- 6th Generation Prelude begins arriving at Honda Canada dealers this month
- The hybrid-electric Prelude shares key powertrain components with the Civic Hybrid – last year’s North American Car of the Year winner — as well as chassis components from the legendary Civic Type R
The fun-to-drive 2026 Honda Prelude hybrid-electric sports coupe today was named a finalist for the prestigious 2026 North American Car of the Year award.
The North American jury of automotive journalists announced the finalists for its annual awards at an event during the Los Angeles Auto Show this morning. The winners will be announced during a ceremony in Detroit on Jan. 14, 2026.
“We are absolutely thrilled to see the all-new Honda Prelude named as a finalist for the prestigious North American Car of the Year award, we’re still celebrating the Honda Civic Hybrid’s most recent North American Car of the Year victory,” said Emile Korkor Assistant Vice president Honda Canada. “The return of the iconic Prelude as an exciting hybrid-electric sports coupe, solidifies Honda’s unwavering commitment to produce fun to drive and technologically advanced vehicles consumers can thoroughly enjoy.”
The 2026 Honda Prelude is inspired by fun-to-drive performance, legacy of innovation and dynamic styling of earlier generations of the sports coupe. The first-ever electrified Prelude advances the “joy of driving” for a new generation of buyers, as the first model to pair the award-winning Honda two-motor hybrid-electric powertrain with the high-performance chassis hardware of the iconic Civic Type R.
Moreover, the new 6th-generation Prelude marks the debut of Honda S+ Shift, an innovative new drive mode that simulates a performance transmission for the ultimate electrified Honda driving experience, including virtual rev-matched downshifts and gear holding, plus enhanced engine sounds to increase driver feel and connection with the vehicle.
Prelude offers precise steering, responsive handling and fun-to-drive feel to deliver an engaging grand touring experience, while remaining comfortable for everyday driving.
A Honda model has received a North American Car or Truck of the Year award five times in the past 10 years, including the Honda Civic (2016), Honda Ridgeline (2017), Honda Accord (2018), Honda Civic (2022) and Honda Civic Hybrid (2025).
The North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year awards honour excellence in innovation, design, safety features, performance, technology, driver satisfaction and value. Initiated in 1994, they are judged by 50 professional automotive journalists from Canada and the United States who work for independent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and industry websites.