Honda Prelude review

Curious fact about the Prelude, and one which links it to the adorable S660 kei sports car: its front seats don’t match. The driver gets taller, stronger side bolsters to embrace them during the cornering forces whipped up by the Type R chassis and grippy Continental tyres, while the passenger has lower, softer sides to their seat base for classier entry and exit.

You’ll only notice the difference if you go hunting for it, but it’s a good one to add to your bank of nerdy car trivia for which JDM car culture continues to prove a rich source.

Crucially, the driving position is good. You’re not fully sunken onto the ground, the Prelude definitively not a hardcore sports coupe, but you’re ensconced well with an appealing view down its aero-carved front wings. Visibility isn’t great with a peek over your shoulders, but the large glass hatch (and it is a hatchback) opens up decent rear visibility via the central mirror. Useful when the reversing camera, like a Type R’s, is disappointingly lo-fi.

Digital instrumentation isn’t usually a Honda strength and that rings true in the Prelude, but the graphics are clear and legible enough and most of the icons are a decent size.

In fact, it’s refreshing to be in a car this old school, with the nine-inch touchscreen and 10.2in instrument display looking positively restrained compared to the gazillions of pixels deployed by so many manufacturers these days.

Annoyingly, you can’t fiddle with the ADAS after you’ve set off and there’s no sign of a toggle for the speed limit warning in the relevant menu. The native nav looks dated, but there’s wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto.

How's the quality?

It's strong, and with two colour schemes to choose from (white and blue or black and blue, the former only available with certain paint colours) there's a chance at some tangible character too.

There’s plenty of Honda pragmatism, including some physical climate controls (praise be), but with neat materials and stitching blended around it all. Anyone trading in an Audi TT or 2 Series might need to make some allowances for a few of the gnarlier plastics in here, but the overall aesthetic appeals and its trim feels plush enough for the money. A bespoke Bose sound system adds a premium edge to proceedings too.

The drive selector buttons are embedded in the centre console and it’s not a set-up we’re keen on. But it’ll be second nature before you know it.

There’s a pair of USB-C charging sockets and a wireless pad for your phone buried in the centre console, plus a couple of drinks holders and a (fairly small) storage box. The door bins are angular and plasticky and only really good for making your stuff rattle.

And what about the back? Will I get kids in there?

Erm… probably not. With the driver’s seat adjusted for a 5ft 10in frame, there was barely a letterbox of space in the rear for legs/feet, so realistically you’ll only squeeze in smaller folk back there by means of a car seat.

Perhaps most buyers will flip the seat backs down to open up 663 litres of luggage volume (an increase on 269 with them in place). Enough for two surfboards, one bicycle or four spare wheels and tyres, Honda promises. You’ll get plenty of bags back there, but anything heavy will put a strain on your back – very high lip, you see.