The New Honda Prelude Is Already a Smash Hit, Especially With Older Folks

The Internet hasn’t been particularly kind to the Prelude. Some have wondered why Honda didn’t simply call it a Civic Coupe, while others questioned its success without a manual gearbox. Yet early signs are proving the skeptics wrong, as the revived nameplate is off to a strong start. Well, at least in its home market. A month after going on sale in Japan, the number of orders already exceeds the monthly sales target by eight times.

Honda initially expected about 300 buyers to sign on the dotted line each month, but between September 5 and October 6, around 2,400 orders were placed. Demand is so strong that some dealers have temporarily suspended new orders, though Honda plans to ramp up production to shorten wait times for early adopters.

As for who’s buying the Prelude, it’s mostly middle-aged and older customers. Honda says demand is driven by people in their 50s and 60s seeking a new primary or secondary vehicle. We even know their preferred colors: over half have chosen white (63 percent), followed by gray (16 percent), black (11 percent), and red (10 percent).

In Japan, the Prelude starts at 6,179,800 yen, equivalent to approximately $41,000 at current exchange rates. A two-tone Limited Edition available exclusively online for 6,480,100 yen ($43,000) has already sold out, as demand quickly exceeded production capacity.

Photo by: Honda

The new Prelude will arrive at U.S. dealerships this late fall. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but it’s expected to land around $40,000. For comparison, a Civic Hatchback with the same hybrid powertrain costs nearly $32,000. However, given the Prelude’s Type R bits, coupe body, and nostalgic appeal, a premium is inevitable.

Hybrid sporty cars remain rare in the mainstream segment, which raises the question: Who is the Prelude for? After all, those seeking an affordable performance coupe might gravitate toward a Toyota GR86, Subaru BRZ, or Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. The Prelude, however, might cater to buyers who prefer something less hardcore and instead prefer more comfort and efficiency.

Although it may still become a niche product, the Prelude’s Japanese debut has exceeded expectations. Even Honda appears to have underestimated the initial enthusiasm and is now ramping up production to meet the stronger-than-anticipated demand. The Prelude might not be the pure sports car enthusiasts were hoping for, but in a world dominated by SUVs, it’s refreshing to see more variety among regular cars.

Continuing to see the glass half full, at least the moniker hasn’t been diluted for a rebadged electric crossover. I’m looking at you, Mitsubishi Eclipse.