2026 Honda Prelude Preview
Honda’s coupe is back as a hybrid.
- Sales of Honda’s new hybrid electric vehicle “Prelude” were slow after its release.
- In November, only 30 units were sold, and in December 2025, only 174 Preludes were sold.
- Honda, by contrast, sold thousands of other hybrid models in December, including the CR-V, Civic and Accord.
Honda announced its new hybrid electric vehicle “Prelude” to great fanfare, but initial sales of this model were poor.
The Japanese automaker reported on Monday, January 5, that it sold just 174 Prelude units in December 2025. In comparison, Civic Hybrid sales were 7,323 units and Accord Hybrid Sedan sales were 6,407 units. The December deal follows sales of just 30 Preludes in November after its initial release.
Honda spokesman Andrew Quillin defended the Prelude’s initial sales, saying in a statement provided to USA TODAY that the company is “pleased that the Prelude is already meeting our sales expectations, even though it has already delivered to only 40% of our dealerships.”
“With monthly production of approximately 300 units, we expect every dealer to receive at least one Prelude by March,” he said.
What did Honda say when the Prelude was first released?
In a September 2025 press release announcing the launch of the Prelude as a new hybrid model, Honda said the new vehicle was “inspired by the fun-to-drive performance, heritage of innovation, and dynamic styling of its predecessor.”
“We are thrilled to bring back such an iconic nameplate to the Honda lineup,” Jessica Laudermilk, vice president of Honda National Auto Sales, said in a September 2025 statement. “The return of the Prelude demonstrates our commitment to exciting, fun-to-drive vehicles and will help accelerate our hybrid electric sales in the years to come.”
“The first-ever electric Prelude features Honda’s ultra-smooth, responsive, and fuel-efficient two-motor hybrid electric system found in the award-winning Civic Hybrid model,” Honda said in a statement.
Honda’s CR-V was the best-selling hybrid
CR-V was Honda’s best-selling hybrid as of December 2025.
Here’s how the manufacturer’s other hybrid models performed this month:
- Civic Hybrid | 7,323
- Accord Hybrid | 6,407
- CR-V Hybrid | 19,752
When was the last time Honda made a Prelude?
Honda first began using the Prelude name in 1978. The Japanese manufacturer produced this model for five generations until it was discontinued in 2001. Pricing for the 2026 hybrid version of this vehicle starts at $42,000, excluding destination charges.
This article has been updated to include a statement from American Honda Motor Co. Inc.
