Honda Prelude – first NZ drive

The Honda Prelude is back, after 25 long years. The sixth generation embraces the hybrid age and introduces something called S Plus Shift. It’s a feature that Honda says  ‘will differentiate and strengthen Honda’s hybrid even further against the competition’.

The new car presents with a smooth coupe profile, a low and pointy nose and flared arches for a strong, planted stance. 

The cabin, a 2+2 affair, is described as ‘modern, uncluttered and driver-centred’ which is said to have a layout that prioritises visibility, ease of use and everyday comfort. At least for those up front; the rear pews are cramped with minimal leg and headroom. The boot is okay but. 

The driving position is sorted, with sporty yet comfortable seats, while outward vision is enhanced with slim A pillars. In-cabin ops can be taken care of via the Google assistant, now part of the 9-inch infotainment unit, and being Civic based, the dash layout is clean with a good helping of physical controls. The steering wheel is a bit sporty with a flat bottom, a marker at the 12 o’clock and metal paddles in behind.  

Honda Prelude – Hybrid powered

The Prelude is powered by Honda’s e:HEV technology, which they tell us ‘delivers the performance, response and efficiency drivers have come to expect from Honda’. There are four drive modes; Comfort, GT, Sport and Individual and something called S Plus Shift. This is intended to ‘enhance the driving experience by providing greater feedback and response between the vehicle and driver, while providing increased feedback through the sensors of hearing, seeing and feeling’.

Once selected, the driver’s display transforms, displaying not only a tachometer, but also the selected virtual gear. But there are no actual gears, the Prelude using the e:HEV system where the engine is used primarily to run the generator, keeping the battery topped up so the electric motors can power the driven wheels. At optimal operating speeds, a lock-up clutch can send engine power to the wheels, but more for efficiency’s sake than performance. 

Along with initiating fake gear shifts, the sound system pumps in synthesised engine noise, and emphasises those throttle blips when it changes down. 

Read more – Hybrid Honda Prelude returns to NZ with pricing confirmed

Anchored by the R

The Prelude borrows some of its chassis hardware from the Civic Type R, including the dual-axis strut front suspension, adaptive dampers and four-pot Brembo brakes up front. The spring and damper settings aren’t quite as hardcore though. There’s no Race mode here for instance. Honda describes the Prelude as delivering ‘a sporty, capable, yet comfortable grand touring experience with high levels of driver exhilaration and engagement’. 

And so how does it go?

We had a lash in the Prelude up and over a familiar winding hill road, where it lived up to its description of being sporty, capable yet comfortable. Don’t think it’s a two-door Type-R, you’ll be disappointed. But with Civic R underpinnings, it is a competent handler. Think of it more as a sharp GT. Of the drive modes, it was GT which suited it best with a sporty response from the powertrain and the more relaxed damper setting. 

The steering is a highlight, not overly hefty but still sharp, loading up ever so slightly mid bend. And the front end has plenty of grip. At just under 1500kg, it feels agile, changing directions easily, while the brakes work nicely too. 

With 135kW and 315Nm, it’s quick enough, but you’ll never call it fast. The hybrid powertrain has a decent throttle response, but don’t expect the Prelude to haul off the bends. With the same front struts as the Type R, torque steer is not an issue, neither is traction.  

The S Plus Shift mode does a reasonable job of mimicking a transmission, adding some very mild ‘shift shock’ as it works its way through its simulated gearing, but it’s not nearly as convincing as Hyundai’s N e-shift in the Ioniq 5 N. The additional synthetic sound could be louder too, as the one issue is tyre roar on coarse chip roads; it can dominate the cabin.

The Prelude is on sale now, priced at $69,900.