Overview & Reviews

Introduced in 1979, the Honda Prelude was the company's first attempt at building an exciting car that still held true to the core Honda values of intelligent design and reliability. Over the next two decades, the two-door sport coupe would become the primary performance car in the Honda lineup. Although it was outfitted with relatively powerful engines in later generations, the Prelude was not a muscle car. It was built around handling and drivability, while providing enough power to remain competitive.

Over its life, several new technologies for Honda were pioneered on the Prelude, such as fuel injection, four-wheel steering and Honda's Active Torque Transfer System. The Prelude was also the first Honda model to get VTEC, the company's variable valve timing engine technology.

Though the Honda Prelude was very popular throughout the '80s, consumer interest waned in the '90s. Eventually, the Prelude was trapped in an under-$30,000 no-man's land. For a sporty front-wheel-drive coupe, it was just too pricey, and it didn't have sports car looks or a sufficiently premium feel. By the turn of the millennium, the sport coupe market was a shadow of its former self. Honda dropped the Prelude without a replacement after the 2001 model year. As a pre-owned option, however, the rewarding and reliable Prelude merits serious consideration from driving enthusiasts on a budget.

Most Recent Honda Prelude

If you're searching for a used Honda Prelude, you'll likely be encountering the fifth and final generation, which was sold from 1997-2001. It was larger and heavier than any of the previous models. It was also the most dynamic. There were two trim levels: base and Type SH. Both got a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine with VTEC and a standard five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed automatic was available as an option on the base model. Initially, the engine put out 195 horsepower, but in 1999, Honda bumped maximum power up to 200 hp in the manual-transmission models.

Both trims were equipped with a generous array of standard features that included 16-inch alloy wheels, ABS, cruise control, a sunroof, air-conditioning and full power accessories. The main difference between the base model and the Type SH was the addition of Honda's Active Torque Transfer System, an electronic system that distributed torque to the outside drive wheel in cornering situations. Its purpose was to minimize understeer and thus mimic rear-wheel-drive cornering characteristics.

In road and comparison tests, our editors found the Honda Prelude Type SH to be one of the best-handling cars in its class -- truly a driver's car. It was nimble and well balanced, while also maintaining a decent amount of ride comfort. There was just enough engine performance to be sporty, with the VTEC four performing a Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation in feel and sound above 5,200 rpm. Zero-to-60 times were in the low 7s. In 1999, the Prelude won Edmunds.com's Editors' Most Wanted award for Best Sport Coupe ($10,000-$25,000). In 2000, it won again for Best Sport Coupe.

Despite being a great-performing car, the Honda Prelude was lacking in other areas. The interior boasted high-quality materials and construction, but it lacked the visual pizzazz buyers had come to expect from a car with a $26,000 price tag. Honda maintained a conservative approach here, filling the cabin with a monochromatic color scheme and Accord-like gauges and controls. The front seats, though comfortable, weren't available in leather and had limited adjustability. The rear seats had minimal legroom. The fifth-generation Prelude has aged well, however, as that restrained interior design now seems classier and less dated than brash designs like the contemporary Toyota Celica.

Past Honda Preludes

The other Honda Prelude one should consider is the fourth-generation model, which was sold for the 1992-'96 model years. A complete overhaul of the previous model, this Prelude was slightly shorter, much wider and a far better-handling car. The S trim featured a 135-hp 2.2-liter SOHC four-cylinder. The Si had a 160-hp 2.3-liter DOHC four-cylinder with a healthy 156 pound-feet of torque. From 1993 on, the fourth-generation Prelude could also be had in range-topping Si VTEC trim, which brought a 2.2-liter 190-hp DOHC four equipped with Honda's electronic variable valve timing (VTEC) system. A four-wheel-steering system was available in 1992-'93, though only on the Si model.

In general, the fourth-generation Prelude earned favorable commentary in reviews at the time. It offered excellent handling, and nearly all who drove it liked the power of the VTEC-equipped engine. Criticisms were mostly directed at the car's odd interior design. A sweeping blacked-out instrument cluster extended across the entire dash, and few found the mix of analog and digital gauges appealing.

User Reviews:

Showing 291 through 300 of 428.00

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  Spread the good word! - 1995 Honda Prelude
  By Prelude kid - January 22 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! the Prelude had the styling and performance to jerk me away from the dog-slow Eclipse GS that Id been hooked on since watching The Fast and the Furious. Its handling is reminiscent of a Stingray ie: the faster you go, the more she just wants to suck to the pavement. Spread the word people! I got mine for $6500 and can blow away any eclipse in my town. This is a very good, and VERY underrated car. Civics cant touch her and the new V-6 Eclipse gets a very good competition on the highway from the lude. I stand 59" and its very comfortable to drive, as long as nobody has the misfortune of sitting behind me.

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  Prelude Pride - 1992 Honda Prelude
  By aeropostel - January 22 - 2:00 am

  The honda prelude is trhe best car ever. i love it. its so good. it very reliable. i love the acceleration and the power. the engine feels liek a v6. none of my friends beleive me that its only a 4 cylinder. i like how i can feel good about it being over 100k. it runs perfect, and i have had no major problems. this car would smoke half of the performance cars out there, and thats only in its stock form

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  Silver Streak - 1992 Honda Prelude
  By ISTJ - January 21 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my 1992 Prelude SI since 1993 @ approx 12k miles. I am now at 95.5k miles and only had the ac replace (2000), it finally gave in (I live in FL) and the timing belt (2001)- scheduled maintenance. Other than that, no problems, my wife drives it now and wont sell it. I even bought a 2001 Honda accord (V6)-new, and she rather have the Prelude. I tried

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  1992 honda prelude - 1992 Honda Prelude
  By aeropostel - January 21 - 2:00 am

  the 1992 honda prelude is a terrific car. it is very fun to drive. it has excellent pick up, and reliability. i havenot had one major problem with it and it has over 100,000 miles. i bought it with 92,000 and i do not think it was a mistake buying it with high mileage. i the only thing i want now is a manual one. i like the bucket seats it came with, but the interior is not as good as the newer preludes.

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  The best lude! - 2000 Honda Prelude
  By Eric Sun - January 17 - 2:00 am

  its a great car, i love it, daily driven...great!

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  GOOD IN CLASS - 1999 Honda Prelude
  By O-MEGA36X - January 15 - 2:00 am

  For its class-prelude outperforms other cars like celica gt-s and eclipse GT and is less common than its competitors with a more original look--even the cheap model is not cheap compared to competition the competition. Good redline, good speed in top end, and nice look especially from the sides. Interior is comfortable and offers room for 4. Shifter is nice, quick, and quiet also and hydraulic clutch engages smoothly with little effort.

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  Good Car - 1997 Honda Prelude
  By M2SEWELL - January 9 - 2:00 am

  My Honda Prelude has been a very good car. I have had no serious problems and it is very fun to drive. I like the quickness of this car.

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  Great Car - 1998 Honda Prelude
  By ludelover - January 7 - 2:00 am

  This is really a great car. Low end is somewhat lame, but past 4-5,000 it is a blast! Interior is typical Honda. (Simple and efficient.) Definately fun to drive if you like the high revving type cars.

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  Prelude Type SH with ATTS is amazing! - 1997 Honda Prelude
  By tilenius - January 2 - 2:00 am

  Ive had my Honda Prelude Type SH for almost 6 years now and LOVE it! Its been a joy to drive every day! Hondas Active Torque Transfer System is truly amazing! This comes only on the Type SH model. This feature basically makes the OUTSIDE wheels on a turn go FASTER than the inside wheels, and can transfer up to 80% of the torque to those wheels. The result is almost NO understeer and amazing road-hugging ability. This has to be one of the best-handling cars on the market. Its been 100% reliable, no problems, except a slight rattle around the moonroof. Honda is so incredibly reliable!

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  Love My Lude! - 1992 Honda Prelude
  By ShortyONE30 - January 2 - 2:00 am

  I just got my Lude for x-mas and i was so excited to have it sittin in my drive way! Its the greatest car in the world and i love everything about it! I have tons of plans for it too! This is a great sporty car and sooo much fun to drive! Just gotta watch out for the Po Pos!