Honda Prelude review: no seriously, it’s not a crossover!
Posted by Vhozite@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 620 comments
Posted by Vhozite@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 620 comments
rhc34@reddit
Nobody hates cars like the “enthusiasts” in this sub. This thing is cool and I’m all for bringing back the days of slightly-sporty coupes.
youraverageracefan@reddit
This isn't even slightly sporty.
FucchioPussigetti@reddit
I’m not going to be the first person to say this but it’s overweight (relatively speaking), underpowered, FWD, CVT-equipped, and it’s going to top 40K for sure…what exactly is there for an enthusiast to praise here?
Barson_Crandt@reddit
I was just saying the same thing last week when this was posted about in the Honda sub lol. Everyone bitches and moans about everything turning into a crossover SUV and when a company decides to bring out a sleek coupe that should at minimum be fairly entertaining to drive it receives nothing but hate before it’s even been properly released and tested.
INDY_RAP@reddit
If you're going to make a couple and not have it compete in the segment on any trim level it makes no sense to make it.
Even thinking like a car company it's a waste of development dollars.
They're not going to compete with Hyundai making a hybrid coupe and they're not going to compete with Toyota and Subaru not making this a manual or even having a hint of performance mindset.
No one casually buys a coupe.
They do it for the drive. And this aint it.
Barson_Crandt@reddit
You right, they should’ve made it a crossover. Would’ve sold hundreds of thousands.
INDY_RAP@reddit
Jesus Christ you lot are insufferable
TheDistantEnd@reddit
"What do you mean it's not 400HP with AWD, 4WS, a 12-speed manual, brown paint, and used from the factory for $8500!?"
Intel_Oil@reddit
You're joking i know, but you know what would sell?
This with an 8k rpm engine, the CTRs Manual and a LSD for 45k.
Key_Budget9267@reddit
So in other words... a Civic Type R? There's no business case for it, they'd just be competing with themselves.
Intel_Oil@reddit
I don't want a Civic, i want a high reving coupé.
Thats the business case.
Aero06@reddit
People are rightfully irate that Honda went through the trouble of building a sportier platform and then neutered it with a compromised drivetrain. Furthermore, when this inevitably flops like the CR-Z did, it's just going to discourage other manufacturers from building sportscars. It's not 1992 when every manufacturer was building 3 different coupes, the reality of corporate politics in this scant sportscar market is that it's worse for them to try and to fail than it is for them to not try at all.
No-Necessary7135@reddit
Don't get me wrong, this is reversing a trend in general from manufacturers just pumping out C-SUVs. I just wish it had a manual.
Barson_Crandt@reddit
I don’t disagree that it would have a much wider appeal with a manual option of some variety. Given the platform it’s based on it really is a shame they’re at minimum not even giving it an option for the SI powertrain. It’s just so funny to see all of the highly upvoted bitching about this vehicle when basically every review of the Civic Hybrid says that it’s a surprisingly fun vehicle to drive and this will basically be that but turned up even more lol
No-Necessary7135@reddit
I was just talking to a daycare dad about the Civic Hybrid is better in every way than the Si except for the transmission. And I have an Si.
The numbers say that the juice isn't worth the squeeze to put a manual in there anyway. Who knows, maybe if they did it they'd have an 80% uptake like the WRX but that sadly feels like fantasy land.
enaK66@reddit
The internet just brings out the most vocally annoying people. If its not perfect then people will call it trash. Insert brown wagon manual meme.
economicAtomBomb@reddit
Hybrid, auto-only, FWD only, 181hp and weighs as much as last year's Camry and we're expecting it to start near $40K... yay?
MALLAVOL@reddit
Right, in what world is this car cool?
35_Steak_HotPockets@reddit
I mean excluding the price I ruling this car. I think it looks great, hybrid efficiency is nice, I don’t want a manual, and I like the idea of sportyish coup that’s mildly fun to drive but won’t get me into traffic.
I don’t exactly make enough money to buy this car, but honestly it’s close to exactly what I want from a small coup lmao
TheSkyline35@reddit
The Reddit guy said "rejoice", whyyyy don't you comply !!!
Oh... Because the execution of this vehicle is actually bad. And more expensive less practical Civic Hybrid with no thrill?
TP_Crisis_2020@reddit
Right... what consumer is even asking for this thing?
BentleySpeed@reddit
There's nothing cool about it
INDY_RAP@reddit
This ain't slightly sporty in The slightest my guy. And I want this to be an example of when everyone says they don't make x car because people won't buy it.
No they make stupid shit no one wants and then they don't make enough of the car people do so that one doesn't sell and this one doesn't sell.
Then they say the real good shit didn't sell even though they do nothing to fight dealer markup or they say oh no one likes when we try something different.
Ppl want an s2000 and an affordable nsx
Bring that shit back with all the money wasted developing this waste of money.
MechMeister@reddit
The choices of economy coupes has 100% evaporated. I can't think of a single one until the Prelude comes out. And it's going to get 50mpg which will make it insanely good at commuting and 2 person road trips.
20 years ago you had a 2 door Focus (or Escort ZR2), Cavalier, Civic, Celica, Eclipse, Neon for a while in the 90's.
I see it as Honda cornering a market. Someone that just wants a sporty looking coupe is 100% going to choose this over a BRZ or Miata because it has no daily compromises, and they couldn't even tell you what rear wheel drive even feels like.
T-Baaller@reddit
What market?
Because this is 2-doors (excludes the ride-sharing people), auto-only (excludes honda manuel fans), it looks to me like a fraction of a fraction of a market. They killed off their civic coupe, and I seriously doubt fuel economy was the common reason people passed on those.
I like 2 door cars in general, but I'm a freak.
And there are two things I don't like about the Prelude
The frumpy rear end that looks like its making too much room for people
auto-only nature.
Clip_Clippington@reddit
If it's fully loaded at $30K, it wins. If it's fully loaded at $36K, it's a much harder sell because it's more practical compared to an 86, but not that much more when it's near the same price as the fully loaded 86.
Intel_Oil@reddit
It has 20hp less than its 20 year old predecessor, that also had 400kg less weight to carry around.
The predecessor was already labeled as a "bit too unexciting".
TP_Crisis_2020@reddit
This sub both yearns for and also simultaneously hates the thing they yearn for.
Look at the Slate for example.
Arnas_Z@reddit
The Slate is an overpriced piece of shit.
bobovicus@reddit
Car enthusiasm is disgustingly gate kept. Most people think car enthusiasts only are suppose to like manual rwd cars with good feedback, handling, etc… a better term for that kind of person is a “Purist” IMO. Performance. But there’s so more about cars that people can get excited about and interested in. Build quality, technology, efficiency, engineering, etc…
If the prelude wasn’t geared for enthusiasts, then it would have gone the way of the eclipse. It’s not about pure performance driving, but I guarantee it’ll be better than most on here are anticipating.
SRoku@reddit
I’m glad someone else is saying it. Obviously I’d love a sporty manual Honda coupe, but normal people used to drive smaller cars like this too, even if they weren’t sports cars. Anything that puts more coupes on the road is a good thing imo. I’ve seen more than enough crossovers for one lifetime.
RandomMexicanDude@reddit
If I had money Id get this in a heart beat, car looks nice
RFK_Cum_Regimen@reddit
It's fine as a car, but that belt line is an abomination that borders on terrorism. The proportions are heinous. Can't fault the designers though. They're stuck modeling around pedestrian impact regulations and marketing research focus group requirements.
Jimbenas@reddit
It’s not sporty though. It’s basically a 2 door Prius that will be upmarked as a premium car.
nyanslider@reddit
It looks sporty and has the fun little paddles, even some kind of adaptive suspension. sporty does not mean Type-R.
Caqtus95@reddit
Minivans have paddle shifters.
nyanslider@reddit
So do all F1 cars. They're a sporty thing to have, and they probably have them because their stick shifters have been replaced by the buttons and the stick was where they had the little side rack with the sequential shifting.
Caqtus95@reddit
On F1 cars they're connected to SMG's and not slush boxes.
nyanslider@reddit
And yet they work the same way in the eyes of normal people, shifting up and down.
Caqtus95@reddit
Ignorant people who don't know shit about driving maybe.
nyanslider@reddit
I guarantee you 95% of the population don't know what an SMG is and how that's different from an automatic transmission. You can pretend the average person cares about cars the way you do, but they don't.
Jimbenas@reddit
Paddle shifters are in every car. It’s not powerful or light. If it wasn’t a coupe, nobody would be calling it sporty.
Crucify me for this, but a WRX with a CVT is more sporty than this car.
nyanslider@reddit
It IS a coupe though, so that is irrelevant. Even including the fake German "coupes" a majority of them are sports cars. It's a sporty style, and absolutely no way would a normal person see this thing and think your si is more sporty. We haven't driven the thing, so we can only go off what TG is saying and the videos of them being driven in japan. Sporty is more than looks, but it's also more than the transmission, as I'd hope you wouldn't call a mirage sporty just because it's standard, and more than engine, because no matter how many people hated the i8- that thing is a sports car. It looks sporty, inside and out, it has the fun little sporty things like the paddles, no matter if minivans have them, the suspension apparently from their only full sports car, and even the sport steering wheel. We can cry later when it gets reviewed by more people to see if it can drive sporty.
Such-Bodybuilder-356@reddit
I currently have a 11th gen Civic. I WILL be checking this out. Sounds like a touring car which is essentially what the Prelude always was only this one is based on the Civic. This car seems very much like the FRS that was launched that Toyota adjusted along the way to being a car worth talking about. It could be that they need their technology down the line to trickle through its products to make this car better. Honda is said to be working on multiple hybrids that offer more/less power and awd option. This at least gets production started so it’s easier to update the vehicle. It’s a first gen product, it’s going to have its flaws and hopefully get better. The Civic has had its ups and downs.
Pinecone@reddit
They're also so far out of the realm of actual car buyers. Not realizing that the most hardcore sports cars in this price range are all the lowest volume sellers.
Nomad624@reddit
I don't hate it, i just can't justify buying it
Suck_My_Thick@reddit
People in this thread are saying "it's just a Civic coupe", yeah what's wrong with that?
TP_Crisis_2020@reddit
Civic coupes used to:
be cheap
have a manual transmission as an option
have performance models (Si)
Tw0Rails@reddit
"Sporty"? Really. Name me a car that doesn't proclaim to be sporty.
Oh it's slightly fast off the line for its weight?l Like everything else?
OkBimmer_@reddit
You clearly didn't read the article
rhc34@reddit
Read the whole thing. Still excited about this car.
OkBimmer_@reddit
Literally a Honda Civic powertrain with simulated fake shifts. This isn't even "slight sporty". It looks cool, I'll give it that.
TheOneRickSanchez@reddit
Plus the engine doesn't even drive the wheels most of the time, instead running in max efficiency mode powering the electric motor. How is this supposed to be exciting in the slightest?
It does look cool. I'm also glad that it's not a CUV/SUV, but doesn't have much of anything else going for it.
Caqtus95@reddit
"You're not an enthusiast if you don't like".
I also wouldn't buy a Kia Carnival, does that hurt my enthusiast cred?
bigsithenergy99@reddit
I guess it comes down to if you're ok with Honda just throwing us a bone. They gave us some sporty aspects but overall, its really a two door civic hybrid.
Schweezly@reddit
Yep. I’d love to have one of these. However, I have a company car and no desire for a car payment I don’t need
instantur@reddit
Car enthusiasts don’t care for a civic hybrid 2 door? Shocking.
Oh_ffs_seriously@reddit
Why would enthusiasts be duped by a restyled econobox?
FledglingNonCon@reddit
Ford Probe comes to mind.
PositivelyAwful@reddit
I don't understand the market here. 2 door hybrid coupe with 180hp, 6k redline, no manual gearbox, and a sky high base price.
Anyone looking for a "sporty" coupe this should be competing with is just going to buy a GR86. Thousands less base MSRP, 50 more hp, manual gearbox...
duofuzz@reddit
181 hp is the motor output, total is probably going to be ~200 like the Civic. With the wider stance, reduced weight, improved suspension and brakes I think this is distinct enough to make sense. Doubt it will cost much more than the Civic.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
there is no total output. Honda’s hybrid system, the electric motor propulses the wheels only by itself.
duofuzz@reddit
https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-1503019bd8a757ea08267d7944378955-honda-two-motor-hybrid-electric-system#:~:text=This%20configuration%20allows%20for%20the,28%25%20faster%20than%20its%20predecessor.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
I’m not exactly sure what you are linking to me? Your link agrees with me. There’s no total output, it’s just the 181 hp electric motor.
duofuzz@reddit
“When cruising at mid- or high-speeds in the high-efficiency range of the engine, a lock-up clutch engages the drive motor to the generator motor, transmitting engine torque directly to the drive wheels as efficiently as possible.”
Not that it functionally matters but you could easily just google the Civic hybrid, that motor also outputs 181 but total hp is 200.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
yes, the ICE engages the wheels directly, and only by itself. The wheels are never driven by both the electric and the ICE at the same time, it’s either/or. Your quote literally says that. At cruising speeds the driven wheels will be taken by the ICE.
As per the 200 hp figure, that’s just some weird US marketing lie. In Europe they only quote the 181 max hp provided by the electric engine. Both US and EU spec cars have the same 1/4 mile time and speed traps @ 92 mph, meaning they both have the same amount of power (i.e 181 hp).
https://youtu.be/6glpZTRT6qE?si=fkhaB_AY9i16xsGR
Here is the technical presentation by Ko Yamamoto(Honda engineer)
Also this one, but it’s a bit longer and more in-depth.
https://youtu.be/p9iEfFlkIEA?si=IruiFFCejmBwGVvn
duofuzz@reddit
What do you think parallel hybrid means? Combined output is literally in a separate column.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
Yes, and it’s a marketint gimmick. Just watch the presentations by the literal designer of the system and you’ll understand. I own the car mate, trust me I know how it works. But if you don’t, you can and should just listen to the engineer himself
duofuzz@reddit
Functionally irrelevant but see 7:00-8:30 here: https://youtu.be/-P_VChtMGK8?feature=shared
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
Read this comment tree from the comments section: https://youtube.com/watch?v=-P_VChtMGK8&lc=Ugx9EttlndLJalnlIyp4AaABAg.95nYN5HKnl395qIoZJq8Oo&si=_XDObXOVgNLCOgZs
It explains why Honda’s “total hp output” makes no sense. In reality you’ll never get that output because the car doesn’t reach those speeds, so the clutch will never engage while the 181 hp motor is also delivering it’s full power. I really don’t know how they came up with that marketing, and it’s very telling that in Europe where they have stricter false advertising rules they only state 181 hp as the maximum as that’s what the car can actually achieve.
dumahim@reddit
If I'm reading the right, the electric motor is doing almost all the propulsion except for highway speeds where the engine can engage direct to the driveline. Getting max power both both seems very unusable.
Plastic_Willow734@reddit
People that want a “sporty” car don’t want an actual sports car. Hell some people that think they want sports cars quickly realize that they don’t actually enjoy them. You can look in the ft86 or Miata sub and see a handful of people each week complaining about road noise, mpg, lack of space, insurance costs, whatever
abattlescar@reddit
To be fair, the ND Miata probably has the best MPG of any pure ICE car out there. Some people have shown it hitting 50 mpg highway.
Insurance costs are low too. On the other hand, road noise and lack of space are incredulous.
Intro24@reddit
Miata sounds great until the buyer considers the fact that they physically can't fit in it and/or can't drive stick and feel bad about buying the automatic. Prelude strikes a good balance of normal uncompromised car and still sporty. Ask a random non-enthusiast friend to ride shotgun in a Miata for the first time and you're absolutely going to get a "what the hell is this" comment from them whereas they will probably just comment that the Prelude looks cool.
abattlescar@reddit
Lay off on the Miata bud. Did one hurt you?
Carter0108@reddit
Any pure petrol ICE car*
50 is nothing for a diesel.
Gwolf4@reddit
A Miata won't increase lung cancer possibilities too. Thanks Dieselgate for indirect clean our skies from diesel related gases.
Realistic_Village184@reddit
I don't know what they meant by "pure," but I assume that means no electric motor or forced induction. Have there been any non-turbo diesels sold in the last decade? I live in the US, and we pretty much no longer have diesels here except for big trucks, but diesels were largely all turbos even back in the 80's, so I can't imagine there were many NA diesels even back in 2000, much less 2025.
TurboFucked@reddit
People always cherry pick their highway fuel economy to make it look impressive. There are stretches of highway that I can make my supra report 45mpg despite the EPA numbers being like 28. But that's only doable with no traffic, no hills, and cruise set to 70. Driving normal highway speeds in normal highway traffic yields the EPA figures.
There's no need to inflate the ND's fuel economy. C&D got like 37mpg in their highway loop, which is really good.
abattlescar@reddit
The ND does get incredible numbers regardless, yes. I do like to look at hypermiler's reports as well as standard mileage because they often show there is more efficiency to be gained if you're diligent.
I'd go as far as to say that any pure ICE car with higher EPA figures (if there even are any) only beats the ND by tuning the throttle and transmission to be very conservative, which you can do in the ND with your own footwork and shifting.
FlyingYankee118@reddit
Yup I was one of those people. I drove a Miata and soon figured for a daily, a grand touring type vehicle would be better for me personally
Intro24@reddit
Yeah, Prelude is much more of a touring car and I like the idea of that
AwarenessForsaken568@reddit
I am not interested in a manual. A lot of people aren't, but you wouldn't be aware of that here inside your little bubble.
Intro24@reddit
This is the #1 thing that this sub needs to get through the stages of grief on. Plenty of people want a cool car like the Prelude and have zero interest in manual because they literally never have. I'm on r/cars and fairly interested in cars but I've never driven a manual and I don't really want to start. I want a fun car but that could mean Prelude or electric.
AwarenessForsaken568@reddit
I've driven a manual, and like they definitely have a place but I'm just an average guy. My hobby is not cars. When I am buying a car it is to use as my daily vehicle.
What I do want though is a car that I think looks good, has good handling and road feel. Many modern cars just lack personality and feel very unresponsive in a weird way.
Now whether the prelude will be like that, who knows, I will obviously be test driving one before buying it.
Now do I think the prelude should have a manual option? Absolutely, but Honda has hundreds of people working for them where their sole job is market research. I'm sure they know better than us on whether a manual would be worth the investment. The answer is it wouldn't be.
gothicserp3nt@reddit
I hope the demographic that used to buy accord and civic coupes will consider the prelude. Its edge over an 86 is really just fuel efficiency and having more space. I really like the liftback aspect. I'm sure it will be a niche market because most people caring about space and fuel efficiency would just get anything with 4 doors. either way I hope the prelude sells decently because we need all the coupes we can get
MonorailCat567@reddit
Basically people without kids. If you don't have kids to schelp around I'll go to my grave saying a 2+2 liftback is the perfect form factor.
Intro24@reddit
Uncomfortable back seats is actually a feature if you don't have kids or someone who regularly needs to ride back there. Deters people from making you give them a ride.
Adventurous_Break985@reddit
Exactly!! It is the perfect form factor. It’s like an antidote to all the bloated crossovers everywhere. A lift back can hold so much more than people think and a car is so much more enjoyable to drive than any crossover.
qb4ever@reddit
I have a civic and my lingering thought has been if I can fit these little demons in those pseudo backseats. Do I really need fullsized seats and 2 rear doors for them?
nyanslider@reddit
Apparently you can fit them back there as long as you're under 6'2 or they're under 5'5.
TurboFucked@reddit
I got through college in a Celica. Despite being a tiny car, it could haul a massive amount of crap.
Without the front seat in (which was trivial to remove), the car could fully contain an item that was 110" in length and roughly a foot wide.
celica_GT@reddit
Hell yeah! Honestly really underrated car. If the prelude can tap into that era and keep costs down, it should be great
No-Necessary7135@reddit
The more I read the comments here the more I realize the target demo here is someone who wants a coupe that would otherwise have gotten like a Civic Hybrid. More choice is always good.
AwarenessForsaken568@reddit
Yep I am essentially looking for a slightly more sporty sedan that is a coupe. For me it's between this and a Mazda 3.
No-Necessary7135@reddit
FWIW I think this could be the answer for you. I like the Toyobarus but they are probably more suited to track drivers. The interior of the Prelude is going to be way better than them. I have heard good things about the Mazda 3 and used to own a 6 but I feel they're going for more of a premium than sporty vibe these days.
dumahim@reddit
That's me, but losing 1/3 of the power is going to be tough to accept.
gothicserp3nt@reddit
If you had a later gen v6 accord, yea those had pretty nice power. this looks like it will be closer to a civic though but hopefully it will get at least 200hp
TurkeyPhat@reddit
i think most of us already own those cars and much prefer our older cars to anything honda/acura have made in the last 10 yrs lol
Intro24@reddit
Thought process:
There ya go, done. Buyers of this car aren't going to be tuners. It's just people that want something fun in that form factor and don't care about 4 doors. It's basically a poor man's 911 and the font on the back is even very similar in a way that I think is intentional. This car will be plenty of fun with the fake shifty thing and the suspension despite lack of horsepower. Heck, even not having a manual option will work to its benefit because people don't actually want the manual but they feel like they're missing out not getting a manual if it's available. Liftback is a nice touch as well. It's basically the most practical possible vehicle that still is somewhat fun and that still looks like a sporty coupe thing and I think it will find buyers because of that.
Bubbly_Collection329@reddit
if this car costs more than 30k its flopping for sure
AwarenessForsaken568@reddit
Eh many economy sedans cost over 30k nowadays. I'd say around 32 - 33k is the limit for this car. Maybe 36k for a high tier trim.
Bubbly_Collection329@reddit
Fuckin inflation man
Main_Hornet8676@reddit
Feels like Honda wanted a "cool" car to draw people to dealers but didn't want to try too hard.
DetectiveNarrow@reddit
Way better off just buying an ecoboost tbh
TheSkyline35@reddit
Worse than that, there is no gearbox
The engine is a generator that acts like a automatic, to break the monotonic "BRRRRRREEEE" sound of the engine keeping a constant RPM.
All the power goes through electric engines
CloudyRanger@reddit
I feel like I could cross shop it with my Mazda 3 but that’s definitely far from sporty
drewm11@reddit
I’m not sure if the average Mazda 3 driver could deal with the significantly lower practicability that would come with this. I certainly couldn’t
Clip_Clippington@reddit
The liftback on the rear papers over some of the issues. My brother's Celica is close enough in terms of cargo utility with my Mazda 3 hatch because of the liftback.
If you're a childless adult, it's definitely a compelling option.
OneThousandDullards@reddit
To some people, “sporty” means two doors and nothing else. The things that actually make a car sporty (taut suspension, cool wheels/big tires, more power) are demerits for people if it means worse fuel economy, harsher ride, and more expensive consumables.
coffeebribesaccepted@reddit
Most people like to have some balance in their daily driver. There's plenty of room between soft econobox ride and harsh sports car ride, and hybrids usually have the instant torque that makes the engine feel a bit sportier around town that it would feel at higher speeds.
DocPhilMcGraw@reddit
You forgot the main drawback for the GR86: fuel economy.
20 city/27 highway and it requires premium fuel.
carmeiser@reddit
If the top trim level is actually around 38k, a gr Corolla or WRX is only $2k more. Both more practical and likely faster than whatever model it ends up being. If a type r comes in, I'd bet it would be at least as much as the civic type r too.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
The prelude will get much better mpg and be more comfortable than either of those cars.
Vhozite@reddit (OP)
From the article:
Spaghetto23@reddit
Should make 200hp here if it matches the US Civic hybrid
Hollow-Ling@reddit
I am a little confused though on why the EU version of the Civic Hybrid uses a weaker electric motor and smaller battery than the EU versions 🤔
rugbyj@reddit
Europe doesn't expect as much power as the US. 180hp is more than most over here, especially at that weight. Presumably it being cheaper (smaller battery) they saw it as more viable at whatever pricepoint they were aiming for.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
it doesn’t, it’s a marketing gimmick. In reality they both have 181 hp as they have the exact same 1/4 mile time and speed traps
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
it doesn’t, it’s a marketing gimmick. In reality they both have 181 hp as they have the exact same 1/4 mile time and speed traps
N1NJ4W4RR10R_@reddit
That seems a bit grim. My car weighs around 200kg less with an extra 15kw or power.
I like the idea of a sporty hybrid, basically something similar to what Hyundai do but with an engine that has some go to it. But I wouldn't be interested in a coupe, and definitely not a coupe with a commuter powertrain.
bumphuckery@reddit
Can't forget the fake engine noise and 6k redline. What an absolute dud of a release, IMO. I'd honestly rather drive my boaty SUV because it at least makes no false claims via its looks or reputation.
kagemusha35@reddit
this might be a hot take, but i'm not sure who this car is marketed to. I feel like the people who want hybrid efficiency aren't looking for a 2 door coupe. And the people who want a 2 door coupe want a manual sporty car. Seems like it's trying to please everyone with one thing in the car, but there are so many drawbacks if you want a sporty car or an economy car
abattlescar@reddit
This is literally what the Prelude always was: an economy car that people overpraised for having two doors.
You could argue Honda's excellent manual is missing here, but I think that's so superficial.
kagemusha35@reddit
I said this in another comment. Having a normal automatic would have been much more preferable to this. It's mainly the transmission and how they're marketing the car. Is it a daily economy car? Is it a sporty car? Honda's basically going it's both, and idk if this car really is that. If anything, from what I can tell, it definitely leans way more to the daily/economy car than a sports car. With what it has out of the box, I don't think anyone would ever consider this car a sports car
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
the direct drive system is much better than a regular auto(what are you even reffering to? A torque-converter? a DSG? a CVT like Honda used to use on their petrol cars?).
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
I think this report is for European fans, as they've gotten more strict emission regulations. Current CTR and 86/BRZ are not available in Europe anymore.
However, this doesn't mean the death of hot hatch or affordable sports car, they just can't have MT and pure combustion. Honda knows their fans still there, so they plan to make electric CTR in future. And, you don't wonder why Toyota and Mazda planning to put battery power to their light sports car models. They don't want to sell their affordable performance cars only in America, they want to sell in worldwide.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
both the Type R and current GR86 twins are available in Europe mate.
SecretApe@reddit
I wasn’t against this car, I like the idea of something warm yet efficient. However sub 200 HP is probably a deal breaker here.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
Projected to be about 200-205, at least for the US market. I guess the Civic Hybrid powertrain is choked up a little more in the UK/Europe.
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
It’s the exact same powertrain, you just get advertised bigger numbers in the US for some reason.
The US and EU spec Civic both get the exact same 1/4 mile time at the same 92mph exit speed. They have the same power
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
Look at people that drive automatic BRZ's, Miatas, GR86's, and CVT WRX's...
Those are the people this car is for.
kagemusha35@reddit
I wouldn't even say this fits the crowd for the automatic BRZ, Miata, GR86. This car doesn't have enough power or engagement to compete with those. Even with the automatic versions of those cars, the power to weight still feels thrilling and the chassis/suspension makes it thrilling to drive. This car probably has the same engagement feeling as my civic hybrid, which isn't what sports car people are looking for.
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
It is probably going to have 200-205 horsepower.
Which certainly puts it around the same horsepower level as the last gen BRZ/GR86.
The people buying automatic sporty cars like these don't care about the power, or the engagement, they just want it to look cool and be comfortable.
And that is what this is. For those enthusiasts that do want a true sports car driving experience, you can still go out and buy a manual GR86, BRZ, or Miata that are all absolutely amazing cars in every way.
kagemusha35@reddit
the article above puts it at 181bhp. I wouldn't say that people buying automatic sports cars don't care about the power. I'd actually venture these people want more power than manual cars. Manual cars have extreme engagement and fun with shifting the car. Automatic cars have fun and engagement with pushing the go fast pedal and speeding past other cars. For a daily car, automatic is way easier to drive, and having more power just helps with that engagement.
hi_im_bored13@reddit
its supposed to take the powertrain of the us-spec touring hybrid, which is 200hp, I'm not sure where they are getting 180hp from
alphatauri555@reddit
With a hybrid there are multiple figures. The electric motor puts out up to 181hp. If you're driving electric-only, that's the max output. The gas engine is capable of 141hp. But the gas engine's max never occurs with the electric motor's max. Honda calculates the car's maximum peak horsepower to be 200hp. This would be when it's running in hybrid mode, both electric motor and gas engine running together at full throttle at 5-6000rpm.
hi_im_bored13@reddit
The output of the gas motor is irrelevant, its not connected to the drive wheels in any form, its a series hybrid. What you are saying is true for parallel hybrids (e.g. bmw 48v) and series-parallel (e.g. toyota eCVT)
alphatauri555@reddit
It is connected to the drive wheels in this car (and Honda's other hybrids as well).
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
Only at certain speeds. But they can never both be connected to the drive wheels. It’s either/or the electric or the thermic engine powering the wheels. Maximum output is 181 bhp produced by the electric motor
Code_XCIV@reddit
The Civic Hybrid currently sold in the UK is rated at 181hp.
hi_im_bored13@reddit
Thats the previous gen system, No idea if they will bring over the refreshed system to the civic in the uk, but it should be in the prelude
Oh_ffs_seriously@reddit
What do you mean by "previous gen system"? Both 10th and 11th gen EUDM Civics always had 180 hp despite different drivetrains (1.5T and hybrid, respectively).
hi_im_bored13@reddit
the gen 3 system the european e:hev civics launched with have less powerful motors in-line, the gen 4 system was introduced with the accord with the more powerful motors parallel, they took the more powerful motor and put it in the refreshed US civic, but didn't do it in europe
the prelude is supposed to get the same power and drivetrain as the current usdm civic
Slow-Raisin-939@reddit
They do not actually, it’s a marketing gimmick and I’m not exactly sure how the US allows it(or Honda just underrate their cars in EU).
You can see it easily in the speed traps. The US Civic and the EU Civic both get the same 1/4 mile time @ 92 mph, meaning that for all intents and purposes, they have the same power/weight ratio.
The hybrid in the US Civic is the exact same as in the EU model.
Code_XCIV@reddit
The 11th-gen Civic arrived in the UK roughly a year after launching in the US, so we are likely to receive the updated system with 200bhp in the Civic and Prelude next year.
XSC@reddit
That’s slower than my coupe si. Wtf are they doing
TheDistantEnd@reddit
Also likely to be sub-3000lb like the last gen Civic Coupes as well. It's going to feel plenty quick to the casual fan.
Dirty_Dragons@reddit
I have an auto GR86 and I'm somewhat interested in the Prelude. Though I'm disappointed that it has less power than my car, and it's FWD only.
I like how the Prelude looks and getting triple the MPG would be nice.
I just don't think the driving experience would compare.
mrgtiguy@reddit
Preludes were always fwd.
Dirty_Dragons@reddit
And the Mustang was always a two door sports car.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
Think that 25hp difference is really gonna be that noticeable, day to day, particularly given the Prelude will make significantly more torque, significantly earlier in the power curve? All while tripling your MPG and taking 87 octane.
I'm sure it's going to be fun enough for most people driving on the street. For the track day and autocross girlies? Maybe hit or miss.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
How often do you turn TCT off?
You’d probably be surprised at the driving experience as it’s sharing its front axle with the CTR. That front setup is no joke. I get outgunned everywhere by CTRs with good drivers at HPR and Laguna.
Dirty_Dragons@reddit
I only turn TCT off, while on the track, which is really just a couple times a year.
I'd have to give it a test drive to see how it compares. I haven't driven FWD in almost ten years.
As for getting outgunned by CTS with good drivers, I'd be outgunned by a good driver in an Altima.
p_rex@reddit
What does LSD power delivery feel like in a FWD car? I have a decent sense for FWD dynamics, having had an Integra and a Fiesta ST, but both of those had open diffs. The Teg didn’t have enough power for it to matter. But the FiST, fun as it was, struggled to get power down when you really got frisky.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
It definitely kills peg leg burnouts on corner exit.
thetrappster@reddit
It's not like any of those are particularly powerful, and they don't get very good mileage.
kagemusha35@reddit
Those cars aren't about the power. Because they're so light, they are close to being literal go karts on the road. The out of the box suspension is also quite fantastic for a compliant ride, but also tight enough so you can break the rear loose easily. If you test drive them, I think you'd come to the same conclusion. It's a miracle those cars exist in today's market.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
The Civic Coupe weighed about the same as a GR86. I would reckon the Prelude, even with the battery pack, will be sub-3k given advances in assembly/adhesives and the lack of a real transmission.
thetrappster@reddit
I've driven several. Yes they're fun, but they're still slow.
kagemusha35@reddit
fair, i think a lot of people will think they're slow compared to other cars on the market. I own a couple V8s so I share the same opinion. But I've never had more fun canyon carving than when I drove my cousin's miata
TheDistantEnd@reddit
It's going to make similar or more torque off the line to all of those cars, while weighing 3k or less. The main difference is it'll be FWD over RWD versus those other auto-sporties.
sunburstbox@reddit
i think you made OPs point, it’s not really marketed towards people like us who notice and care about those things. there’s a group of people who aren’t that into cars or even that much about it, but just want something that seems sportier than a civic.
TP_Crisis_2020@reddit
The venn diagram of normies that want hybrid econoboxes and people who want sporty 2 door coupes has almost no overlap.
It's the same venn diagram as the electric Charger. There are probably 3 people who this new prelude is perfect for.
kagemusha35@reddit
I just don’t get the comparison to the automatic 86/Miata/BRZ crowd. Don’t think those people would be into this car at all. Those are sports cars that could compete on the track. I’d never take this prelude to the track
munche@reddit
As an owner of a car that is targeted directly at the community that does track days, my anecdata of the EN community shows like a single digit percentage of owners actually take them to the track.
Most of the owners are just someone who wants a car and they want the cool looking/fast one.
A shocking amount of people buying sporty cars live in flat places with straight roads and do nothing but highway driving with them
Nagare@reddit
Cool color, spoiler and other sporty accents like wheels, brakes, and a red line do a lot to help sell the appeal. Then you've got better sounds and bam you're set to attract more than just track rats.
strongmanass@reddit
Most cars don't ever see the track. Track drivers are the minority of buyers for nearly every model.
snail_forest1@reddit
but the people that buy a car because they think it's sporty are insufferable. anyone with civic with the sport trim badge on it never says "oh i drive a civic", they say "I drive a civic sport". They really think they're driving a sports car instead of a base trim with piano black mirror caps. Prelude will be the same, Jennys and jasons claiming and thinking they drive a sports car when it's a 2 door civic hybrid.
strongmanass@reddit
That's a personal issue. Honda doesn't care about that. Honda only cares if enough of them want to buy the car.
Val_Allah@reddit
Funny, I have the exact opposite view, people that buy a car because they are sporty are insufferable to me.
The numbers people, the brand name people, the "bros." I never not hear someone buy a sports car and brag about it in every spec sheet metric possible.
snail_forest1@reddit
also true, the real winners are the ones with sporty cars that're bought because they look cute
Ran4@reddit
Yeah but those cars are all RWD, which is quite different from FWD.
ggtsu_00@reddit
Imagine if there was a BRZ/86/WRX/CTR, but with hybrid fuel economy and electrical assisted acceleration.
mustangfan12@reddit
Those cars all are more sporty than the new Prelude. And this car is rumored to be in the $35k price range. At that price you can just buy an Ecoboost Mustang if you want backseats and decent fuel economy, but still is sporty. If you absolutely need a manual then you got the GT86 and Miata. Or if your willing to go 4 door then there's the Elentra N
coolestredditdad@reddit
The Mustang is a fucking boat though.
notthefuckingducks@reddit
It is a fucking boat, but it probably checks all the boxes of anyone who might be in the market for a prelude. Looks cool, is comfortable, and is decently fast.
Seems like the prelude could just be a more fuel efficient ecoboost mustang.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
There's also the constant ribbing you get for driving the four-banger Mustang over the 5-liter. I would probably enjoy driving either powertrain, but the Ecoboost is always going to have a stigma and get negatively compared by normies and enthusiasts alike.
Ecks83@reddit
And is a Ford. A lot of people, even in enthusiast communities, will prefer the Honda badge.
notthefuckingducks@reddit
Ah, true. Although the power of the Mustang’s brand shouldn’t be underestimated.
Back when I was in the market for a new car, I showed 2 good friends of mine 2 pictures. One was an Elantra N, and one was a Mustang Ecoboost.
My friends, who are not car enthusiasts, immediately took a liking to the Mustang, simply because “ooo it’s a mustang and it’s yellow.” Even though the Elantra N was a much better put together enthusiast car, the average person will prefer established names like the Mustang.
I ended up buying a beautiful light blue Elantra N.
Ecks83@reddit
That is also true and Ford knows it. That's why the mustang is covered in horses and not blue ovals.
mustangfan12@reddit
Surprisingly even though the JDM cars are popular, the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger outsold all of them by huge margins in the 2010s. Even the final years of the Challenger outsold JDM sports cars by a lot. Heck even the Corvette will outsell cheap JDM sports cars
coolestredditdad@reddit
If people are looking for a Prelude (small car, small engine, FWD) they probably aren't shopping a Mustang, is my point.
It's like saying a Ford Maverick buyer should be looking at a Dodge Ram 2500 because there's more truck, engine, space, bed, for the money.
thetrappster@reddit
And it's a fucking Ford
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
The Civic Hybrid is rated at 49 MPG combined, the prelude will likely get similar MPG.
The ecoboost mustang is rated at 25 MPG combined.
That is literally almost 2x the MPG, and its FWD so its easier to control/better in the snow, and its most likely going to be significantly cheaper fully optioned out.
mustangfan12@reddit
True it gets the best MPG for a sports coupe. But at the same time, why would you buy this car over a Civic Hybrid? There isn't enough to differentiate the two. The Accord coupe back in the day had the same problem.
Economy sport coupes usually had things like more power, better handling, better exhaust or some kind of sport upgrade over the sedan variant in the 90s/2000s.
Ran4@reddit
That mustang is way more expensive in most places due to the emissions taxes.
KSoMA@reddit
I don't know if that's a strong enough market to make an entire car with a custom wheelbase and design language for. Miata, BRZ, and WRX sales are around 20% auto iirc, and 86 is about 50% (likely due to dealers just taking whatever Toyota gives them). That's maybe 7-8k cars a year that Honda can steal a slice from, which why would they? I can see this maybe competing with auto 86s because other than those I guess your only daily-able coupe options under $40k are ecoboost Mustangs, which are a lot bigger and shoutier.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
It's a tech demonstrator and date night kinda car. Just like it always was.
FrendlyAsshole@reddit
INCORRECT. I have an auto FR-S and I'm not interested in the Prelude at all. It looks weird and won't be anywhere near as fun as the 86 chassis.
LLMprophet@reddit
The article even points out it's not a GR86 competitor.
LLMprophet@reddit
The article specifically says it's not a GR86 competitor.
edinburghiloveyou44@reddit
CVT WRX is so weird to read. Makes me gag.
PUNISHY-THE-CLOWN@reddit
Which of those cars is FWD though? I like the prelude but really see it as a Civic coupe, not an actual sports car
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
Well yes, thats my point lol...
It isnt a sports car, its for people that want a car that looks sporty, but doesnt have the sacrifices of a true sports car.
GodsFavoriteDegen@reddit
"But it's not a sports car."
Hour-Economy9373@reddit
It's marketed to me it seems.
I currently drive a 2018 Civic EX-TL with the CVT. I may not even stand a chance against a V6, but I don't do straight lines when I want to have fun.
Having driven the hell out of this car, I've learned the exact points of where to stay in the power band and it makes it a pretty fun ride.
So having an upgraded suspension, brakes, paddle shifters, and it's a hybrid for normal everyday driving, this is kinda of a no brainer upgrade for someone like me, especially at the 30-44k range.
If I want a manual to do manual car things, I'll get a Miata and call it a day.
FucchioPussigetti@reddit
I don’t think this is a hot take at all, I was having this exact conversation with someone the other day and the only answer they could give me is “well we should be celebrating the fact that it’s not a crossover”. While that’s true, I guess, it’s another product that shows that Honda just can’t get out of their own way when it comes to actually bringing a competitive, sporting vehicle to market. Knowing what the Si costs I can’t imagine anyone looking at this as anything other than three compromises in a trenchcoat and being happy with the performance or dynamics. Disappointing because I think this could have been a great product if they weren’t so scared of doing something (anything!) interesting with a drivetrain but it’s just a warmed-over Civic coupe.
tsaidollasign@reddit
This checks pretty much all of my boxes for a daily. I want a compact car with good fuel economy that can be a little bit of fun on my commute to and from work.
kagemusha35@reddit
Fair, I just feel like a civic hybrid also checks all those boxes. Even the non hybrid civic checks all those boxes while also being more dailyable/usable
Ran4@reddit
True, but this will weigh less, look cooler and probably be slightly stiffer.
Old_Ad_881@reddit
If you want a fun, fuel efficient daily the Si seems like a better buy. I also weighs 150kg less than this new prelude.
Only thing is honda's hybrid system is definitely going to be more reliable long-term than the over boosted 1.5 economy engine in the Si.
WendysChiliAndPepsi@reddit
This has the Type Rs front suspension, shift logic from the NSX, and potentially lighter. I imagine the Prelude will handle better aside from the manual.
Old_Ad_881@reddit
The front suspension is cool, but its not lighter, they say \~1500kg which would make is around 150kg heavier than the current Si, but almost the same weight as the current ctr.
I assume it also has the helical lsd.
Intro24@reddit
Civic Hybrid looks less cool and the name sounds less cool. I think any buyer looking for a "fun" car isn't interested in something with "Civic" in the name. It's a boring name and generally considered a boring and common car by the general public. Yes, there's Type R but I think people considering Prelude will think the Civic is boring.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
It's just got too many dang doors!
More seriously, the coupe has a larger driver's compartment/space, and the opening is larger and easier to get in and out of. For somebody driving alone most of the time, I find it a more enjoyable space to be in compared to some of the four-doors I occasionally drive with/for my family.
tsaidollasign@reddit
Yup! The hatchback civic hybrid is also on my short list! But I’m also in the stage of my life where I can still have a coupe as my only car so I decided to wait a bit for the prelude.
Negative_Innovation@reddit
I am a young adult that grew up watching Fast and Furious and playing Need for Speed but now works a Monday to Friday corporate office job with a commute. This car is perfect for the UK company car scheme to reduce income tax liability.
BWFTW@reddit
Disagree, look at the CLE, old c / e / s class coupe's, the bmw 4 series coupes, etc. There is definitely a market for a sport commuter car in the higher end market. So i think gambling that there is a market for that lower down the price bracket makes sense. Also this is a way replacing the civic and accord coupes that honda used to make. So i'm sure they think there is a market niche for a sport commuter car, and i think they are right. Question is how big that niche is.
RoyShavRick@reddit
Nah I disagree. No one was buying Chevy Cobalts and Honda Civic coupes back in the day cuz they could keep up with Mustangs. They just want an economy car that looks swoopy and cool.
H1Supreme@reddit
This car is gonna be $40k though. Not very economy.
boomerbill69@reddit
Isn't that group pretty much exclusively buying crossovers at this point?
RoyShavRick@reddit
Crossovers are a totally different buying group than coupes. For lots of people they don't want something that big. They just want a personal car that's good on gas and easy to daily. Hence, coupes work.
boomerbill69@reddit
Agreed, but the Cobalt and Civic coupe buyers of the early 00s seemed to mostly be a certain demographic that has moved away from the coupe as a whole. Think under 30, mostly women, into "sporty" things. This demographic goes crazy for small crossovers.
nsfdrag@reddit
I bought a manual 2010 cobalt coupe back then and would love one of these today, it looks good and is efficient, that's all I need right now.
RoyShavRick@reddit
Well, I think Honda is trying to bring it back with this car. I think there's enough people out there who are into this sort of things. Specifically younger kids. I have a cousin who absolutely loves cars that look cool and stuff but doesn't really care about them being fast or having any crazy enthusiast credentials. Just have cool colors, and look swoopy.
boomerbill69@reddit
Well I hope you’re right. I think it’s a good enough of an idea, and it looks cool. I for one if was just going to have to settle on no manual and no inspiring engine would have a hard time not just going full practical at that point.
RoyShavRick@reddit
Yeah it's very niche for sure, not too sure if it will be a success tbh. Then again, the Honda name has a lot of attraction so people won't really care about the actual car too much.
TP_Crisis_2020@reddit
Not sure where you've been, but coupes have been dying off and are almost at the point of complete extinction. The A5 is gone, I think the only coupes left on the market now are BMW, Mercedes, and the new Charger.
uberdosage@reddit
Big difference in that back then Honda was still making really nice engines with a lot of character that had amazing intake sounds. Now even the engine in the CTR is boring.
Terryknowsbest@reddit
Don't forget that those cars were easy to work on, had a huge aftermarket market from the get go, have a cheap base price, and came in a manual.
This car is neither of those four, and I'm not sure it plays in the same ballpark.
RoyShavRick@reddit
Yeah but most of them I see are fairly unmodded. And tbh, in the modern day, it's not as big as it used to be. For most people, this car is enough, as an efficient daily alternative if they don't need the space of a civic.
It's not anything groundbreaking, but neither is it something bad. But I do wish they'd take more risks with it.
H1Supreme@reddit
Not a hot take, there is no market for this car. It sucks as a daily because it's a coupe, and it sucks as a sports car because it's a hybrid with 181hp.
Evidenced by this thread, there are people that want a car that "looks" sporty, but will get outpaced by an Impreza. Can't quite wrap my head around that but, I'll be curious to see how well it sells. Especially at what I'm assuming is $40k.
Ftpini@reddit
Cohost Mustang is automatic only and the GT is down to something like 25% sold with a manual.
Scrimps@reddit
Outside of Enthusiast driving, true manuals are slower and most people are not driving in a way that can take advantage of having a manual.
Last gen Accord 2.0T's smoke Mustang Ecoboosts off the line, this is only made worse with a manual gearbox.
Ftpini@reddit
Ecoboost isn’t sold with a manual any more. Further I bought it to cruise. If I had wanted speed then I’d have kept my model 3 performance.
strangr_legnd_martyr@reddit
*raises hand*
It's me. I'm the target demo.
I'm in my mid-30s. I commute 50ish miles round trip to work, mostly on highways. I need a backseat on occasion for kids, but mostly they ride in the other car (CX-5). I have a manual fun car for manual fun car things and my wife has no interest in learning stick shift, so both dailies are auto.
I would probably cross shop this with a Prius or Corolla hybrid. I think it looks better than either of those. The next car I buy would be one that I hold onto for awhile, with the intent of making it available to my oldest when he's ready to drive. I would rather it be safe, reliable, and not-too-hot. It has to be easier to park than my S60 Inscription (long wheelbase makes that car turn like a yacht).
Ran4@reddit
How did you wife learn to drive? With an automatic? Huh
strangr_legnd_martyr@reddit
I don't understand the question. Manuals are quite uncommon in the US, and everyone I know my age learned to drive with an auto.
I learned how to drive a manual because I wanted to, not out of necessity.
Blazr5402@reddit
Yeah, I fall into a similar(ish) boat. Looking for something relatively small, high gas mileage, looks kinda cool that I can drive to work everyday. I'm a single guy, I have a second person in my car maybe once a month, and I have people in the backseats maybe a handful of times in a year.
Not really actively looking to buy a car right now, but if I was, the other cars I'd be thinking about are a Prius, Civic Hybrid, or a Lexus UX
strangr_legnd_martyr@reddit
Those are also on my short list, so it seems like, yeah, we’re the target demo.
abattlescar@reddit
I've said it before and I think you'll agree. This is what the prelude always was: a fun, but not incredible 2 door economy car.
TurboFucked@reddit
The Prelude was never an economy car. A fifth gen Prelude started at $24,000 in 1998, that's around $42k in today's money. In 1998, was a bit more than a base Mustang GT. A Prelude SH was Cobra money.
You could buy an actual economy car in 1998 for about half the price. The Honda Civic started in the $11,000 range.
And in the 80s, the Prelude was compared to Porsches by reviewers. I've long ago lost my vintage R&T and MT mags, but here's a scan of an old review I was able to dig up: https://www.curbsideclassic.com/vintage-reviews/1980s-vintage-reviews/asian-brands-1980s-vintage-reviews/vintage-road-track-review-1983-honda-prelude-simply-terrific/
And on pricing, that 1983 Prelude was $9700 bucks starting, which is about $32k today. Which again, was about what you'd spend on a V8 Mustang of the era.
abattlescar@reddit
I don't think an economy car necessarily has to be cheap. It's a category that describes the gas mileage more than anything, for example the Honda Insight and the 1st Gen Toyota Prius were also comparable to the V8 Mustang of their respective years. Maybe you could argue that the Prelude is upmarket enough to be a "luxury" coupe, but I don't think it can hang with that title either comparing it to maybe a BMW 3 series.
My point is that it was always in a weird place, it's a coupe designed to be as friendly as possible for the average commuter, but with some sporty bits, high tech, and some luxuries.
The reputation that it earned as some sports car masterpiece after it was discontinued through the 2000s and up to today is misguided, fueled by the notably cool Si and hugely modified aftermarket cars. That's what I'm arguing against--not that it wasn't a best in-class FWD coupe, but that it wasn't hanging out with the Supra and the GTR.
And this new one seems to capture all of the essence of the old one.
Jon3141592653589@reddit
This is totally for middle-aged commuters who might've bought a coupe Civic or Accord or CR-Z while they were available and will appreciate handling and efficiency over power (but based on the Civic Hybrid, it will be faster than a Prius). I have a 2019 Insight for normal work commuting and love it, but could appreciate proper suspension and brakes. Will totally consider this as a replacement, unless Toyota has some curious Celica option pending.
six_six@reddit
Get the Prius
November87@reddit
In no universe would I take this over the new prius. The prius hilariously looks more aggressive, has more room, and is probably faster lol
Available_Win5204@reddit
Model 3 all day
TpOnReddit@reddit
I recall the civic coupe's being really popular and economical. I actually had the civic sedan in 2012 and ended wishing I got the coupe. The coupe looked cooler and handled sportier and was enough space even after college. I even ended up getting a coupe after the civic.
I'm sure the prelude will be pricier though.
PNF2187@reddit
The coupes used to be somewhat popular (the sedan still vastly outnumbered the coupe though), but their share dwindled considerably throughout the 10th gen and they killed it off a year before the 11th gen even went to market.
armchairracer@reddit
Sounds like the CRZ all over again.
snail_forest1@reddit
yep, since finding out its a hybrid i said it would suffer the same fate as the cr-z. difference here that helps the prelude is back seats and automatics being more common place in the enthusiast community. still, it will sell low numbers for 4-5 years then be killed off. a type-r variant can save it some but it has to be badass
DaOne_44@reddit
Im holding out hopes that Acura will get their hands on the platform to make an Integra coupe and stick the K20C from the type R in there
stonklord420@reddit
Idk why they didn't just make a shorter civic type r and slap this body on it. They have one of, if not the best FWD manual drivers car on the market, why not put it in a gorgeous coupe?
ThePorkTree@reddit
how many people are there that would be convinced to buy it over a CTR?
thecanadiandriver101@reddit
Not me. I ain't buying an impractical coupe. I would've got a Golf R in that case. If I want a coupe I'll go GR86 or Supra.
Sadukar09@reddit
ITR's original 4 door was incredibly rare as it was only limited to Japan.
If the ITR was released only in coupe, or coupe/sedan option, I bet the coupe would outsell the sedan for once.
https://www.whichcar.com.au/features/honda-integra-type-r-db8-4-door-integra
DaOne_44@reddit
You are confusing the 1990’s automotive market with the 2020’d automotive market
The mass market no longer want coupes as they once did.
RandomGenName1234@reddit
Coupes are hardly even sold though so it's hard to know what people actually want.
Can't buy something that doesn't exist.
DaOne_44@reddit
Terrible argument, basically disregards the fact that the marketing industry exists solely to promote predict market trends based on PAST experiences
Sadukar09@reddit
If you're going to play that game, thank Honda for not turning the CTR or ITR into some crossover.
Given that they're hatchback/liftback sedan, they're selling well enough.
People are always going to be attracted to halo cars with history.
DaOne_44@reddit
People still buy Honda sedans that’s the difference. Nobody wants a Ford focus, everyone wants a Honda civic
inbeforethelube@reddit
I would buy it to go with my FL5. My FL5 is already my second car and because of what it is, it's becoming increasingly rare for me to drive it. If I could pick up a Prelude Type-S with a slightly detuned Type-R engine and suspension I would in a heartbeat.
TurkeyPhat@reddit
a lot i imagine
enough for it to be a viable product? who knows
Rillist@reddit
This car shouldve been the integra the whole time.
DaOne_44@reddit
I disagree personally. I actually really love the current gen integra and I feel like it would’ve been DOA if it started life as a coupe
Rillist@reddit
I'm going to disagree with you there respectfully. A lot of us ageing millennials remember the Integra being coupe (although they were available as sedans first) and especially some of the hotter versions like the GSR or the type R.
Acura needs a win, badly, and the current 4 door Integra really isnt moving. Honestly I think Ive seen 3 in my town, and 1 of those was the TypeS. Introducing the integra hybrid as both a coupe and sedan wouldve made swallowing the price increase over the civic a little easier and having a new sporty coupe wouldve got more people in showroom doors and also give Honda an almost risk free evaluation period for a new coupe before releasing it as a prelude.
I'm a previous prelude owner, and fondly remember the 2.2 vtech changeover, the great handling and how good the gearbox was. Releasing this as a hybrid only automatic is dooming this car to be the crz 2.0, but wouldve made sense as an Acura as they're about the luxury and premium over their honda cousins for a cheaper alternative to the lexus RC350 or the entry level Q50.
The new prelude, if my math is right, will be the slowest, least sporting, most expensive car in its category and it will be auto only. Why on gods green earth would someone buy this over a GRZ86? Or a Miata, and for probably less money they could get into an EB mustang which will blow the doors off anything except a V8, and although the EB is now auto only as well, at least its got a tremendous amout of power and rear wheel drive. People shopping for a GTI won't even look at a car like this.
I do hope the prelude sells enough to warrant a performance version, or maybe theyre saving that for acura, but as it stands the new lude is gunna flop after 3 years when people realize its just a hybrid civic 2 door for more money than an Si. At least if it was wearing an acura badge, they could've leaned into the 'efficient grand touring personal luxury' and not Hondas own words of 'sports car'.
DaOne_44@reddit
The integra is selling like hot cakes around me. I test drove 2 (one type s the other an a-spec) very recently and they were both phenomenal
Rillist@reddit
They start at 43CAD, add options and you're 48-50. You can get into a high spec civic for 36, or a mazda3 turbo with awd which simply blows the doors off the integra to the point its almost irrelevant, considering the price. I've seen a ton of the 3 turbos and non turbo awd 3s probably for that exact reason. We get snow and dismal winters and having an open diff auto 4banger for mid 40s when you can get awd hatch for cheaper ....
If the integra wouldve come a coupe first up here, it wouldve had that little sprinkle of 'special' that could justify its price point. Up here, the market as it is with people needing a nice 'everything' car, the integra 5 door just doesnt make a lot of sense, especially when an RDX has 80 more horsepower and shawd is only 13k more.
DaOne_44@reddit
I can’t speak on the Canadian market. But in the US I see a-specs everywhere
Intel_Oil@reddit
I'd just be happy if they'd let the K20C die.
Overheating, crappy sounding mess of an engine.
DaOne_44@reddit
Is it? Ive been running my dad’s RDX on 400 whp stock internals just fbo and CTR turbo for a few years now with no issues
Intel_Oil@reddit
Atleast on Track they're heatsurging like crazy and theres barely fixes that work. Most resort to cutting open half the Hood on top of thousands of cooling improvements
Alieges@reddit
A prelude sized CRZ with a CRZ style IMA hybrid with 30hp of electric on top of a 6MT/10A. Heck, make a “K22c” to throw in it and I bet it would actually sell decently.
Let Acura make a new 2 door ITR out of it, perhaps without the hybrid system, but with optional SH-AWD.
the_lamou@reddit
So... like basically every Prelude?
Winter_drivE1@reddit
There's ones of us I tell you!
Even among people who like the CR-Z who would presumably be the same people who would be interested in a hybrid Prelude, I think the general sentiment is that the transmission kind of kills it. Even people who have/want CR-Zs mostly want it with a manual transmission.
thegunnersdaughter@reddit
As a fellow 2016 CR-Z EX MT owner, I agree 100%. I have loved every Honda I’ve owned and would buy the Prelude in a heartbeat if it had a stick.
TheSkyline35@reddit
Fuel economy is necessary for emissions through, this car needs to be sold in EU market and therefore needs a "normal" mode that is pretty Eco.
But here the balance is really bad. What is the point of having a nice coupe with good suspension hardware, but low on power and no engine/gearbox thrill ? Who is it for, car enthusiast will look away, normal people will buy the Civic
Successful_Ad_9707@reddit
At least the CRZ had a manual and a optional supercharger
cat_prophecy@reddit
The supercharger was a joke. Extremely expensive and added a barely noticeable amount of power.
AltruisticMobile4606@reddit
You must not drive slow cars very frequently if you think jumping from 130hp to nearly 200hp would be “barely noticeably” lmao
cat_prophecy@reddit
It was like 130 to 175hp and it cost nearly $8000.
AltruisticMobile4606@reddit
Everywhere I’m looking it says about 197hp. But even if it was just 175hp that would be an absolutely noticeably difference, just one that isn’t worth the money
Successful_Ad_9707@reddit
187 is better than nothing lol. Not worth the cost, but it's still a slight bump.
snail_forest1@reddit
crz is probably also easier to kswap than this ...
Gwolf4@reddit
Leave the Crz alone as is, at that point just get a 8gen coupe.
thetimechaser@reddit
Factory K swap when
tazercow@reddit
Idk, the Prelude shares the Type R's front suspension so in theory it might actually be easier to K-swap than the current Si.
coolestredditdad@reddit
True, but a much more powerful, hybrid CRZ right now would be fucking awesome.
goofyskatelb@reddit
Going from 130 hp to 180 hp doesn’t provide that much excitement for me at least. 180 hp and well over 3000 lbs will probably be kinda slow
DocPhilMcGraw@reddit
In the Civic Hybrid, it’s enough to make it do 0-60 in 6.2 seconds. So I wouldn’t call that slow. If this shaves extra weight off from the Civic Hybrid, you could be looking at high 5 second range.
RandomGenName1234@reddit
Surprised nobody's said that's slow yet.
If you live somewhere it's not all straights that's actually pretty rapid.
goofyskatelb@reddit
The “around 1500 kg” is actually heavier than the civic hybrid (1475 kg)
DocPhilMcGraw@reddit
They don’t know for sure what the weight is, just a guesstimate.
It could be 1450 kg and still be “around 1500 kg”.
intern_steve@reddit
This is why we can't have nice things. If the stock car won't burn out on dry pavement, nobody is willing to buy it. All of the legendary hot hatches from the 80s and 90s were doing it with less power, less grip, and less acceleration than family cars today. You're panning a 40% bump.
TheSkyline35@reddit
People just want an exciting drive, not a fast car.
The CRX was slow, is simply was even in Si. But who cares, it was fun. Like all the GTi of the 80-90s, slow fun.
This Prelude is just weird. Kinda fast, but very eco boring drive train. Sure, the general consumer enjoy this drive train, but car enthusiast are out of this...
narwhal_breeder@reddit
They were also doing it with near perfect manual transmissions and 8000rpm+ engines that have made them a timelessly good time. EKs on modern tires tripod with the best of them at AutoX.
What do you feel the new Prelude is bringing to the table that still makes it desirable after it’s been made technologically obsolete?
intern_steve@reddit
The same sense of nostalgia that drives demand for obsolete cars today.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
Is there a lot of demand for automatic mildly sporty coupes with boring engines today?
I must have missed the big-dollar Ford Escort ZX2s.
intern_steve@reddit
The Probe is enjoying a comeback.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
The V6 MTs are a bundle of fun tbh - had a bunch of people in my highschool with them. MX3s with the 6MT KL-DEs are on the up and up too.
intern_steve@reddit
I think you're overselling RPM as the thing that makes cars fun in high school. My car was a MN12 Cougar with the asthmatic 4.6 and a four speed slushbox. I thought it was the greatest thing ever because if I turned the wheel all the way left and floored it, it would do a donut. It was also fun to drift in the snow. Nostalgia is the driving force, not the objective driving experience offered.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
You can have fun in any car - I just dont think that the entire reason why EK Civic Si's are trending towards 30K is because all of the people looking for one had one in high school.
goofyskatelb@reddit
Also adding over 600 lbs of weight. Lightness is what makes a car fun imo. Weight ruins everything.
Dragonasaur@reddit
Except that the CRZ also had a manual
armchairracer@reddit
It had the option, but manual CRZs are unicorns. It's a shame because I actually think a manual CRZ would be a sweet daily.
TheSkyline35@reddit
...for the US. In EU we only got the manual. Sold very poorly through
Roark420@reddit
I had one, it was an awesome daily! Supercharge or Kswap it and it'd be a blast.
Dragonasaur@reddit
Didn't Doug make a review of one and say it was a bit underwhelming for the people who wanted an updated CRX?
Roark420@reddit
Yes, but imo that's more due to the CRX being such an excellent car, rather than the CRZ being underwhelming.
TheSkyline35@reddit
The CRZ was slow, but at least it was a manual with a nice NA feel.
This one with fake gears, fake sound... I don't know really
autodc5@reddit
Its 100% like the CRZ. I've owned almost every variery of Honda ever made. 92 Civic hatch with a b16a, Civic type r LE, NSX, HRV, CRV, TSX, S2000 Type S, Integra GSR, and a del sol. I wouldn't even remotely consider buying this in the same way I laughed at the CRZ and how they butchered the "spiritual successor" on one of my bucket list cars (CRX SiR).
Do better Honda, the Type R and Type S (no not you TLX and MDX) brands can only take you so far.
ggtsu_00@reddit
I'm not sure why the CRZ gets so much hate. It was a good car for what it was intended to be. There's been nothing else like it.
armchairracer@reddit
My comment wasn't meant to be hating on the CRZ, if I could find a manual CRZ I think it would make a pretty solid daily, but it was a complete sales flop.
No_Study3788@reddit
Damn Honda 3rd times the charm… at least it’s pretty
Gd3spoon@reddit
Did Honda learn anything…
danny_ish@reddit
But the economy is better suited now to entry level sporty cars than when the crz launched. I have coworkers with relatively new miatas, brz’s, elantra N’s, Veloctor N’s, older bmw’s, and older mucle cars like 2015 Camaros and mustangs. All of these guys are interested in a sporty but good mpg car. The only manual is one bmw and one mustang.
Nomad624@reddit
This seems better than a cr-z. At least it seems quick.
hermitcraftfan135@reddit
Man I want a CRZ…
disgruntledempanada@reddit
Which is why I am thinking about getting one. God I love my CR-Z.
Mshaw1103@reddit
I for one love the CRZ and am looking at them as I rebuild my rx8….
GymLeaderMatt@reddit
Sooo it’ll be ripe for a Kswap when you find them on the used market??
XSC@reddit
Surely they will learn their lesson this time around!
The_DaHowie@reddit
Right?!
Honda, swing and another miss
Conscious_Candle2598@reddit
"We want a CRX"
"Here you go"
"uhhh....tthhh....aaannnnks..."
Its like Executives are just Redditors reading the headline only.
Electronic-Chain8396@reddit
I’d probably just buy a Civic hybrid and call it good. It’s faster than the Si model and gets great mileage.
kulzboy@reddit
Me who recently had to give up a Miata for my long commute and have been wanting a nice cruiser with good fuel economy and no more than 2 doors. Bonus point if it comes with a hatch.
MehFrosty@reddit
Marketed to me apparently, a nice looking 2door that gets good mpg. sign me up
Adventurous_Break985@reddit
Speak for yourself, I’ve been waiting for a car like this for years. A sporty hybrid coupe is awesome, it would be even better if it were an EV. I’ve had every body style of two door car over the years: fast back, coupe, roadster, hatchback. 3 manuals, one DSG. This Prelude is one of the most exciting new cars in years. It should be as quick as a Civic Si, handle as well as a Type-R and get the kind of mpg the original Insight did. That’s amazing. Plus another coupe of the market is a win for everyone in this age of crossover domination.
pdp10@reddit
The target market for a HEV with a proven planetary transmission is the government regulator.
Look, the format works extremely well in a lot of applications, but that doesn't mean it's a good choice for a two-door coupe.
DeviousMelons@reddit
Reminds of the Lexus RC hybirds.
Cheesybox@reddit
I guess I'm in the minority, cause I'm semi-seriously considering one.
My daily commute is 30 miles of all highway driving, so something kinda sporty but still comfortable with good mileage and looks this good is tempting.
Biggest thing though is that the Prius is right there, which also looks good and gets the same mileage supposedly, but can also carry people and stuff.
Joooooooosh@reddit
Quite a lot of people just want a sportier version of an everyday usable car.
e.g the VW Sirocco
There usually has been a market for regular practical cars, dressed up as a coupe.
DocPhilMcGraw@reddit
I would be in the market for it. It’s a better Prius in my opinion: less weight, more aerodynamic, presumably faster, and better handling.
I pretty much drive myself 95% of the time so this would be the perfect daily driver. I would reason to guess there are a lot of Prius owners that would agree as they probably use their Prius to drive just themselves or one other person the majority of the time.
Plus with it being a lift back there is some added usage to the cargo space too.
Hollow-Ling@reddit
This very much is the car for the person who doesn't need to haul people, but wants a bit of utility from the lift back and extra mpgs, that also wants something that handles well when they need it.
Clip_Clippington@reddit
The problem is that I don't think there's that many of us in the market these days. It's a bit a compromise car, and I suspect realistically, it won't sell well, and the pricing is going to make it look like a poor choice compared to an 86...
Hollow-Ling@reddit
As much as I'm optimistic for the car, I do agree price will likely be a make or break for it. The GR86/BRZ are able to offset the low volume sales cause of the Subaru/Toyota partnership. So maybe Honda is planning to offset it due to the shared platform and parts, still I hope they offer incentives and low interest rates for it when it comes out cause we need more relatively affordable coupes in the world T^T.
Jigagug@reddit
It's replacing the civic and accord coupes, so whoever was already buying those I guess.
GG_Loner@reddit
What about ppl who want a coupe but have to share with their spouse who doesn't drive manual?
Arnas_Z@reddit
They get their own car.
six_six@reddit
Is the spouse a literal child who can’t learn new things?
Malbjey@reddit
This. People will always say 'YoUR SpOuSE NEedS 2 LeArN MaNUAl' but that shot ain't realistic.
It will especially suck in your on a long road trip, or have some kind of emergency, and your spouse can't drive the car because it's manual.
Ran4@reddit
I mean that's why almost everyone gets their driver's license with a manual...
Malbjey@reddit
Assuming this isn't sarcasm, this is not true in the US. Driving schools teach on automatic transmission cars. It's been like that for at least 30+ years. You can find manual car teaching but it's not the standard anymore
sultan_of_gin@reddit
There are some people who want a sporty looking car but don’t actually care about performance and such cars have been made before. But still i’m not sure how succesful this will be, as much as i hate it probably they would have done better with some kind of vaguely coupe-ish cuv or small suv.
Gryphon234@reddit
Hi, me.
I went through the "I want a manual" phase. Meh, I live in a city.
At the moment, I have a gas guzzling V6 that can pull (Love the engine/car btw)
This is a sporty looking 2 door that's good on gas. I don't need to go fast...I've been pulled over in a Base model civic for speeding and I'm not hitting the track.
Now, can I get it at a good price? Who knows...
mellofello808@reddit
I can think of a few nerdy middle aged guys who would love a vehicle with sporty looks, but a practical and economical drivetrain.
This thing will be the laughing stock of enthusiasts, but there are plenty of people who don't care what we think.
KeythKatz@reddit
I'm the target market. Cheap 2 door car with usable back seats and sufficient power (see my flair). The current market has zero cars in this segment, they're either econoboxes or full on expensive sports cars. This wasn't the case 20 years ago, when regular cars came with 2 door variants. It's nice to have a fun car that's still usable and doesn't break the bank.
lxs0713@reddit
I don't get the hate. The power train does 0-60 in 6 seconds in the Civic hybrid, this car will be smaller and lighter, with sportier suspension from the Type R, so I think it has all the bones to feel sporty enough for a daily.
The fact that you won't be paying as much for gas compared to other cars in the segment like the 86 makes it compelling in its own way too. Gas is expensive and it's gotta be a big reason why people don't buy sports car as much these days.
Plus some people just buy cars because they look cool. I think it looks pretty sleek, especially in a world where coupes are disappearing and all you see are endless crossovers.
I'm very heavily considering buying one, I just want to see more reviews first once people get to drive it.
kagemusha35@reddit
I'm not hating; i'm just surprised that Honda greenlit this because I'm not entirely sure if this is gonna be a massive seller as the market is incredibly niche. I'm sure it's gonna be reliable as the hybrid powertrain is quite reliable. Like others have said, I feel like this is gonna go the route of the CZRs, celicas of history
Clip_Clippington@reddit
As somebody with a Celica in their driveway, a new version would be very appealing to me, but I'm well aware that I'm a niche buyer. This Prelude is very tempting, but if it's priced like a GR 86, it's going to need to be very fun to drive to compete.
A-VR-Enthusiast@reddit
Idk, I feel like it has its niche, someone who wants a somewhat sporty feeling car thats reliable, somewhat practical, and great on gas, much like the old prelude, celica, eclipse, and tiburon in their base to mid tier trims. And honestly, Idk if the market will be there, but I hope they price this to be an amazing deal and people come around to the idea of the cheap casual coupe again.
Clip_Clippington@reddit
That's literally me.
It's basically the step between a Mazda 3 hatch and a GR 86. :-)
If it's priced like a GR 86 auto, it's going to have a tough time selling to me, especially if the 86 is more fun to drive.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
The childless Millennial wave is ready for econo-coupes to come back!
November87@reddit
Going to be around 35-40k
kagemusha35@reddit
the problem is mainly the transmission. If they had a manual or even a traditional automatic, I'd whole heartedly agree. But from what I can tell, it seems like a simulated auto/CVT situation. Those old cars had a manual option, and even the automatic transmission you could feel the gears shift and hear the engine. I'd rather have that than the fake engine noise
mini4x@reddit
The way I read this it's more of an EV with a gas range extender.
It says it will only couple the gas motor to the wheels at highway speeds; any other time it's doing its own thing to be more efficient about making electrons.
Ran4@reddit
The simulated mode is just a mode, by default it doesn't lose power randomly (like regular automatic gas cars do).
I never got why people like the idea that a car should occasionally lose power.
A-VR-Enthusiast@reddit
In all fairness, its not really an ev, more an ev with extra steps, so I'm sure it will feel a lot more responsive than a cvt, hell, if they do it right, I kinda hope that since the engine can still couple to the motor to provide a bit more power that they have a mode that basically turns the setup into a direct drive setup for both the engine and drive unit, hopefully giving it that sort of go park feeling like other full evs have, just with more audio feedback. Because if they can deliver on that, I am 100% getting the prelude as my first new car, that is if the price is right of course.
Winter_drivE1@reddit
I'm the CR-Z owner that's probably in that tiny niche of childless people who want a car that pretends to be sporty while actually being a commuter. The transmission kills any interest I have in the Prelude. If it had a manual I'd be all over it.
goofyskatelb@reddit
Same boat here
dumahim@reddit
I think it's more like the Chevy Volt setup with the drive being handled by the electric motor and the engine mainly provides the electric motor the energy, but can connect directly at highway speeds.
snail_forest1@reddit
niche doesn't sell cars unless it has the price and prestige to make up for it. a niche honda will just be phased out and never become desirable. cannot image a kswap being that easy, you can just kswap a fit.
Clip_Clippington@reddit
As somebody with some interest in this car, I'll raise my hand.
I'm admittedly the person that looks at GTIs, auto GR 86s, WRXes, and BMW 2 Series coupe, and the Prelude might be the compromise option for me. A liftgate rear for ease of loading into the trunk, excellent fuel economy, FWD is a bit less risky compared to RWD, Type R suspenbion components so the handling should be decent and potentially better than my current second gen Mazda 3 hatch, and the potential for lower insurance costs.
So practical coupe. With that said, this better be cheaper than the GR 86, otherwise, I may just take my chances with RWD. :-)
fiah84@reddit
I want this but as an EV
Drummer1324@reddit
My wife literally wants to buy a new hybrid coupe. I think this is the only option that doesn’t cost a fortune 😂
TurboFucked@reddit
This isn't a hot take at all. It's pretty much the universal take.
That being said, perhaps Honda sees an untapped market in the non-sporty coupe segment. The whole "coupe = sporty" idea is fairly modern, as near as the 00s, there were tons of coupes on the market that had no real sporty intentions (Solara) or were more luxury or style focused (Thunderbird, most Mercedes). Hell, I'd argue most of the coupes that we call "sport compacts" of the 90s weren't really sporty, they just happened to have a performance trim or two. Most people liked the way they looked.
I personally agree with you - I think this is a sales flop. But with everyone lamenting crossoverification of the industry, maybe we should be rooting for people to buy a Prelude instead of the latest Toyota crossover monstrosity? Perhaps non-sporty coupes are what we need to save the coupe market?
ggtsu_00@reddit
Me! This car is marketed to me! I've been searching for an affordable modern sporty car that's reminiscent of the coupe I used to drive in high school and college (1995 Toyota Paseo).
I specifically want a nice looking 2-door coupe or sporty compact hatchback. I'm no car enthusiast who hits the race track weekends. I am perfectly fine with an automatic transmission as I live in the city and looking for light weight daily driver that's not too weak but isn't too aggressive or loud, yet with good fuel economy because gas is too expensive where I live (>$5/gal).
I feel like too many cars are too focused on specific target demographics and niches and not a lot of options that has a good balance.
C-C-X-V-I@reddit
This "hot take" is repeated a dozen times on every post about this car lmao
ReaperThugX@reddit
I’d imagine there’s not a whole lot of overlap on that Venn diagram. I’m guessing it’s just a cost issue as developing a new drivetrain is expensive, so just use the Civic drivetrain and chassis and put a new 2 door body on it. It’s basically just a Civic coupe
Fingers crossed for an Si or Type R at some point
Buttholium@reddit
I know a number of people that want the look of a sports car but don't actually care about doing sports car things. Also, people forget the amount of non sports car coupes that you used to be able to buy up until about a decade ago.
TheDistantEnd@reddit
I remember having to drive some drunk friends home once, and my drunk friend's drunk girlfriend, upon seeing my car, said, "Oh wow, this car looks faassst!"
"I assure you, it definitely is not."
Dirty_Dragons@reddit
The first car I bought was a Mitsubishi Eclipse gen 3 and then after that I had a Scion tC.
Both are two door and sporty looking. The only thing I cared about back then was that the car looked good and was easy to drive.
BlackDS@reddit
In the 90s we had tons of "sport compact" coupes. Honda made coupe civics and accords with no pretense of sportiness. People used to just like coupes and be normal non-enthusiasts.
Growing up, my grandma stuffed me in the back seat of a bright green Chevy Beretta. Coupes were family cars.
Phosphorus444@reddit
People who would buy the Civic Si, but can also afford another car/don't have friends.
uberdosage@reddit
Civic Si for people who want an automatic
racks1700@reddit
As an Si owner, ain’t no way. We know better then to downgrade to a Honda auto
Jimbenas@reddit
As a civic si owner I wouldn’t buy this. No manual.
SerialExperimentLean@reddit
Guessing they're aiming for the sort of person who would have bought something like a base Audi TT
ikilledtupac@reddit
sporty moms maybe? Cat ladies?
Traditional_Curve222@reddit
Agreed. Pointless car
TheDistantEnd@reddit
As a Civic Coupe driver, it's for me. Little quicker, little sportier looking, little better on gas, and a lot more usable cargo space with the liftback. I'm on board.
Some people just want a cool looking car for that 90% of solo driving they do.
donnysaysvacuum@reddit
I would probably be interested in this 10 years ago, but I bought a Volt and I won't go back to buying gas all the time.
I feel like this scramble to produce hybrids is about 10-15 years late.
EloeOmoe@reddit
Or at least RWD
Life_Menu_4094@reddit
I like the idea of it and I think there's reasonable demand for a small, sporting hybrid that's a little stylish, but I struggle to see why you would choose this over a Civic hatch which is the more stylish or a Prius which is (in all likelihood) by far the more efficient.
I think it speaks to the demand for such a thing that all three sort of do the same thing.
PurpEL@reddit
Yep, and it's kinda ugly to boot, like it's not BAD but it does not stir one bit of emotion from me. The OG preludes where very pretty coupes.
dk00111@reddit
It would be the perfect car to pair with my Miata if it had functional rear seats, but that doesn’t seem to be the case unfortunately.
krizalid70559@reddit
This is the coldest take, I think most people feel the same way and came to the same conclusion. I agree also.
Conscious-Food-9828@reddit
By most people we mean people in this sub who are often times completely detached from every day buyers. This car may not break sales records, but i also don't expect it to be completely slept on.
woowoo293@reddit
Sometimes I wonder if people on this sub go out of their way to research generic consumer preferences so they can adopt the exact opposite position.
coffeebribesaccepted@reddit
"why would anyone buy this when they could buy insert completely different type of car??"
Conscious-Food-9828@reddit
"WhY woUld AnY oNe bUY a crOSsover?"
Yeah. I think you're right.
motorboat_mcgee@reddit
What do you mean enthusiasts don't want a heavy, hybrid, automatic with lackluster power?
elswede@reddit
I think it might actually be geared to Europe, because aren't a lot of the entry level sporty sedans/coupes being axed because of regulations
tofulo@reddit
Is the hot take comment satire? I feel like literally everyone says this
10footjesus@reddit
It's worth mentioning whenever the car comes up. It's segment is dead and buried.
kagemusha35@reddit
I hadn't seen a lot of info about it, and I treat rumors with a grain of salt. I think when I first heard it announced, I was hoping for them to stick the non-hybrid civic engine and a manual transmission into the car. So when I read this, it kind of surprised me
Oh_ffs_seriously@reddit
It was mistakenly understood as a full EV at first, so manual was never an option.
thetrappster@reddit
This is exactly what my wife wanted. Relatively young professional that commutes to the city and has no kids.
caller-number-four@reddit
I'd buy it.
If it had 4 wheel steering!
Dirty_Dragons@reddit
My car gets around 20 MPG. Why would I not want better MPG if they can keep weight down?
I'm very grateful that I don't have to commute for work. If I did I could not do it in my 86. The bad MPG plus needing premium would make it a huge pain.
TheMeleeMan@reddit
I was thinking about switching to the prelude but I just, don't think I can.
OneThousandDullards@reddit
This is a car built for people that really miss the Altima Coupe, Solara, Accord Coupe, and Civic Coupe. It was a shrinking market but it definitely still exists. Probably for older women or rich kids whose parents know better than to give them an actual performance car that want something cool and sporty.
Skitt64@reddit
It would still have the potential to be genuinely sporty, if Honda would stick an electric motor on the rear axle, but they didn’t and that baffles me.
Ran4@reddit
Hybrids are actually great for sporty cars. You get instant torque but low weight.
RiftHunter4@reddit
I'm the exact target audience for this car. I drove a Civic Sport and thought it was neat, but wanted something more fun. I spend most of my time commuting so I don't really want a manual. I don't want anything difficult to maintain or find parts for. I just want a fun, cheap, sensible car and I can't find a GR86. What do I get? A Prelude. Because a regular CVT Civic wasn't quite interesting enough.
Recoil42@reddit
Sometimes there isn't really 'meant' to be a market for cars like this, they're just engineering exercises or busywork projects to keep a line going which would otherwise be going to waste. (I'm not sure if that's the case with the Prelude, though.)
goofyskatelb@reddit
There’s a reason the CRZ failed. There’s a very small group of people who would be actual buyers. Not many people want a sporty coupe while also willing to sacrifice performance for efficiency.
Kryptus@reddit
I think they have the mindset that everyone wants hybrid efficiency these days.
Successful_Ad_9707@reddit
This is what I've been trying to tell people and I got people saying that there was a market for this and I didn't know what I was talking about. Who is gonna buy this thing??
The_DaHowie@reddit
It looks much worse than the Altima coupe that failed
acideater@reddit
Honda civic coupe crowd. person who wants a sporty looking and sporty driving car, while having a decent commuter. With proper tuning they can get "sporty" feedback regardless of what the numbers actually are.
Civic Si/Type R already cover the manual "traditional" crowd. You want a honda civic/hybrid but with 2 doors
disposablepresence@reddit
While I plan on driving my 2013 Civic to the ground, I would absolutely consider this Prelude if the Civic gets totaled. I don't have kids, I work from home, and my friends have their own cars. A normal econobox that looks cool would make me a happy lad.
Signal_Ball4634@reddit
No I think most people feel like it's an odd tweener. I'd love it as a somewhat sporty and fuel efficient DD but that's a pretty niche market esp. without a manual.
Rumson-Realtor@reddit
I will buy one for nostalgia
instantur@reddit
It’s a restyled civic hybrid
clutchthepearls@reddit
They've basically brought back the Civic coupe, made it available only in the hybrid trim, and gave it its own specific styling and a throwback name.
They're selling a car they already realized very few people will buy and are hoping a nostalgic name will suddenly make it a seller.
Then_Promise_8977@reddit
And they're putting the hybrid into a COUPE instead of the practical, 5-door Acura Integra. It makes no sense. Put it in both, at least
Fantastic_Cod_259@reddit
You can buy the Honda Civic hatchback if you want the hybrid,
KSoMA@reddit
It sounds really dumb when you put it that way but the Integra seems to be all over the road so I guess it's worked before (partially ignoring the Integra is far more practical than the ILX was as well).
LLMprophet@reddit
Worked for VW / Audi
CarAndTennisGuy@reddit
But the article says the wheelbase is shorter - I think the Civic coupe had the same wheelbase as the sedan?
browsk@reddit
As so corporate waste because they realized new ideas are too much effort lol
Ftpini@reddit
And it looks fabulous. I had a friend with a prelude back in the 90s. They were slow and awful then, I don’t know why anyone expected them to not be slow and awful today. It’s a pretty car, and really that’s all it needs to be. Hopefully it sells well enough to be continued long term.
donnysaysvacuum@reddit
I'm whelmed.
instantur@reddit
Welcome back CRZ
TheSkyline35@reddit
If it was a manual, sure, I would even consider it with seriousness
donnysaysvacuum@reddit
I think I liked the CRZ better.
zman0900@reddit
The Civic SWhy
bobovicus@reddit
That’s what the last gen insight was. They also gave it an accord instrument cluster and infotainment.
ZeroWashu@reddit
Front end reminds me of the current Prius
infinitetheory@reddit
cowards won't bring back the Del Sol
six_six@reddit
If they made the Del Sol again, people would be complaining that it was the S2000.
TP_Crisis_2020@reddit
Even if they did, it would just be some generic jellybean looking hybrid econobox like everything else.
Psyclown185@reddit
I had hoped for a fairly realistic 220 ish hp so on paper I’m a bit disappointed but I’m not writing it off yet because they could still eek out a barely sub 6 second 0-60.
I think this vehicle will largely sell off of looks and then beyond that I’m sure it will be a good vehicle but it’s just not quite what I was hoping for personally when looking at a potential future vehicle.
heyitsmeforsure@reddit
I think it looks great and I don’t mind a hybrid (the BMW I8 rocks) but when there’s not big power increase over the hybrid civic I can’t justify looking at it seriously, if I’m gonna lose in a drag race to a RAV4 I want to at least have 3 pedals.
Vhozite@reddit (OP)
That’s my whole thing. If you’re driving a hybrid you probably have practical desires for your car and in that case the civic hybrid is right there with (as of right now) the same power. This is supposed to be a GT car but to me those cars are supposed to be high power for effortless highway cruising. This car has 200 HP and no transmission this car is gonna be fighting for its life at 70mph.
I would like a hybrid for my next car but I’d about this car just yet. It just seems like a Civic hybrid with a worse form factor for no reason.
strungrat@reddit
Very interested in this car. My son is going to take my Miata and I will need something new. As a daily I want fwd or AWD. If not I would get a brz.
I have been trying to wait for an ev coupe but there really isn't any compact sporty evs.
I would like a little more power. Want a 5second 0-60 time but think this will do.
downbadmilflover@reddit
This car has no testicles
TheGuverment_@reddit
No nads.
Sydney-throwaway100@reddit
This will be a stretch.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
This car is for me! Yes, there are people who are this cars intended market.
I want a fun to drive economical car as a DD. I don’t need a lot of space, and I prefer coupes - I’ve been dailying a Miata for 5 years. I would also like to experience hybrid ownership, like the way this looks, and want to prioritize ride comfort in my next vehicle. This vehicle seems to tick all those boxes.
FucchioPussigetti@reddit
If you’re going to this from a Miata and expecting it to be “fun” you’re going to be sorely disappointed. The Civic chassis is fine (at best) but not nearly as sharp as everyone would have you believe.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
I don’t think I will be disappointed. I consider my base 2010 civic to be fun. I have no illusions about the limitations of the prelude - I’m not expecting it to replace the Miata as my weekend car, I’m expecting it to replace my civic daily driver.
Intel_Oil@reddit
Isnt that what the Supra is for?
If you want ride comfort, theres a Ton of A4s, A5s, 3 Series, C-classes etc to be had.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
All of those cars cost way more to maintain, and will be less reliable than a Honda.
Intel_Oil@reddit
My C43 had an avg. of 450€ / year of maintenance costs over 4 years. (For me 0, since Mercedes offers free Maintenance for the first 4 years)
There are 320 C-Classes with over 200k km for sale without needing repairs at this moment in Germany.
If you're worried about maintenance cost, you're not the buyer group for new cars anyway.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
I buy my cars to own them 20+ years. A Mercedes is going to cost an order of magnitude more to own over that duration compared to a Honda.
Intel_Oil@reddit
I took my previous C43 as an example, that even with AMG Tax the maintenance was not breaching 500€/year. So imagine a C200 being way cheaper even. (Or maintenance being 0 since, as i wrote, Mercedes offers free Maintenance).
Of course you can spend your lifetime with compromises, like imagining a Honda Civic Coupé will be a comfortable Daily.
nyanslider@reddit
Why do you speak only about the maintenance under warranty and not about the other things you need with a car. I guarantee you insurance on any Mercedes is more than this thing, and burning more expensive premium gas is a thing too. Judging by your flair, you probably don't think about that stuff, but normal people do.
Intel_Oil@reddit
Why are you so emotional?
I'm paying out of pocket maintenance for my R8 V10 since 7 years. Its 32% higher over the past 5 years, than what we pay for my wifes Mini Cooper JCW, including warranty.
nyanslider@reddit
There was no emotion in what I was saying. Once again you're talking only of maintenance when there's more to a car than that. Even when speaking maintenance, a hybrid Honda is going to require far less maintenance than a base Mercedes, let alone an AMG, and especially a V10 R8, even with 10x the miles put on it. I don't know exactly how insurance works in the EU, but I'd assume it works the same way it does here where more expensive cars are more expensive to insure and more powerful cars are more expensive as well. i don't need to speak on gas because obviously paying $3 a gallon for 50 miles is better than $3.70 a gallon for 28. Apparently Germany even has a annual tax based on your engine and emissions, so how much is that?
Intel_Oil@reddit
I pay 350 CHF / year Tax for the R8.
Total weight dictactes the tax, since thats whats causing the need for repairs on infrastructure, which tax money is used for
TheSkyline35@reddit
It's a EV with a generator, this isn't a "hybrid" drive train like we used to have before, with additional torque from the electric motor.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
I know that. That makes me want it more.
TheSkyline35@reddit
This man is living the modern world 🙏
F*** I am definitely stuck in the past for now
jawnlerdoe@reddit
I would like to experience new power trains, and I’m really interested by this solution honda has come up with. I’m also very interested in the fake shifting. If it feels real enough, I’m on board.
What_the_8@reddit
I don’t say this often but that car needs a rear wing/spoiler
gnisnaipoihte@reddit
First thing I was thinking of was the Tiburons and their spoiler
six_six@reddit
I was thinking the same thing. That back slope just looks…off.
TheLoveKraken@reddit
I can't decide if there's too much overhang past the rear lights, if the beltline's too high, or if the cabin's too far forward like most fwd coupes, but something about the proportions just isn't doing it for me.
What_the_8@reddit
Iioniq 6 vibes…
TheDistantEnd@reddit
I liked the little lip spoiler from the carbon fiber concept model. I'm sure they'll offer it or a similar version as an option.
Intro24@reddit
Anyone saying this is a GR86 competitor or why not just buy a GR86, consider this list:
Those are the things that the vast majority of car buyers will not compromise on. Prelude will be the sportiest thing on the market that checks all of those boxes and I think it will actually be a lot of fun to drive. The fake shifting thing seems kinda fun and Honda seems to be taking suspension and tuning fairly seriously despite the lack of horsepower. Buyers of Prelude won't be tuners, they're going to daily drive it like any other low-cost car except Prelude is cool and fun. Prelude is essentially the most fun that a no-compromise daily driver coupe can be. You lose 4 doors and ground clearance but of course that's going to be the case with a coupe. This car is for people who like the 911 or the GR86 but want something more practical. I think it will sell pretty well but it doesn't even really matter because the whole point of Prelude is to give Honda a platform to develop new technologies. Prelude doesn't even really have to make money to make sense.
Tall-Soy-Latte@reddit
this is gonna hit so hard when its rebadged into the Integra lmfao
R0B3RT0_C@reddit
I'll comment the same thing I've left in every single post I've found glazing the new Prelude: there's zero reason to buy one when the Civic Si exists.
As for the kind of people who's still interested in the small, sporty and affordable 2-door segment; they'll just end up buying a GR86/BRZ, an MX-5 or even one of the last Civic Si coupé models.
Seems to me that Honda didn't learn a single thing from the CR-Z experiment.
s0lace@reddit
TBF the Civic SI is manual only and a lot of Gen Z/Alpha CANNOT drive a stick.
Old_Ad_881@reddit
Im just confused why the went to the effort of designing this and are not dropping in the Civic Si and/or Type R drivetrain.
It would take minimal effort to do either of these things. (I guarantee some modder will do it). And would give us a proper Prelude sports coupe.
geeblok@reddit
Wild thought but does anyone think Acura might bring back the RSX type 2 with this and offer a non hybrid truly sporty model?
mini4x@reddit
This is an EV with a range extending gas engine, that makes electric engine noises?
Ancient_Persimmon@reddit
No, it's just a hybrid, the gasser is always running.
mini4x@reddit
It will run short distance on battery only, and the gas engine isn't always coupled to the wheels it mostly does its own thing to run the generator at peak performance, but at highway speeds will engage with the wheels.
Ancient_Persimmon@reddit
It'll go a km or two on electric power, so by "range extending" you mean 99.8% is extended by gas, then sure I guess.
In reality, it's just a potentially more efficient traditional hybrid.
Ran4@reddit
Yup, though tiny battery.
instant-music@reddit
The biggest shock of this review is that a regular civic is £35k(48k US). I thought the US civic hybrid being near $30k usd was bad enough
Dazzling-Rooster2103@reddit
It actually looks really cool.
Probably will be a hit with those that want to drive a car that looks cool without any of the harshness of an actual performance car.
Probably will be competing with the Automatic versions of the GR86/BRZ/Miata but with a more comfortable driving experience that gets much better fuel economy.
Ran4@reddit
It looks like it will have 19" rims though, it'll probably be quite rough and drive a lot more like a performance car.
thegunnersdaughter@reddit
This ultra low profile giant matchbox wheel obsession has to stop. My wife downgraded her Crosstrek Sport to 16s and absolutely loves the improved ride and decreased tire damage and cost. As would be expected.
niftyjack@reddit
I wish Honda would go all the way and give us a convertible version. It's such a shame the segment is dying, there's nothing like drop top motoring.
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
They never made a prelude convertible though
niftyjack@reddit
So?
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
Wouldn’t make much sense to offer it on a nameplate where they’ve never offered it before. Also that roofline doesn’t look like it would match well with a drop top.
Now if they made the Del Sol again…
star_trek_lover@reddit
They could make one and call it a del sol, which was also a fwd coupe Honda made. I think that was a targa top though, so maybe turbo it, make it RWD, and call it S2000?
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
That would be great.
Boring ass post 2020 Honda would never though. This company has gone to shit.
sidekickman@reddit
There are a ton of cars with that roofline that are convertible. Do most production cars that have convertible options start with one in their first model year? I genuinely don't know and am curious
nyanslider@reddit
Now's the time
Such-Bodybuilder-356@reddit
I wish manufacturers would play with tops more lol. I prefer t-tops myself.
niftyjack@reddit
As a gay and a top I agree entirely
LeanGroundQueef@reddit
It's like my Civic coupe mixed with a 90s Eclipse. Its awesome!
PurpEL@reddit
It's frumpy
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
It looks disgusting lmao
tallon4@reddit
Better fuel economy AND likely no premium fuel requirement
DriverDenali@reddit
Awd you cowards
Key_Budget9267@reddit
Ah yes, because every other previous Prelude was AWD.
TheSkyline35@reddit
IMA and Manual, FFS, you have the techno Honda !!!
Yeah yeah it would do infinit MPG but who cares, you want a sporty car ? Give it sporty attributes...
KSoMA@reddit
As somebody that probably would have bought an AWD Civic or Integra, this getting AWD and not either of those or the Accord would be a sick joke.
JiveXP@reddit
Isn't an older TLX an AWD Accord? Fair point though
DriverDenali@reddit
I’d be first inline for an awd manual type s integra
humdizzle@reddit
why would it need awd with such little power?
DriverDenali@reddit
Better driving experience, Audi a4 sells 75% awd vs the fwd counterpart so buyers want awd.
KingMario05@reddit
...Maybe the AWD version will have more. :)
LeopardHalit@reddit
Honda CRZ Mk.II
CaptSlow49@reddit
As other people are saying here, I also don’t understand who this is for. So it probably means it will sell really well.
bjuandy@reddit
It's basically for me. I was eyeing the 86/BRZ automatic as a cool but practical enough daily, but was deterred by the more expensive consumables. The Prelude effectively trades in sportiness for practicality in fuel economy, but still has my desired form factor of mainly for one person but can squeeze passengers when necessary.
Millennials are more single and enviro/cost conscious compared to older generations, and so I think there's a substantial audience so long as the price is competitive.
Adventurous_Break985@reddit
Exactly. It’s so weird to me how so many “enthusiasts” hate hybrids and EV’s especially when they’ve never tried them. This should be a great handling car with the Type R suspension and get fuel economy that rivals the original Insight. That’s an awesome combination. It will be the 2030’s soon, it’s time society finally embraces more efficient vehicles.
The_Exia@reddit
As a fellow Millennial, go buy an Ecoboost Mustang.
More bang for the buck if you want that single life automatic coupe life for that price range.
Or just buy a Hybrid Civic Hatchback. They still look good, same money and are more practical.
These two door economy cars were killed off years ago for a reason. They sold terribly and anyone who bought one suffered more depreciation than a 7 series.
Clip_Clippington@reddit
FWIW, I've rented an Ecoboost, and it's just too big and a little too boaty at times. I'm used to small Japanese cars, and I park on the street at work, so I prefer something a bit more nimble for my driving. A GR 86 auto was my attainable dream car until the Prelude came along.
As for the Civic Hatch, I don't like how it looks, and I went that route, I'd rather just pay extra for an Integra or a GTI.
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
But the Civic Hybrid Sport Touring looks nicer and is more practical. That's my big complaint.
Clip_Clippington@reddit
In contrast, this is the only Civic that hasn't been hit by the ugly stick, IMHO.
commie_heathen@reddit
Better trunk opening here too, for that kind of use case
Alone_Peace371@reddit
From the designers who brought you “early AI concept cars” and “everything Toyota makes”
Gwolf4@reddit
So they revive last gen civic coupe with a modern frontent, slap the prelude nameplate and hope it sells when at this specific price point there are other sporty rides that won't kill your back.
GothGod1776@reddit
That….looks like a Camry front end
Caqtus95@reddit
I just don't understand, in an era where they can barely convince people to buy the sporty coupes, who the hell is going to buy an un-sporty coupe? Most normies won't even look twice at this since it's a coupe, and enthusiasts will be turned off by it's lack of performance credentials. Traditionally, you'd call this a hairdresser's car, but how many hairdressers are buying brand new cars in this economy?
Astramael@reddit
Maybe that’s the universe brain play.
PolarBlitzer@reddit
Looks like a Prius.
Signal_Ball4634@reddit
Same that's all I could think seeing those photos. Not too bad of a thing as the 5th Gen Prius is a looker.
PolarBlitzer@reddit
My only problem is that I think the Prius has more power and the Prius Prime has even more torque than the prelude
So it's like a toss-up right one. Is arguably more powerful? Maybe even quicker if you put them head-to-head and more practical
Astramael@reddit
Also the Prius hybrid system is better. Honda’s system is less flexible and not proven.
coffeeshopslut@reddit
I get hints of Mitsubishi eclipse
dfsaqwe@reddit
its a prius
withoutapaddle@reddit
For real, this car might be the MOST styling rip off I've ever seen.
The front looks insanely similar to a Prius.
The rear looks insanely similar to a Taycan.
Astramael@reddit
This isn’t a problem, right? Both of those cars look good, this car looks pretty decent too.
sunburstbox@reddit
rear also looks a lot like the ioniq 6
TBIRallySport@reddit
I had to double-check what car the article was about, because when it loaded and I saw the photo, I really thought I was looking at a Toyota.
yetiflask@reddit
Front stolen from Toyota, rear from Porsche. WTF is this shit?
ScheduleDry6598@reddit
If I saw one on the street tomorrow, I wouldn't even turn my head.
dollarnine9@reddit
Has less HP than the Prius (Prime) 💀
preludehaver@reddit
Why has everyone decided the prelude is a sports car now? Its always been a mildly sporty personal luxury coupe.
habitsofwaste@reddit
The 80s and 90s are back!
tortugasconculos@reddit
Looks like a Porsche Tiburon
spongebob_meth@reddit
Woof, cab forward coupes are so ugly.
The old prelude looked cool because it had RWD proportions. This thing looks like those goofy accord/altima coupes
KingMario05@reddit
And I love it for that! Do wish it had a bit more oompf, though. Si/Type-R later on, perhaps?
Guac_in_my_rarri@reddit
No. Honda resisted with the fit and they'll resist with this car. The new prelude is going to be around for 1 bad selling generation and then exit the scene.
Intel_Oil@reddit
"No one wants to buy exciting car it seems!!!" - Provider of coupé with a Diesel-Redline
V8-Turbo-Hybrid@reddit
No really. TG also asks Honda for Prelude Type-R, they said not rule out it.
dumahim@reddit
Good, because I want this to be my next car, but the power dropoff would be tough to accept.
Guac_in_my_rarri@reddit
I'm pretty sure Honda has said this with other models as well.
Most Automakers do this so they don't back themselves into a corner.
KingMario05@reddit
That ain't a no! :)
FlyingYankee118@reddit
Curious for an Acura version of this
Sufficient_Jello_1@reddit
I don’t get it. We had the P1. LaFerrari. NSX. 918. Will none of that tech trickle down??
Do auto makers not get that you can build a small (less complex) scale version of that drivetrain and put it into a car?
They could have said 30mpg is fine and beefed up that electric motor and put in a “E-VTEC” launch control button and made this thing awesome.
TheSkyline35@reddit
Yes yes yes.
I don't get it. FFS even throw an upgrade IMA system, with modern tech this could add a lot of torque to a fruity 1.5/2L engine, giving good economy and serious fun on twisty.
But no, better have EV that use a range extender imitating an auto with fakeness all around.
At this point, the Hyundai approach is a lot more interesting, adding fun to real EV.
Averageinternetdoge@reddit
Tbf, it looks a öpt better than I expected. I fully expected it to be a cuv.
SRoku@reddit
I get it’s not the sports car everyone wants, but anything that gets more coupes on the road is a win imo. I’ve seen more than enough crossovers for one lifetime.
wip30ut@reddit
hybrid coupe? Super niche, maybe Zoomer professionals who would've bought a Mustang Ecoboost in a different era? Personally i think they should've raised it so it sits higher like the Toyota Crown.
futuredreampop@reddit
Like others have mentioned, I don't get the car. It looks nice (to me) but the likely low HP (200hp) and FWD makes it a bit redundant. It seems like a missed opportunity not to invert the NSX's tech (which they touted in the marketing of this car) to make it a FWD with occasional AWD options with an electric motor driving the rear wheels (the reverse of what they did with the NSX). This would be in line with the late 80s Prelude Si which had AWS, Honda's then-answer to the AWD phenomenon that Subaru and Mitsubishi were utilizing at the time. Or just make an outright Type S/R version of it to at least make it quick enough for enthusiasts to enjoy.
bemenaker@reddit
Honda has lost the ability to make good looking cars. It's so generic. Not as bad as the accord now but close.
ChimkenNumggets@reddit
Why would anybody buy this? Nobody who wants a sporty car will choose this over a GR86. Maybe if somebody really hates the look of the new Prius they’d spring for the Prelude?
MyNameWouldntFi@reddit
Waiting for the Type SH with the Si 1.5T / 6MT. Sucks cause I'm actually looking to buy another small Honda to commute in and I love our manual civic.
Zlautern@reddit
Whatever it is, it sure is fugly.
dattroll123@reddit
dealers are ready for insane markups.
saarlac@reddit
That is one profoundly ugly car.
The_Ninja_Master@reddit
Cool car
saturnuranusmars@reddit
Ive been wanting to see the side view of this thing for some time now
Bright_Elevator_5800@reddit
Looks hideous tbh
Born4Nothin@reddit
Seems pretty boring ngl
okron1k@reddit
man i have been feeling like honda has been hitting dingers left and right. latest civic is exponentially nicer looking than the previous shredder helmet one. new pilot looks great inside and out. new passport same deal. new accord is a little wonky but still ok. new crv is really nice (i even bought one). but this thing is fucking hideous. maybe if i see it in person my opinion will change. but good lord it looks bad in these pictures.
TFiPW@reddit
Honda Japan: No Acura, you can't have a 2-door Integra
Also Honda: Prelude!
zinklesmesh@reddit
Desecration of the Prelude name. All previous Preludes were low, long, and sleek. This looks like a Civic coupe
Significant_Tax_3427@reddit
Lol you never saw the first gen didja
zinklesmesh@reddit
Nah, even the first gen is lower and thinner than this
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
wtf is that 911 roofline? I hate it so much. This is ugly as sin.
sssozi@reddit
Bump this to 300hp and make it the CL Type S
Nomad624@reddit
Im glad it exists. I like the way it lloks and the more non-suv's the better, but I also don't get it, and frankly think this is a waste of a product for the time being. What honda needs more urgently is electrify their Acura lineup, and make a hybrid powertrain with more than 200hp, which would actually make sense in a car like this.
BrutakaGT@reddit
This could be a great AutoX car, I’m holding out hope that the driving dynamics are top notch.
ikilledtupac@reddit
a fwd hybrid?
avoidhugeships@reddit
Unlikely to be a good autox car. It's underpowered and heavy with skinny wheels.
superthrawn@reddit
Maybe I’m the odd one out here, but I really like this as a daily driver with a little personality. The Prelude seems like a reasonably lightweight, tossable, compact coupe which will deliver great fuel economy and slightly better practicality than other 2 door options in its price range. Sure, it’s not going to be as fun as a 86, but it could be the right fit for plenty of people. I’ll be test driving one!
vincredible@reddit
Man, what a massive letdown. My first ever car was a 1990 Prelude. I always had a soft spot for them back in the day. This new one is less than nothing. I would have thought I'd be in their target demographic but there is nothing that could convince me to buy this car, much less even test drive it.
Who the hell wants a lame ass 181HP hybrid that doesn't come with a manual option and doesn't even look all that sporty? Why does this car exist? Who is it for?
EloeOmoe@reddit
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
nyanslider@reddit
Every prelude is fwd
Thunder_Wasp@reddit
To think Honda could have given us a new S2000 so many times now, and instead makes things like this.
FlopShanoobie@reddit
So they made it slow. And it doesn't handle great. And it doesn't have a great interior layout. And it's really not that efficient.
COOL.
nyanslider@reddit
Where you get it's not efficient?
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Oh wow a "sports car" with 1 more horsepower than a base Crosstrek. So exciting.
This thing will be DOA.
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
Honda has become insufferable since the turn of the 2020s. Neutered the Accord, axed the SOHC VTEC V6, reusing the exact same powertrains in like half of their lineup including Acuras, reusing the Civic interior in EVERYTHING. And now this.
Their only wins they have this decade are the 2026 Passport redesign, and the CRV redesign. The Pilot looks great but has become insanely sluggish due to the new engine option being less powerful than previously, and it gaining weight.
Shmokesshweed@reddit
They're going to put that J35 in everything until 2100. 😭
I really wish they would refresh the goddamn Ridgeline. I waited so long for them to do so, only to finally break down and order a Maverick.
That was July 2021.
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
Yep I love the 6th gens too. I believe I’ve talked to you before here, I recognize your flair and Reddit avatar.
The Maverick is a neat little truck. And I wonder if the Ridgeline even makes enough sales for Honda to justify continuing production and redesigning it.
RobinVerhulstZ@reddit
>1500kg P-inHybrid with 180hp FWD
...uhh
...i think i'd rather get an electric at that point tbh, the alpine a290 has more powa and weighs about the same
this thing also looks pretty similar to the current prius, which isn't even that much heavier and has MORE power?????
rationis@reddit
Same engine as the Civic hybrid, same chassis as the Civic, same tranny, etc. Honda is bringing back the Civic coupe and calling it a Prelude.
I'm a current Civic/Insight Hybrid owner and former Prelude and Civic Si owner. I can't come up with any excuse or reason to buy this car as much as I try, probably because of the reasons Honda did away with the Civic Coupe apply to the "Prelude" as well.
I have no clue who this is for.
AndreLeGeant88@reddit
Having the same exact performance as the Civic makes this a nonstarter. I love the Civic Hybrid. It's fun to drive. I like how it handles a lot. I'd have bought a Prelude had it given me that with another 50 hp. But it didn't. So I won't. Also, the fastback angle looks weird. Looks like crap from the side.
8N-QTTRO@reddit
As much as I like sporty hybrid coupes in theory, I just don't understand what this is going for. With an automatic hybrid transmission and a 6k RPM redline, it really feels like they're avoiding everything Honda's sports cars are appreciated for. I can only hope they make a Type R version that transplants a CTR drivetrain, and that they're just waiting to talk about it until after they've made some sales with the base model.
November87@reddit
181hp disappointment
WWE_Family_Feud@reddit
I can fit comfortably in my 718 but not a new 3 or 2 series with a sunroof. This roofline looks horribly low, no?
Ran4@reddit
To make for a smaller car.
FKADrak3n@reddit
Dude it's literally a Prius coupe. Honda knows how to make a great looking car, it's disappointing to see them mimic the Prius of all cars.
JEs4@reddit
I wonder if Honda has considered SI or Type R variants. The body style is pretty interesting, and the shorter wheelbase and roofline could make for a really fun FWD sport compact.
I hope I’m wrong but I can’t see Honda moving many of these which would be the shame for the styling.
MonorailCat567@reddit
They have AWD variants of this hybrid system that add a rear motor and like 50% more power. Seems like the obvious play for an Si if Honda sees a business case.
Ort895@reddit
Put the 2.0 in it you cowards
FriedEldenRings@reddit
Looks beautiful.
MonorailCat567@reddit
I really like it so far. It's *SO* hard to find a decent compact daily driver in this country that's not a crossover blob, I'll welcome any new options.
tacomafrs@reddit
i gotta say, I'm not a fan
AdShoddy7599@reddit
looks like the new prius on the front
aviciiavbdeadpunk@reddit
atp just got a get 230i or 330e hybrid and call it a day, honda is shorting it self again, its too slow
avoidhugeships@reddit
It's not for me but it's a cool looking little car that should do ok.
splurb@reddit
This just looks really boring.
jeffh19@reddit
I'm guessing this car is for younger kids out of college or who's parents are buying them a car when younger who do like having something that looks cool and sporty (and still gets good MPG) but aren't huge car people? Or at least on the go fast/high performance variety? Not saying you aren't or can't be a car person if you get this car, I just think a huge majority of car fanatics are going to buy 5 other cars before this one. I know personally I'd get a GR86, Miata, BRZ, Type R, WRX, Si....
Its a 2 door coupe version of a Civic Hybrid...seems like they could have expanded the market of buyers by offering a manual/good transmission, or some version of a rear door to get people in the back?
They spent alllll this money to come up with this "brand new car" and I imagine it's going to sell as much as a 2 door current gen Prius would. I get it's a modified Civic platform with a lot of parts they already have but the amount of time spent engineering all of that and safety certifications etc etc for a new model that can cost $100 million.........just doesn't seem to make much business sense to me. But I'm not running a global car brand, so wtf do I know lol
Tw0Rails@reddit
So the front end looks like a Toyota Prius.
They really are out of imagination.
lattjeful@reddit
I actually kind of dig it tbh. More options for commuter cars with a bit of a personality, the better. If Mazda can do it, so can Honda.
TheFennecFrenzy@reddit
Any hope for a prelude si? Seems this is a two-door civic so using the civic si's engine and transmission shouldn't be too difficult from an engineering perspective. TBH I don't know who this car is for as a hybrid. I think it looks cool but I'm plugged into the r/cars hivemind, so it doesn't appeal to me. Maybe it's for automatic brz/GR86/Miata buyers? Seems like the market for sporty(ish) little coupes disappeared a long time ago, but I'd love to see it come back.
xselimbradleyx@reddit
I don’t care if I get downvoted. It’s fucking ugly, overpriced, and a waste of space in the car market.
Electronic-Ice8261@reddit
I’ll seriously consider this if this is under 30K
THE_GR8_MIKE@reddit
It's just a 2 door Civic.
ProJokeExplainer@reddit
hot take: honda let a committee compromise-design this car into an early grave so they can say "no one wants a 2 door car anymore" and keep churning out SUVs and crossovers.
Reygle@reddit
I mean- it's a Civic 2 door. Should be pretty decent.
LEMental@reddit
Mitsubishi 2nd gen eclipse vibes here.
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
Honda has been pissing me off so much lately, the neutering of the Accord and now this. I wanted to like this so bad when they made the concept a few years ago but I can’t. It’s so fucking ugly, and it’s so disappointing now that we have more info about it.
I’m beginning to think it’s time to find a new brand to start fanboying.
____PARALLAX____@reddit
Ew, no.
747WakeTurbulance@reddit
No thanks.
Weak-Specific-6599@reddit
I am all for this type of drivetrain, but would be better if they were to amplify it to CTR power levels. Bigger engine, bigger battery and electric motors.
ackypoo@reddit
might be the first non manual car i buy.
jawnlerdoe@reddit
I’m excited to test drive one.
Double_Cleff@reddit
Modern Saturn S series Coupe
namesdevil3000@reddit
I’m in two minds. I would prefer an ICE only car. But I mean the holy trinity we’re all hybrids so we couldn’t have it out of performance/coupes for too long.
Now to actually read the article
AlwaysBullishAYYY@reddit
It’s like if the Mitsubishi eclipse and the civic had a baby
CaptainKirkDouglas@reddit
So it’s neither fast enough to be a sporty car or efficient enough to be the best hybrid choice. And 181 hp is nothing in today’s market. 4 bangers can get almost double that with the current tech. Not sure about this move at all. I just don’t get it.
Spaghetto23@reddit
Realize that if it matches the US Civic hybrid that it will have 200hp.
HydroCow@reddit
I honestly kinda like this - if you still need a reasonably efficient commuter but don’t need backseats and want a little personality, why wouldn’t this be a great pick? I don’t think this has to be a hardcore sports car to be a good car.
People love Mazda as a brand for making commuter cars that have some element of driver focus; isn’t that what this is? I hope it sells decently well, id love to see the comeback of “sporty” econo-coupes like we had in the 2000’s (Toyota revive the Celica pls).
MajkiF@reddit
If this was cool CHEAP looking 2.0 NA lightweight car it would make more sense. 35K GBP for a coupe that emits engine sound from the speakers? Sounds like who is this car for? 25 years old kids can’t afford it.
YetToLoseADime@reddit
Rare Honda miss
CaptainMarty69@reddit
Why does every car have this blue now?
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good blue, but there are other colors.
I have a ‘17 grabber blue mustang and it’s always weird seeing a similar blue on Rav 4s and stuff. Now preludes? Make them orange or something!
Umikaloo@reddit
Please tell me it has 4-wheel steering.
Bulldog78@reddit
Yeah, I’ll stick with my ‘01 SH. Don’t need simulated shifting when I have the real thing.
ninjastk@reddit
I’m hopeful for this as a reasonably quieter, smoother civic hybrid coupe.
But if the price starts near a civic touring, then it’s GG.
WhatIsIdentity03@reddit
I understand why but I do wish they had done something AWDish with the hybrid system.
DriverDenali@reddit
Yeah sporty styling but similar drive train to two vehicles with better experience the civic and integra. Make it awd or rwd to compete with 86/miata
WorkAnomaly@reddit
I dont think this is what anyone wanted or was asking for. This has no place and it's such a bad mix of everything in the worst way. It tries to be sports car while not being a hybrid ev and the design is such a let down they didn't try to do anything original for the exterior it just looks like the new toyota camry. It has the power of a miata while being heavier. This is just another civic model its nothing new.
snail_forest1@reddit
looks nice but will not sell enough to stick around for a few years. I do feel at angles the back looks a bit long compared tot he front. wouldn't be a problem if the engine was mid mounted. but it should have a longer hood.
lurpeli@reddit
Definitely missed the mark not going AWD when you can get a hybrid Corolla or Camry with AWD for similar money.
E400wagon@reddit
Jesus….