Cars And Track Staff
The 2026 Honda Prelude has faced a sluggish start in the U.S. market, with only 204 units sold since it arrived in dealerships in November 2025. In its first full month of sales (December 2025), Honda moved just 174 units, a figure that critics and enthusiasts have quickly labeled a “flop” compared to the high-profile return of such an iconic nameplate. While Honda management maintains that this is a “controlled launch” and distribution is still ramping up toward their goal of 300 to 400 units per month, the Prelude is currently being significantly outsold by direct competitors like the Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR86, and even the pricier Nissan Z.
The primary reasons for the lackluster reception appear to be a combination of underwhelming performance and aggressive dealer pricing. Enthusiasts have criticized the car for being essentially a “Civic Hybrid in a tuxedo,” as it utilizes a 200-horsepower hybrid powertrain rather than a high-performance engine. This makes the $43,195 MSRP a difficult pill for many buyers to swallow, especially when similar sports coupes offer more power for less money. Furthermore, many early units have been hit with massive dealer markups, with some showrooms asking upwards of $60,000 for the hybrid coupe, effectively pricing the vehicle out of its intended market and cooling whatever initial hype the concept car had generated.
