2026 Honda Prelude is Almost as Expensive as a Civic Type R
The all-new 2026 Honda Prelude will be arriving at Canadian dealerships later this month. The only thing left to know was the price, and now that's been revealed.
Bad news: while we expected customers to pay around $45,000, the hybrid coupe actually has a base MSRP of $49,990, plus additional $2,997 charge. There is only one trim level available, and it comes fully equipped.
- Also: 2026 Honda Prelude: Five Things to Know
- Also: All-New 2026 Honda Prelude Debuts as Sporty Hybrid Coupe
To put things in perspective, that's almost $16,000 more than the cheapest Civic Hybrid (sedan), which uses the same powertrain, about $10,500 more than the most expensive of these same Civic Hybrids (Sport Touring Hatchback), and barely $3,110 less than the high-performance 2025 Civic Type R.
Of course, the Prelude puts greater emphasis on sporty handling and driving pleasure by borrowing components from the Civic Type R, such as four-piston Brembo front brake calipers, a dual-axle front suspension and variable dampers. There's no manual transmission, but rather a direct-drive transmission (unlike a conventional or electronic CVT) with an innovative system called S+ Shift that simulates gear changes.
On the other hand, the FWD-only Prelude generates no more than 200 horsepower and 232 lb-ft of torque, meaning it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in about 7 seconds.
Compared to a Civic Hatchback, Type R or not, Honda's coupe is also less versatile and less spacious, adopting a 2+2 seating configuration where the rear seats are relatively tight, as well as a trunk accommodating 428 litres of cargo instead of 694 litres.
The 2026 Honda Prelude will be available in Canada with a choice of three body colours only including Winter Frost Pearl (new), Crystal Black Pearl and Rally Red. Customers will have the ability to personalize the exterior with an extensive new line of Honda Genuine Accessories, such as uniquely styled wheels, a black decklid spoiler, front underbody spoilers as well as black badges and mirror caps.
Oh, one last thing: the Prelude is assembled in Japan, and Honda says that availability will be extremely limited for the first year. In fact, the number of units might not even exceed that of the Civic Type R (a few hundred cars at most). The main goal is to bring back a household name, create a halo effect and restore some of the brand's prestige in the process.