Mat Watson reviews the Honda Prelude: has Honda ruined it? 

This is the new Honda Prelude, and it’s finally back after 25 years. The high-tech two-door coupe went off sale back in 2001, but now I’ve just had the new one delivered to me for a thorough review.

I’m going to critique its design, test out its tech and see what it’s like to drive. I’ll also be living with the car for a week to see how it fares as a daily driver.

New Honda Prelude design: I’ve done a complete 180

I wasn’t sold on the look of the new Honda Prelude in pictures, and to begin with I didn’t like it in the metal either.

It’s the front end which really threw me, because there’s a bit too much going on. It looks like Honda has tried to copy the Toyota Prius with that thin upper grille and the swept-back headlights, but they haven’t really pulled it off.

I quite like the sloping roofline and the full-width rear light bar, but then when I stood back the proportions weren’t quite right to my eye. I thought it looked a bit awkward.

But after a week I changed my tune, because I did end up liking the way the Prelude looks. I’m not usually a fan of black wheels on cars, but they work on this car with the other bits of contrasting black trim. I like the blue brake calipers as well, and the chunky side skirts give it an aggressive edge.

New Honda Prelude interior: where things get better

The first thing to note when you get in the new Prelude is the driving position. As you’d expect in a Japanese sports car, it’s spot-on. You can get the seat nice and low, and I like the way you get a quick-release back rest as opposed to a fiddly wheel because it makes finding the perfect driving position that much quicker.

The layout is also really good, with easy-to-use knobs and dials for the climate control. I’m not a fan of the gear selector though, because it does look a bit like the buttons and levers have just been chucked at the centre console.

Build quality is good as well. Some of the Prelude’s switchgear feels even more solid than it does in my BMW M5, and the two-tone leather with blue stitching makes it look more premium than the Honda Civic on which it’s based.

I did find a couple of issues though. The material on the seats looks like it’s a bit loose and it’s starting to crease, which isn’t ideal in a brand new car. I’m also not a fan of the shiny black plastic on the steering wheel which scratches and smudges easily.

New Honda Prelude engine, performance and driving

Under the bonnet of the new Honda Prelude is a 2.0-litre petrol hybrid engine – the same basic setup you’ll find in the Civic hatchback. Like in the Civic, it puts out 180hp and power is sent to the front wheels only.

Honda says it’ll do 0-60mph in 8.2 seconds, but my specialist timing gear showed a time of 7.7 seconds. That’s quicker than I was expecting it to be, but how does it handle on a twisty road?

Under the skin the new Prelude has the same suspension and steering setup as the Honda Civic Type R, and it feels really playful when you chuck it into a bend. The only annoying thing holding you back in the electronic nannies, because you can’t turn the stability control fully off.

It has a really clever fake gear shift feature as well. Most of the time the front wheels are only driven by the electric motor and the engine is just providing charge for the battery, but when you pull one of the paddles it will blip the engine and send a jolt through the car. It’s a bit like reiki – it’s a placebo, but it still makes you feel better.

Annoying things about the new Honda Prelude

There are a few annoying things about the Honda Prelude which made it more difficult to live with during my week with the car.

The first thing was the lack of ISOFIX anchor points on the front seats. A lot of coupes have this, and the Prelude’s microscopic rear seats made fitting my daughter’s child seat in the car quite challenging.

I also really don’t like the gear selector. Reverse is a switch that you pull towards you, but my instinct is to pull towards me for drive. It’s confused me every time I get in the car.

Visibility over your shoulders is terrible thanks to the massive C-pillars. That makes it hard to pull out at junctions, and the lack of a rear window wiper means it gets covered in crap and you have to clean it by hand.

Honda Prelude prices and deals: a fly in the ointment

The Honda Prelude starts from just under £41,000, but the car I have here costs £43,000 with options. The blue paint is £700, the spoiler is £600 and the illuminated door sills are £445.

That’s not far off the cost of a BMW 230i, which has rear-wheel drive and 245hp. It also has a posher-feeling interior, and the BMW badge will be enough to convince some people by itself.

At least the Prelude is really well-equipped as standard. All cars get heated seats, adaptive cruise control, leather seats, a digital driver’s display and front and rear parking sensors.

My final verdict on the Honda Prelude

I wasn’t expecting to like the new Prelude, but after spending a week with it I really do. It’s great to drive, packed with clever tech and the styling even grew on me over time. I just think it could do with a bit more power, and it’s a shame that the price will put many people off buying one.