Honda Prelude -- It’s Back, And I Drive It

In this video, I will be sharing my thoughts on the 2026 Honda Prelude, including its interior, performance, and exterior design. From its sleek coupe body to its hybrid engine, I will be putting the new Prelude through its paces to see if it lives up to the Honda legacy.

Whether you are a fan of classic Honda models or are interested in the latest JDM cars, this video is for you. The Honda Prelude has always been a staple of JDM culture, and its comeback is sure to excite car enthusiasts around the world.

Overall, the 2026 Honda Prelude is an exciting new addition to the Honda lineup, and I am excited to share my thoughts on it with you!

Also check out Drive Culture on YouTube. Drive Culture is detailed car review YouTube channel hosted by the ultimate car enthusiast, Jonathon Rivers.

Who is Jonathon Rivers?

Well, he's a +15 year Auto Industry veteran, born and raised in the Motor City!

He lived several years in Japan, speaks & reads Japanese, and now works for American Honda Motor. (Although this channel is his own & not affiliated)

He's owned several fun cars including a Evo IV, multiple Civic Si, Focus RS, and most recently the Integra Type S (which he lead planning for Acura)!

He's also been lucky enough to drive just about every key new product in the market from compact cars, to SUVs, EVs and super cars!

If that isn't enough to prove his "car guy" status, Jonathon has also been featured in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, AutoBlog, Jay Leno's Garage, Raiti's Rides and the SavageGeese channels! He's on Instagram  here and Facebook  here.

Check back every Friday at 7 am Pacific Time for new content and videos!

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A transcript, cleaned up by AI and edited by a staffer, is below.

[Image: YouTube Screenshot]

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Transcript:

So now it’s all about driving. Even if it sounds muted, you can still hear how aggressive it is. The fact that you can run it up to redline, bang through the gears, and pair that with this level of handling and chassis performance—it’s seriously impressive.

Welcome to Drive Culture. I’m Jonathan Rivers, and today I have the 2026 Honda Prelude. I’m going to explain why this might be the best generation yet. We’ll cover the exterior, interior, powertrain, and, of course, take it for a drive.

This is the sixth-generation Prelude. If you’ve been following the channel, you’ll know I’ve already done a full studio preview, including all five previous generations. That video walks through the lineage and design evolution, so it’s worth checking out if you haven’t seen it yet.

Starting with the basics, this is a coupe. That alone is significant in today’s SUV-dominated market. Small sport coupes have largely disappeared, so bringing one back is a bold move. There aren’t many direct competitors left in this segment.

Pricing is straightforward. There’s a single trim level with an MSRP of $42,000. There is a two-tone option for an additional $500, which adds a black roof and mirror caps. Beyond that, there are premium paint options, including Boost Blue Pearl and an exclusive Moonlight White Pearl.

Moving to the exterior, the design is clean and modern with subtle character lines. The black-filled Honda badge is a nice throwback detail. LED headlights and daytime running lights define the front end, along with a dark chrome grille element and a functional lower intake.

From the side, the coupe profile stands out. It’s low, wide, and sharply sloped toward the rear, giving it a distinctive presence. The 19-inch wheels come standard, and this example is fitted with Continental summer tires. Behind them are Brembo brakes and hardware derived from the Civic Type R, including the chassis and suspension setup.

At the rear, a full-width LED light bar gives the car a premium look, especially at night. The design is clean, with no exposed exhaust, and a subtle diffuser below. The hatch opens to reveal a large cargo area, with 15.1 cubic feet of space that expands significantly when the rear seats are folded.

Inside, the cabin feels distinct from the Civic despite shared components. The driving position is lower and more focused, immediately giving it a sportier feel. Materials are high quality, with soft-touch surfaces and unique trim details. There are two interior color options: black with blue accents or white with blue accents.

The dashboard features a 9-inch infotainment display with Google built-in, along with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster uses unique graphics specific to the Prelude. Controls are intuitive, with physical climate controls and a straightforward layout.

The seats are a standout feature. They’re well-bolstered, visually striking, and feel appropriate for a car in this price range. They’re heated but manually adjustable. The steering wheel is flat-bottomed, thick, and features metal paddle shifters.

Rear seat space is limited. It’s usable for short trips or smaller passengers, but most owners will likely keep the seats folded down to maximize cargo space.

Under the hood, the Prelude uses a hybrid powertrain shared with the Civic Hybrid. It combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors. The system produces 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, with power delivered to the front wheels.

There’s no traditional transmission. Instead, the system operates through electric motors, giving it an EV-like driving feel with instant torque. An S+ mode simulates gear shifts using the paddle shifters, adding a more engaging driving experience.

On the road, the car feels quick despite modest horsepower figures. The instant torque makes it responsive, and the chassis—borrowed in part from the Civic Type R—gives it sharp handling. Adaptive dampers allow you to switch between comfort, GT, sport, and individual drive modes, noticeably changing the ride quality.

In comfort mode, the ride is compliant and absorbs rough roads well. Sport mode tightens everything up for more aggressive driving. GT mode sits in between and works well for everyday use.

The S+ mode is particularly interesting. It simulates an eight-speed transmission and adds a more traditional driving feel. The system is well executed, with synchronized sound and shift behavior that feels surprisingly natural.

Braking performance is strong, thanks to the Brembo setup. The car feels stable and confident under hard braking, complementing its overall driving dynamics.

Overall, the Prelude feels like a unique offering. It doesn’t directly compete with cars like the GR86 or Miata. Instead, it positions itself as a small, sporty, hybrid coupe with a balance of performance and efficiency.

If you’re looking for something compact, engaging to drive, and different from the typical options on the market, this could be a compelling choice.