Honda's sporty coupe that never quite got the respect it deserved. It was the Civic Si's older brother, the Integra's rival, and the car that proved front-wheel-drive could handle. It's a cult classic, and now it's coming back.
The Prelude had five generations. The 1st gen (1979-1982) was a subcompact with a 1.8L or 2.0L engine. The 2nd gen (1983-1987) is the “pop-up headlight” era—with a 2.0L SOHC engine (100-110 hp). The 3rd gen (1988-1991) is the “BA” chassis—with a 2.0L B20A DOHC engine (135 hp) and 4-wheel steering (4WS) as an option. The 4th gen (1992-1996) had the 2.2L H22A DOHC VTEC (190 hp)—one of Honda's best engines. The 5th gen (1997-2001) had the 2.2L H22A4 (195 hp) and was the final Prelude. The 2025-2026 model is a reintroduction—a sport coupe with a hybrid powertrain and a 6-speed manual. It's front-wheel-drive, unibody.
The Prelude is generally reliable. The H22A engine is strong, but it has a timing belt that needs replacing every 60,000 miles. The 4WS system is complex and expensive to fix. The 5th gen had some transmission issues (the 4-speed auto was weak). The manual transmissions are great. The Prelude is a fun car, but it's a project car now. The 2025 model is too new to judge.
Every listing below is VIN-matched to your exact Prelude before it ships, backed by a 60-day replacement warranty:
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