The interior of the sixth-generation Honda Prelude was revealed overnight, and it looks instantly familiar, yet a little different too.
In a video released last night, Japanese YouTuber Unadon spent some quality time examining the Prelude’s exterior and interior before giving the coupe a spin on a test track.
The new Prelude is based on the 11th generation Civic, which is incidentally is the first Civic since the fourth generation that’s not been available as a coupe.
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Despite a lot of under-the-skin commonality, the Prelude has a completely different exterior that seems to be basically unchanged from the 2023 concept.
Although the interior looks to be a straight lift from the North American Acura Integra — also very closely related to the Civic — the dashboard is a unique piece of kit.
The Prelude’s dashboard top does without the Integra’s swoopy character lines and prominent band of faux metallic trim. In their place is a softer, flatter design with a greater emphasis on padded soft touch materials.
That said, the vents, switchgear, and overall layout will feel instantly familiar to anyone who’s sat in a current Civic or Integra.
Rear seat accommodation looks to be very squeezy, with legroom in short supply and head room compromised by the roof line and hatch. The rear bench is positioned over a vent for the hybrid battery, and only has seat belts for two occupants.
Under the rear hatch, the boot looks long but shallow. If privacy is a concern, there’s a handy fold-out cargo cover.
The raised centre tunnel houses an array of switches and controls, including a series of buttons to control the car’s electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT) that’s integral part of the Prelude’s hybrid drivetrain.
Honda’s current Power Split hybrid system drives the front wheels via a 2.0-litre petrol engine mated to a pair electric motors. In the Civic e:HEV the system makes 135kW, while in the larger Accord e:HEV output is rated at 152kW.
Unfortunately Honda has confirmed the Prelude won’t be available with a manual transmission. There is, however, a new S+ mode the company says will “simulate the sound and feel of quick automatic gear changes”.
In the video we can hear the car shifting down aggressively down during braking, and avoiding the engine drone common to eCVT-equipped cars. The Prelude is also fitted with paddle shifters that allow the driver shift to between simulated gears.
Available exclusively as hybrid, the Prelude misses out Honda’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine fitted to the Integra Type S (239kW/420Nm) and Civic Type R (235kW/420Nm).
Although the Prelude has been confirmed for Japan, Europe, and North America, Honda Australia has yet to commit to offering the revived sporty coupe Down Under, although it has trademarked the name locally.
The Prelude is the latest heritage nameplate to be dusted off by Honda, with the automaker reviving the Integra in 2022, as well as the Passport in 2018 and Acura ZDX in 2024.
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