall rating is hindered by high-than-average estimated running costs.
Prelude highlights
- Attractive exterior styling
- Refined hybrid engine
- Comfortable driving experience
Prelude lowlights
- Not as fast as it looks
- Tight rear space limits practicality
- Rather sluggish auto gearbox
Key specifications
Body style: Three-door liftback coupé
Engines: petrol-electric hybrid
Price: From £39,595
Launched: Winter 2025/26
Last updated: N/A
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Highlighted reviews and road tests from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
No safety rating
As of September 2026, the Honda Prelude has not been assessed by Euro NCAP.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of September 2026, the Honda Prelude has not been assessed by Green NCAP.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Fuel consumption | Average | Score |
| Hybrid models | 54 mpg | B |
| CO₂ output | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| Hybrid models | 117 g/km | B |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 33 | D |
The Honda Prelude is a relatively expensive car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
With only one variant available – a petrol-electric hybrid – the Prelude has an average official fuel efficiency of 54mpg, which is particularly efficient when compared to other ICE-powered coupés in this price range. That said, it could be more expensive to insure than you might expect. The car’s insurance group is ’33’, which is higher than the market average.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of September 2026, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Honda Prelude to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusively to us using workshop and extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy, sourced from both official dealerships and independent workshops.
As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Prelude, we’ll publish the results here.
Warranty rating
New car warranty information for the Honda Prelude
| New car warranty duration | 3 years |
| New car warranty mileage | 60,000 miles |
| Battery warranty duration | 8 years |
| Battery warranty mileage | 100,000 miles |
Honda’s new car warranty is fairly boilerplate, and similar to what’s offered rival brands in a similar price bracket as the Prelude.
The duration is three years, with a limit of 60,000 miles. In addition to the standard new car warranty, this hybrid coupé has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for the battery components.
Recalls
Official DVSA safety recalls that have been issued for the Honda Prelude
As of September 2026, we are not aware of any DVSA vehicle safety recalls affecting the Honda Prelude. However, recall information is updated regularly, so this may have changed.
You can check to see if your car has any outstanding recalls by visiting the DVLA website or contacting your local Honda dealer.
Similar cars
If you’re looking at a new or used Honda Prelude, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Alpine A110 | BMW 2 Series Coupé | BMW Z4 | Mazda MX-5 | Porsche 718 Boxster | Porsche 718 Cayman | Toyota GR86
More information
More news, reviews and information about the Honda Prelude at The Car Expert
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