Iconic car returns to American roads after 25 years, but drivers hate what's changed
A sports car that was a top seller in the 1980s and 1990s has returned to American roads - but critics say the long-awaited comeback comes with a catch.
Honda put the reborn two-door Prelude on sale in the US late last year, marking its return after a 25-year absence.
But reviews published this week suggest the car’s most controversial change - its gear-shifting setup - is already alienating the enthusiasts who once loved it.
Unlike the original Prelude, the new 2026 model does not have a traditional gearbox. There is no stick shift and no conventional automatic transmission.
Instead, drivers press buttons on the center console to select drive modes. They can also pull steering-wheel paddles that trigger fake gear changes.
The car’s computer then plays artificial engine revs and exhaust sounds through the speakers to make it feel like the car is shifting - even though the hybrid system does not actually change gears. In other words, the Prelude sounds like it’s changing gears, even when it isn’t.
That design choice was divisive at launch - with fans taking to social media to criticize it - and has now become a central focus of the reviews.
The Wall Street Journal was among the harshest critics. It said the Prelude ‘doesn’t even have a transmission, per se’ and described the gear changes and engine noise as ‘completely artificial’.
Honda's Prelude was a cult classic car in the 1980s and early 1990s
Its coming back in the 2026 model year as a two-door hybrid
The review called the experience ‘virtualized nostalgia, arguing Honda is recreating the sensation of a sports car without the mechanical reality underneath.
While the Journal praised the Prelude’s build quality and handling, including suspension and brake components borrowed from the Civic Type R, it said the car lacks the raw, mechanical connection that made the original a cult favorite.
Car and Driver was more forgiving but still skeptical. It said the paddle-controlled fake shifts do add involvement, but acknowledged they don’t replace the satisfaction of a real manual gearbox.
The Drive said the simulated shifting adds engagement but ultimately underscores that the Prelude is a hybrid first and a sports coupe second
First launched in 1978, the Prelude became a cult classic in the 1980s and 1990s thanks to its sharp looks, rev-happy engines and affordable sports-car appeal.
Alongside rivals such as the Toyota Celica, Supra and Nissan Skyline, the Japan-built coupe delivered driving thrills without the fuel bills or upkeep costs of American muscle cars.
But sales faded in the late 1990s and Honda killed the Prelude in 2001 after five generations.
Honda's gear selector - which includes a series of buttons on the center console - has been a source of controversy on social media
The revived Honda Prelude cruises along a country road after returning to US dealerships in late 2025
The Prelude was popular in the 1980s among young drivers, who were looking for the thrill of a sportscar without the cost of large American-made engines
The 2026 Prelude looks familiar - but underneath it has changed dramatically.
Instead of a traditional gas engine, Honda brought the Prelude back as a hybrid, pairing a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a small battery pack producing around 200 horsepower.
It costs just above $40,000, placing it firmly in modern sports-coupe territory.
But it was not the hybrid setup that has been controversial. The 2026 Prelude ditches a conventional gear lever entirely.
Honda’s Prelude revival follows another nostalgia play from the automaker.
In August last year, the company announced it would bring the Acura RSX back to US dealerships, 19 years after nixing the sporty car.
This time, the RSX will be a Tesla Model Y-like EV crossover.
