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 71 through 80 of 428.00

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  i love this car - 1992 Honda Prelude
  By Ilovemylude - November 9 - 2:48 pm

  this car was one of the best they made with the 4ws i could drive this thing forever and not get rid of it

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  First Car - 1991 Honda Prelude
  By Prelude Power - October 7 - 9:59 pm

  A perfect first car, or even a car to just get from point A to point B. My Prelude has 185,000mi on it, and has always started up without a problem. This car is about 16 years old, and still many people tell me how much they like it.

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  Good Honda! Good girl! - 1994 Honda Prelude
  By JJ - September 10 - 11:35 am

  I bought my Prelude when it was 4 years old and had 30,000 miles on it. I knew I wanted that car the first time I test drove it, and I have not regretted buying it for even one second since I signed the contract. I love that it is a sporty, fun-to-drive car that handles well, but also has a good-sized trunk and gets 30 MPG (combined highway/city) consistently. I give her regular oil changes, and have had the timing belt/water pump replaced twice (at about 83000 mi, and again at 179000 mi). From what I understand about the engine construction, it is a very bad thing to wait for the timing belt to break, as you will then have to have a valve job too. With basic repairs, she runs & runs.

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  92 Prelude El Paso - 1992 Honda Prelude
  By fernando - September 4 - 10:39 am

  Fun car to drive, limited rear legs space as everyone knows but a pretty good size truck for a smaller car

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  I waited so long! - 1996 Honda Prelude
  By Nathan - September 3 - 12:51 am

  I decided in November of 2006 that I wanted a Prelude Si. I looked for over 8 months for one with low miles that I could afford. I finally found one, drove over 200 miles just to look at it, then bought it and drove it straight home. The car has given me no drivability problems whatsoever! The condenser fan was replaced, and all fluids changed as soon as we got home. I love how this car drives. Even the 4spd auto makes great high RPM shifts and knows just how to handle the amazing power put out by this fuel efficient 4cyl. (On the hwy that is.) The interior styling is extremely driver freindly and the exterior is timeless as this 11 year old car looks better than most 2008s! I love it

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  Born to be a Classic - 2000 Honda Prelude
  By Chris Sullivan - August 12 - 4:36 pm

  The Prelude is definitely an underestimated Honda. Very elusive compared to your Civic or Accord. Civic would be the bottom line daily driver, the Accord would be the nice family car, and the Prelude would be the slighty more exotic sports car. I get looks and compliments everywhere I go. I wouldnt trade this car for the world. If youre looking for something sporty, that also makes a great daily driver, then the Honda Prelude is definitely for you. Its fast, its fun, and its beautiful. What else could you ask for?

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  Great Car - 2001 Honda Prelude
  By Gene - June 15 - 12:07 am

  This has been a great car for me for the past 5 years. It has never had any issue with reliability or handling, braking is brilliant and performance very good. It even has room for two young kids in the back seat. Basically this car gives solid performance with all the little things thrown in - mine has cruise, power everything, sun roof, sports gears etc..

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  Old trustee - 1991 Honda Prelude
  By Steve - May 16 - 12:30 pm

  I owned this car for almost 8 years. It was my second car and it set the bar high considering I bought it at 10 years old. The steering was nimble and the handling was crips, with a lot of feedback. The brakes were excellent at stopping the car, with little fade. The B21A1 took quite a pounding from me in the early years, and kept on ticking. The hydraulic clutch was excellent and I never had to replace it. The first owner never had to replace it, so as far as I know it was original with 131,000 miles on it! It was by far, one of the best cars I drove in the snow and it was only front wheel drive! I traded the car in last night and miss it already. Goodbye old trustee!

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  Prelude SH - saved my life - 1999 Honda Prelude
  By Wedge - May 9 - 1:38 pm

  Recently, I was clipped from the passenger side behind by a tractor trailer cab which was spinning in a hydroplane. This was in a rainstorm at freeway speeds. I did 2 ½ 360 clockwise spins before coming to a stop. The prelude SH suspension and ATTS saved my life as I steered into the spin and avoided a 2nd clip by the counter spinning truck cab. So here is where the 80% power transfer to auto steer the outside front wheel occurs. Most of the time one hardly notices the SH, but I did about 3 G’s and maintained steering with my front wheels while the rear spun about. Worth all the prior gear shifts during slow commuter traffic.

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  My Prelude - 1992 Honda Prelude
  By andrew garza - April 15 - 5:17 pm

  Well I bought my car at a junkyard and I liked it so much Im currently waiting to save up enough money to purchase a new JDM 2.2L v- tech engine. I enjoyed the interior. It looked already sporty and ready to race since Im into all that tuner car thing. I loved the way the seats were inside. They already had the shape of some aftermarket racing seats with the flares and stuff. I liked the smoothness of the ride, the shifting (mines standard). Since I got it I have had so many compliments and I just cant wait till I take it to the track now.