Can Honda score with its returning sporty new Prelude?

It has been 25 years since the previous Honda Prelude, and I recall road testing that model back then, and it was a very nice coupe.

Given that the market for two-door coupes has shrunk to very small numbers, many were surprised that Honda chose to bring back the Prelude.

As the new Prelude uses the current Civic platform, Honda did not have to go and completely build this coupe from the ground up. From a cost point of view, that may explain why the decision to produce the Prelude is not as crazy as it may first seem.

While the platform is shared with the Civic, the new Prelude is tuned more for performance than the Civic, so this is not just a Civic dressed up as a coupe. There is only one model available with one trim level.

So has it got street cred?

I think it looks superb! Honda has managed to execute the design of the new Prelude in such a way that it is distinctly a Honda but nevertheless looks all the part of a sporting coupe.

The lines are sleek and purposeful. It sits on black 19-inch alloy wheels, and the dramatic curve of the roofline extends to a very stylish tail section boasting the new Honda script and a full-width light bar. So they got the design bang-on, in my opinion. MORE BELOW PHOTO

What’s it like inside?

The new Prelude really does feel top quality, with high-grade materials and leather upholstery evident throughout the car. The two-tone sports seats look really good and are embossed with the Prelude name in the headrests.

There is contrasting stitching running throughout the front seats. The dash has a synthetic suede-like covering all of which exudes a real air of class and quality.

I really like the analogue-style digital instrumentation, which is an example of how a really good digital instrument display should look.

The central touchscreen is perched rather high, which spoils the lines of an otherwise lovely dashboard, but thankfully there are plenty of beautifully styled knurled chrome knobs and switches for the main functions.

The graphics on the central screen are not as good as some rivals, but the whole system works very well. Once you first pair your phone with the Prelude, it remembers it, and it is immediately paired before you can hit the start button on your next trip. Very nice!

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with wireless charging are standard. Other highlights include a Bose sound system, heated front seats, auto dim rear view mirror, dual-zone climate control, four drive modes, Comfort, Individual, Sport, and Normal and a special Sport + mode to liven things up.

There is of course, also a host of safety kit from Honda Sensing.

I found the driving position to be good, but it is disappointing to see that the seat adjustments are simply manual fore and aft and a tilt backrest. No lumbar support adjustment and nothing electric, which at this price point I would have expected. The handle to adjust the backrest feels strangely flimsy and made of hard plastic…. The only letdown in terms of quality in the cabin.

Accommodation up front is fine, but those rear seats are pretty much pointless. I could not sit there (I tried), and getting in and out is very awkward as the front seats don’t even slide forward on their rails to aid access. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

The backrest lever to pull it forward is awkwardly placed too, and then the backrest does not return to your seating position either, all of which would discourage all but the most determined ( very small ) passenger. The boot is accessed via a huge rear hatch with is again surprisingly not electric. The boot has 269 litres, which in practical terms would be just enough for a couple's weekend luggage, and that is pretty good for a coupe like this.

What is under the bonnet?

A 2.0 litre petrol unit and a small 1.05 kWh battery with an electric motor developing some 181 bhp driving the front wheels. Honda calls this an e:HEV and treats it as a full hybrid rather than a mild hybrid. The system switches seamlessly from petrol power to pure EV when conditions permit. It will drive at low speeds in EV mode, and the battery gets a lot of recharge from braking or via the engine.

In short, I found it an excellent self-charging hybrid that really does work well. However, it does take away somewhat from what you might hope is a sporting set-up. With the engine cutting in and out all the time, it does take away from rapid progress, and performance is really only adequate.

Furthermore, it has a Single Speed Transmission but cleverly uses computer mapping to generate fake gear shifts, right down to simulating the engine note and shift indicator on the dash to show which of the eight “simulated” gears you have selected. It works reasonably well, but it really does not feel like a real 8-speed sports ratio gearbox. 0 to 100km/h takes about 8.2 seconds with is not very quick, while top speed is claimed to be 188km/h.

Over my week's road test, it burned just 6.2 litres of petrol per 100km, and road tax is €200.00

In summary, I did not find the new Prelude a true performance coupe.

What’s it like to drive?

It's nimble and surefooted with little or no body roll in corners. The adaptable suspension damper setup seems to soak up all road imperfections with ease, making the new Prelude a very comfortable car in which to travel.

The handling is superb, with limpet-like grip whether on wet or dry roads. It is fun to hustle along a twisty set of roads as it proves nimble and agile, changing direction easily. I found it an enjoyable car to drive in that sense. It proves quiet and refined except for quite a lot of tyre roar on coarse tarmac.

Hugh’s Verdict

This new Prelude is a very nice 2-door coupe. It rides very well on the adaptive suspension. It handles very well too, with lots of grip and decent driver feedback from the steering and the powerful brakes. But when you try to step up the pace, you soon realise the set-up is geared more towards a stylish cruiser than a truly engaging driver's car.

The simulated gearshifts and lacklustre performance take away from what could be a really involving drivers car.

At €60,000, I would want a more engaging driver's coupe. However, if you accept those points, this new Honda Prelude is a really lovely grand tourer wrapped up in a very stylish coupe design. MORE BELOW PHOTO

Pros:

• Looks Superb, and has real street presence.
• Beautifully designed high quality interior.
• Agile & Nimble handling.

Cons:

• Performance is lacking.
• Access to rear is difficult.
• Front seats have very basic manual adjustments.

Buy it if: You want a stylish high quality two door coupe.

Don’t buy it if: You are looking for a high-performance, truly engaging sports coupe.