The original Honda Prelude was said to be Honda’s answer to the sporty and popular Toyota Celica in when it launched in 1978 (incidentally, the rival Mazda RX-7 debuted that same year). It’s a two-door, front-wheel drive sports coupe that shared a lot of parts with the more sedate Honda Accord sedan, but with eye-catching styling and sports car handling and performance.
It was a technology pioneer, too, as the Prelude had four-wheel steering way back in 1988. Granted, 4WS back then was designed for better maneuverability in inclement weather and highway-speed lane changes, but it also helped with low-speed parallel parking. And torque vectoring? Yep, the Prelude introduced a precursor to that in 1997 with its Active Torque Transfer System, abbreviated to ATTS. For the uninitiated, torque vectoring is a computer-controlled system that regulates the amount of power the car’s engine sends to each wheel.
Though we didn’t get a lot of the cool higher-horsepower versions and upscale features produced for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM)—such as the Honda Prelude Type S—the US models were well ahead of their time, and have a loyal following, which is reflected in their high prices.
Production ended in 2001, but the nameplate is due to return. The Honda Prelude Concept—a hybrid electric sports coupe—was revealed at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show, and is expected to arrive in production form in 2025 or 2026, as a replacement for the Honda Civic and Honda Accord coupes.
Honda Prelude: Cost, Reliability, and the Best Years to Buy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Honda Prelude Pros and Cons
- Honda Prelude Generations
- Honda Prelude Fifth Generation (1997–2001)
- Honda Prelude Fourth Generation (1992–1996)
- Honda Prelude Third Generation (1988–1991)
- Honda Prelude Second Generation (1983–1987)
- Honda Prelude First Generation (1978–1982)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Honda Prelude years are the best?
The Honda Prelude tends to have a cult-like following and there are few complaints about the vehicles themselves. According to CarComplaints.com, the most grievances logged on a single model year was 24, and that was for the 1992 version (most years only have one or two complaints recorded on the site). According to some sources, one of the most sought-after years of the Prelude is 1997, because enthusiasts covet the 2.2-liter inline four-cylinder engine. The two model years with zero logged complaints were 2000 and 1996.
What are the worst Honda Prelude years?
Though the year with the most complaints was 1992, repair costs were low and occurred at more than 110,000 miles. However, CarComplaints.com called 2001—the Prelude’s final model year—the worst. Even though it had only three logged complaints on the website, it had higher repair costs and at a lower mileage.
Is a used Honda Prelude a good deal?
That depends on your definition of a deal. We saw most Honda Prelude prices range from $4,000 to $17,000. On the low end of the spectrum, those were older vehicles that had been in accidents. Even at 23 years old, we were seeing vehicles listed as having been in an accident priced at $12,000. If you’re looking for something in excellent condition, you’ll probably pay between $12,000 and $30,000.
Honda Prelude Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Super handling
- Good build quality
- Room for four people
Cons:
- Tight headroom
- Interior design isn’t as good as competitors’
- Weird headlight designs
Honda Prelude Generations
Honda Prelude Fifth Generation (1997–2001)
This final generation of the Honda Prelude returned ever so slightly to its roots. The curves were muted and hard edges reappeared on the roofline and rear fascia. The only engine option in the US for this generation was the 2.2-liter, four-cylinder VTEC engine that delivers 195 horsepower. Though most models were available with both an optional four-speed automatic and a standard five-speed manual transmission, the Type SH trim was a manual only. This generation’s automatic gearbox introduced Sequential SportShift, or a manual mode that allowed the driver to control the gears.
The fifth generation grew by 1.4 inches and gained 145 pounds, and the then-new Prelude debuted the automaker’s Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS) to help counteract understeer, although it was only available on the Type SH trim level.
A 1999 mid-life refresh added a new grille, new color, a remote keyless entry system, and a five-horsepower boost for vehicles equipped with the manual transmission, while 2001 saw the addition of rear child seat-tether anchors and an emergency trunk release in the cargo area.
The average transaction price of the fifth-generation Honda Prelude is about $15,000. There are certainly fewer deals to be had here, and the lowest-priced Prelude we saw in this generation was a 1997 model for $4,000. On the high end, we saw a 2001 model listed at $17,000.
Honda Prelude Fourth Generation (1992–1996)
Built on the same platform as the equivalent Accord, the fourth-generation Prelude marked the most radical design departure in the sporty coupe’s lifetime. It ditched the pop-up headlights, added more curves, the upright angles on the roof and rear decklid were rounded, and you got a wider front fascia. The glass moonroof was replaced by a steel sliding sunroof and this generation added a standard driver’s airbag.
The base engine was a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder that delivered 135 hp. In the US, the Honda Prelude Si and a 1995-only SE trim got a 160-hp, 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine. This generation also marked the introduction of the VTEC engine. The Japanese market got a version of this variable valve timing technology at the beginning of the fourth generation, but the US didn’t receive its first, less-powerful VTEC until 1993. It was a 2.2-liter, four-cylinder engine and pushed the horsepower rating to 187. Along with more power, VTEC-engined models also got leather seats and an upmarket seven-speaker sound system.
The Prelude was mildly updated in 1994 and dual airbags were standardized, while air conditioning became standard in 1995.
The average transaction price for a fourth-generation Prelude is $11,000, which is $2,000 less than the third-gen models. That’s likely because more of them were sold new, and people didn’t like this bubbly design as much as the previous generations’ angularity. On the high end, we saw used Honda Preludes listed at $16,000, and on the low end, we saw one available for $2,000.
Honda Prelude Third Generation (1988–1991)
The third-generation Prelude retained the basic look of the previous generation with a long hood, a short decklid, and pop-up headlights, but some of its styling showed up a few years later in the Honda NSX supercar. There were also some interesting technological advances, including four-wheel steering, which is the first time this tech was available in a mass-production car.
The base engine was a single-overhead cam 2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit that delivered 109 hp. The sportier Si trim level got a dual-overhead cam engine that bumped horsepower to 135. Both were available with a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission.
The Prelude got a mid-life refresh in the US for the 1990 model year, which included revised front and rear bumpers, new taillights, and new interior accents. The 109-hp engine was discontinued at this point, and a new 2.1-liter engine is introduced, delivering 140 hp.
The average price of a third-gen Honda Prelude is about $14,000, but we saw a lot of vehicles that sold recently in the $7,000 to $8,000 range. A brief search at the time of writing revealed only one third-generation Prelude for sale: a 1990 Si coupe, priced at $13,000.
Honda Prelude Second Generation (1983–1987)
The second-generation Prelude was the first to get the renowned pop-up headlights. It appeared in Japan in the fall of 1982 and made its way to the US for the spring of 1983. Originally, it was powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine that delivered 100 hp, mated to either a four-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission.
New for the second generation was double wishbone suspension at the front and an independent MacPherson strut design at the rear. Optional anti-lock brakes were available for the first time.
In 1985, fuel-injection was introduced for the Si models, and in 1986, a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine appeared offering 10 hp more than the 1.8. This necessitated slight facelift, so the larger engine could fit under the hood.
The average transaction price for a second-generation Honda Prelude is about $15,000, but they are rare, and some mint Si models have recently been advertised for as much as $80,000.
Honda Prelude First Generation (1978–1982)
Launched in Japan in 1978, the Honda Preluded shared a lot of parts with the first-generation Honda Accord, including four-wheel independent strut suspension, its brakes, and its engine. However, the Prelude’s wheelbase was two inches shorter and it had a sportier chassis—plus the first power moonroof in a Honda.
The Honda Prelude launched in Japan with an 80-hp 1.6-liter, inline four-cylinder engine, but debuted in the US in 1979 with 72hp 1.8-liter engine. Original transmissions included a two-speed automatic and a five-speed manual. Late in 1979, the two-speeder is replaced with a three-speed auto.
The Prelude had a unique gauge cluster design, with the speedometer and the tachometer in a single combined unit, and the radio system up high on the dash, next to the cluster. It was refreshed in 1981, when a more traditional gauge cluster and dashboard were introduced, along with some stainless steel exterior trim and a new grille.
Averages prices for a first-gen Honda Prelude are around $7,000. Auction websites show some models in superb condition have sold for more than $15,000, and we even saw a 1979 model on sale for $30,000.
