Honda Prelude

FIRST DRIVE A legend returns as Honda bounds back into the coupe market, but hybrid engine can't match sharp dynamics

- Alex Ingram

IT has been 25 years since Honda last produced a Prelude. Back in the late nineties and early 2000s, stylish yet attainable coupés from mainstream brands were all the rage. Alongside the Prelude, you could choose from a Vauxhall Calibra, Fiat Coupé, the beautiful Peugeot 406 Coupé, or something a little more upmarket, such as an Alfa Romeo GTV, Volvo C70 or BMW 3 Series Coupé.

Of those brands, only one of them offers a two-door option today: BMW. But, after two-and-a-half long decades, Honda has returned to the segment, with modest targets for the new car: an aim of 400 UK sales in the first year, followed by 500 in 2027 – far fewer than BMW 2 Series Coupé annual sales.

But we don't see Honda having trouble selling that many, simply on looks alone. The Prelude's sleek, futuristic shape is fantastic in the metal; enough to turn heads in many of the poshest parts of our Cote D'Azur test route, even in a muted grey finish.

Inside, things are a little more sensible. The dashboard design largely mimics that of the Civic, which means the ergonomics are pretty much flawless. Unusually, Honda has used two different shaped front seats, with the driver's one getting more bolstering than the softer passenger side.

We'd like the driver's seat to adjust a little lower, though. There are smart materials on the dashboard, including blue Prelude lettering stitched in, while two colour themes – blue with white highlights or blue with black accents, perk things up.

While the Prelude has four seats, the back two are hampered by that dramatic roofline. As a result, they're only really suited to children, or for folding down flat and using as extra boot space. A 2 Series Coupé is far roomier for passengers.