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 61 through 70 of 428.00

• 

  1998 Honda Prelude - 1998 Honda Prelude
  By Ivan Garcia - June 1 - 8:40 pm

  Well, what can I say about the Honda Prelude, I own one myself. A 1998 Honda prelude automatic which is much fun to drive in the city of Salem. Its real sporty car and has a decent 4cyl v6 motor making 195 hp.

• 

  Honda Prelude - 1999 Honda Prelude
  By anthony - June 1 - 8:01 pm

  Bought this car brand new right of the boat, they actually just unloaded it on the lot, bought it with 3 miles on it, the 3 miles I put on the car test driving it. It is too bad Honda cannot built a decent electric car that looks like this. They need to pay more attention to Tesla motors and get away from the electric cars that look like boxes with wheels on them

• 

  Smazing car - 1991 Honda Prelude
  By ATMskater74 - May 21 - 8:28 am

  I love this car. Ive had mine a little over a year, and I have wanted one since this model year was new. It is built extremely well and they last forever with minimal expensive repairs. The engine is pretty peppy and it handles like its on rails. The interior is comfortable and the exterior styling is beautiful. One of the best cars available for that price, in my opinion.

• 

  hondas best - 1996 Honda Prelude
  By preludedude96 - April 23 - 8:39 pm

  I bought my 96 si 1 year ago with 127k miles on it the only thing I have had to fix on it is the clutch and a rear wheel bearing this car is by far the most reliable car Ive ever had. If you are looking at this trying to decide if you should buy one stop thinking and go get it.

• 

  Great car! - 1998 Honda Prelude
  By Plugger - April 13 - 8:35 am

  I own a 98 SH. This car is fabulous. Its fun, extremely low maintenance, quick, easy to drive and has curb appeal. The paint and finish are remarkable. Mechanically - its bullet proof. Check the oil with each tank of fuel though.... its a vtec thing.

• 

  91 Prelude Si 2.1L DOHC - 1991 Honda Prelude
  By stewie2021 - March 17 - 3:39 pm

  Only 2 previous owners. I bought this car off of a guy that was moving to England and HAD to get rid of it in about a week. I fell in love with the awesome styling and handling. Im pretty new to manual transmission but It wasnt hard to brush up on with such a great clutch that hasnt had to be replaced. I already replaced the intake with a ram air and the muffler with an HKS slide-on. The car looks at home with much newer cars and runs as good if not better. Im looking forward to keeping her running for years!

• 

  93 Prelude 4WS Si - 1993 Honda Prelude
  By Shibo - March 15 - 11:59 am

  The 93 prelude 4WS si i think is the best that Honda has ever made. The performance is just right for a 4 cyl that dose not have a VTEC motor and the convertible is unbelievable.

• 

  Best Honda ever made - 2001 Honda Prelude
  By Dylan - February 22 - 9:08 am

  I just bought this car, and it is by far the best Honda I have ever owned

• 

  Prelude=Spectacular - 2001 Honda Prelude
  By J23erbs - December 26 - 12:16 pm

  This is the best car I have ever owned. It does exactly what I need it to do and then some. The performance is truly a reflection of Hondas brilliance and the engine is one of the best honda has ever put into production.The h22 is just remarkable. It revs so freely (not like a wankel engine though)and it displays remarkable durability.The car is also built with exceptionally well build quality. The Prelude, like all Hondas, can withstand lots of abuse and still run like a charm. I would highly reccomend it to anyone, unless you want to use it as a family car because the back seats are lacking space, but if your like me you didnt buy the car for back seat room.

• 

  Prelude Love - 1998 Honda Prelude
  By Morgan - November 27 - 5:50 pm

  I bought my Prelude used at about 58K miles. Took her in recently for 105K service and still going strong. While the ride can be stiff, you get excellent road feel. The rougher ride dosent seem to matter on long trips. After driving a rental recently I really missed my precise handling and road hugging Prelude. Great long-term reliability. Fun to commute to work in or tool about town in on a lazy weekend.