Leaked Prelude Pricing: Too Pricey for Its Own Good?
The leaked Japanese MSRP puts the 2026 Prelude at ¥6,179,800, or roughly $41,000. That's significantly more than the Civic Type R, which starts at ¥4,997,300 in Japan. It also puts it uncomfortably close to the price of more performance-focused cars. A limited-run ON Edition will also be offered at launch for ¥6,540,000 (about $43,400), with unique details like a black roof and bundled extras. However, buyers must pay in full, are limited to one unit, and cannot resell it after purchase. For a Honda coupe, that's unusually exclusive.
The Prelude shares its platform with the Civic, but Honda is treating it as more than a badge-engineering job. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter hybrid system with two electric motors, paired with a CVT. Brakes and suspension are adapted from the Civic Type R, and the Prelude gets heated seats, a digital dash, and a BOSE sound system. Adaptive dampers and 19-inch wheels come standard, along with Google-based infotainment. It seems like less of a reskinned Civic coupe, and more like a grown-up Type R that you can cruise in without needing a chiropractor.
Its ¥6,179,800 ($41,000) price tag feels especially steep when compared to what else the market offers. The Nissan Z starts at ¥5,497,800 ($36,500) in Japan, while the BMW Z4 - imported from Austria - starts at ¥4,995,000 ($33,200). Both are rear-wheel-drive and pack more power. The Prelude, by contrast, is front-wheel-drive only and CVT-exclusive. If built in Japan, export fees could bump the US price even higher. Initially, we thought it would go head-to-head with cheaper, enthusiast-approved options like the Toyota GR86 and Mazda MX-5 Miata. But if not, it's hard to see how this version of the Prelude will connect with the younger buyers it seems to target.
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