2027 Honda Prelude: A Familiar Name Comes Back With a Hybrid Twist

The Honda Prelude is back for 2027, and Honda didn’t bring it back just to trade on an old name. The new Prelude is a two-door hybrid coupe with 200 system horsepower, a chassis tuned for sharper handling, and a few tricks meant to make it more fun than the average hybrid commuter. That already makes it one of the more interesting additions to Honda’s lineup.

A Hybrid That’s Supposed to Be Fun

The 2027 Prelude uses Honda’s two-motor hybrid system, pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor. Total system output is 200 horsepower, with the electric motor producing 232 lb.-ft. of torque. Those numbers are solid, but Honda seems just as interested in how the car feels.

The Prelude gets Honda S+ Shift, which uses steering-wheel paddle shifters and simulated gear changes to give the driver more involvement. It’s still a hybrid with a direct-drive setup, but the idea is to make acceleration feel more like a traditional performance car rather than one long, smooth pull. There are also four drive modes: Comfort, GT, Sport, and Individual.

That’s the kind of setup that should let the Prelude feel relaxed on the way to work and a little more eager when the road gets interesting.

Some Serious Chassis Hardware

Honda didn’t stop at giving the Prelude sporty bodywork. It uses a dual-axis front suspension, multi-link rear suspension, adaptive dampers, and variable-ratio electric steering. Those are the kinds of details that suggest Honda wanted the car to handle properly, not just look good parked outside a coffee shop.

That matters because the Prelude has always had a slightly different personality from cars like the Civic. It was stylish and comfortable, but still meant for somebody who liked driving. The new model appears to be following that same idea.

And It’s Still Efficient

Here’s the other side of it. EPA estimates come in at 46 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, and 44 mpg combined. It also runs on regular unleaded fuel. So you get a sporty coupe without signing yourself up for premium fuel and painful gas-station visits.

That combination could make the Prelude appealing to someone who wants something more interesting than the typical daily driver but doesn’t want the costs that often come with a dedicated performance car.

A Different Kind of Honda

There aren’t many sporty two-door hybrids out there, which gives the Prelude a pretty clear lane of its own. It has some nostalgia attached to the name, sure, but you don’t have to remember the old Prelude to appreciate what Honda is doing here.

Visit Jay Wolfe Honda to learn more about the 2027 Honda Prelude and keep an eye out for its arrival. This one is worth seeing in person.