Is P3.5-M the right price for the Honda Prelude?

MANILA: The next-generation Honda Prelude will apparently retail at P3.498 million.

The aforementioned price was posted by several of the brand’s local dealerships and agents on social media after the hybrid coupe’s reservation period started today (February 27, 2026).

With that kind of pricing, Honda Cars Philippines Incorporated (HCPI) could be positioning the Prelude as its new “halo” model after the departure of the Civic Type R. 

Then again, the Honda Civic Type R was a much hardcore model with a manual transmission paired with the Japanese manufacturer’s famous K-series four-banger gasoline mill. With those bits, the Civic Type R even held a legendary record on the notorious Nürburgring.

Sure, the Honda Prelude does have its own set of qualities that may beguile would-be adopters, but it is clearly designed as a “softer” two-door coupe fitted with a comparatively modest 2.0 L LFC-H4 engine and an electric continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).

Granted, it has the S+ Shift technology, but we reckon that it cannot provide the same "raw" driving experience as the Honda Civic Type R, which retailed for around P3.8 million when it was axed. 

On this note, many have had negative reactions to the upcoming Honda Prelude’s so-called suggested retail price, with some calling it “too expensive.” There’s also the point that, as an electrified Honda e:hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), it could have benefited from the current tax exemptions (50 percent for HEVs) provided by the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA) to become a relatively accessible coupe.

At the moment, however, many still feel it comes at too high a price - a sentiment that is doing the rounds among car-oriented circles on various social media pages. 

For reference, the base-model Honda Prelude e:HEV in Japan retails for ¥6.179 million, or around P2.283 million. So, did HCPI lose the plot when it comes to positioning the Honda Prelude, or is the price just right? You be the judge. 

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Honda Prelude: PH market specs, features

As previously reported, the Philippine-spec Honda Prelude’s specifications and features can be viewed on the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Electric Vehicle Industry website. 

Per DOE’s site, the Honda-made model is propelled by a 2.0-liter e:HEV gasoline engine paired with an electric motor, a lithium-ion battery, and an E-CVT. 

Altogether, the said system’s internal combustion engine can generate up to 139 horsepower (hp) and 182 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. Its electric motor, meanwhile, adds a further 181 hp and 315 Nm of torque. 

Inside the upcoming Honda Prelude, a four-seater “two plus two” layout features white-and-blue perforated leather upholstery for the front seats. 

It also comes with a dual-zone automatic climate control system, ambient lighting, manual-adjustable front seats, a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a nine-inch infotainment display - among others. 

The model also includes several advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS). 

Also read:

Honda Cars PH offers tempting discounts for City, BR-V, HR-V this Feb.

Honda to implement organizational, operational adjustments in auto, moto, power products

Honda Cars PH releases City, City Hatchback’s 30th edition options

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