2026 Honda Prelude returning to Australia: After 24 years hybrid coupe is back to terrorise the Toyota GR86
Honda Australia has confirmed that it will launch its all-new 2026 Honda Prelude petrol-electric sports coupe Down Under from mid-2026 after a 24-year absence from our roads.
Based on the sleek 2023 coupe concept that was unveiled at the Tokyo Mobility Show, the reborn Honda Prelude returns as a hybrid-powered 2+2 that is claimed to have no direct competitors.
Full details of what exactly will power the all-new six-generation Prelude remain unclear.
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But it is expected to feature a development of the 2.0-litre four-cylinder e:HEV hybrid powertrain which drives the latest Honda Civic aided by two electric motors.
In the small Honda hatch the petrol-electric 2.0-litre produces 135kW and 315Nm of torque and averages 4.2L/100km,.
But it’s thought the Prelude will produce more power and torque, with the sports coupe tipped to produce around 154kW.
That level of power means it should outgun the Mazda MX-5 (135kW) but could see it trail both the Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ that pump out 174kW from a larger 2.4-litre flat-four-cylinder.
Unlike the MX-5, the GR86 and BRZ, the new Prelude will be front- rather than rear-wheel drive and only come with two-pedals.
Instead, the Honda adopts a revised version of the Civic’s one-speed S+ Shift transmission, that manages to replicate an eight-speed auto’s gearshifts using a pair of paddles.
To ensure it offers enhanced agility, the Prelude will adopt adaptive dampers derived from the hot Civic Type R.
The sporty two-door also pinches the hot hatch’s powerful Brembo brakes and apes its wider front and rear tracks.
Set to be less extreme on both road and track than the Civic Type R, the Prelude will deliver a slower 0-100km/h dash of around 6.8 seconds.
It’s thought the Prelude will live in the price gap above the Civic e:HEV LX $55,900 (drive-away and below the Civic Type R ($74,100) with a drive-away price likely to hover around $65,000.
That means the Prelude could be around $10,000 more than a Mazda MX-5, and be significantly more expensive than the cheapest Toyota GR86 ($46,090 plus on-roads).
First launched back in 1978 in Japan, the fifth-gen Prelude was last sold in Australia back in 2001.
Commenting on its return Honda Australia cars boss, Robert Thorp, said:
“We’re thrilled to add this iconic nameplate to the Honda line-up next year.
“Prelude taps into a rare combination of nostalgia and performance with broad appeal across generations of Honda customers, old and new.”
