Always on the crest of the wave, the sports coupe offered numerous exciting features in a gracefully offbeat package, redefining the joy of driving in a definitive way. Launched to much fanfare for 1979, the Honda Prelude was a well-built and well-equipped two-door sporty coupe. With its high style and standard moonroof, the Prelude appealed to young folks looking for a sporty, well-built car with a fun personality.
There have been five generations of the Prelude, each introducing changes that enriched the car's functionality and performance. The Prelude was very well-received throughout its life, earning a spot on Car and Driver's "10 Best" an impressive 10 times. But we should not kid ourselves: being recognized with these types of awards comes at a premium – a price some consumers felt was too steep to pay at the time. The Prelude's somewhat expensive price tag along with the unavailability of a V6 engine option (although the inline fours were well respected) let to a decline in sales and the discontinuation of the range in 2001. Still, it's not lost on us what a fine sports coupe the Prelude was. Below, we list the top 10 reasons why we love the Honda Prelude.
10 It Has An Independent Front Suspension
The Honda Prelude offers various safety-oriented standard features, including a well-judged independent front suspension that provides the Prelude with significantly enhanced ride comfort, steering, and vehicle dynamics.
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By providing the driver with an optimum combination of ride, handling and steering, the Prelude ensures a greater sense of control and precision, which are important factors for occupant safety and accident prevention.
9 It Is Equipped With A Four-Wheel Steering System
The Prelude's four-wheel steering system is another outstanding example of innovation at work. This technology permits maneuvering at tight bends by equipping the Prelude with lively steering that makes changing directions quickly child's play.
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The four-wheel steering system also contributes to the Prelude's driving stability and enhances the driver's ability to operate in close quarters and gives it a tight turning radius, strengthening the vehicle's sporty driving dynamics further, something very few vehicles could brag about.
8 It Has A Very Low Hood Line
Beyond its excellent road behavior and exciting technology, the Honda Prelude has a fascinating design that is as stylish as it is functional. While we appreciate its overall athletic stance, the Prelude's incredibly low hood line stands out as a particularly important cue.
The neat, tapering line of the hood makes it easier for the driver to see the road ahead, while also reinforcing the Prelude's dynamic shape and sporty stance.
7 It Has Pop-Up Headlights
The pop-up headlights were a fantastic feature for sure. They marked an era and are easily among the most recognizable features of the Honda Prelude. The details, which fold down into the fender when not in use, enable the sports car to maintain a clean, streamlined profile with an impressive aerodynamic drag coefficient of only 0.34.
The result is an outstanding performance range, with smooth drivability, balance, and stability at low speeds, as well as robust output when a driver wants more power.
6 It Has Refined Luxury Features
Upscale by design but with a minimalist layout, every inch of the Honda Prelude is thoughtfully built with high-quality, authentic materials and impeccable craftsmanship. The sports car combines a beautifully crafted cabin of premium materials and a design based on performance and sophistication.
For a vehicle that has been out of production and discontinued for over two decades now, the Prelude offers numerous amenities that will be considered upscale even by modern standards. Some Prelude models have a leather interior with red stitching, heated seats, a leather-covered steering wheel, a futuristic wraparound dashboard with electroluminescent dials, sound-deadening materials, optional power-folding and heated side mirrors, etc.
5 It Has Power Steering
What good is the Prelude's enthusiastic driving manners without exact steering that keenly responds to the driver's inputs? If you've ever driven a car without power steering, you would know how laborious it can be to turn a vehicle at low speeds.
The power steering feature provides the Prelude with shorter turning radiuses, making it easy to maneuver and park in narrow spots that otherwise might be difficult to access.
4 It Has A Powered Sunroof
The powered sunroof demonstrates the Prelude's ability to provide consummate comfort and superlative dynamism, especially when one considers that a sunroof is still regarded as a luxury item even in contemporary times.
The powered sunroof available with the Prelude not only added a dynamic styling element but also created a sense of open space, allowing occupants to enjoy an open-air cabin with natural light while showcasing the elegant character of the coupe.
3 It Has Limited Slip Differential
The Prelude has always been considered a capable sports coupe, and having limited slip differential enhances that important legacy. The device, which comes with the Honda Prelude Si States, provides extra torque and grip under slippery conditions like snow, ice, and wet, allowing drivers to carve a corner with greater confidence.
When a slippery surface causes a driven wheel to lose grip and transmit torque to the ground, the limited-slip differential transfers power to the other wheel to mitigate wheelspin and allow for more traction.
2 5-Speed Manual Transmission
It's no secret that manual gearboxes are much more enjoyable and engaging to use, owing to their ability to operate with precision and effectiveness.
The Prelude features a responsive 5-speed manual transmission that provides the performance-minded driver with an increased sense of control, responsiveness, fast gear changes, and unique driving pleasure.
1 Made Of High-Strength Metal
The Prelude receives a lot of praise for its outstanding interior as well as its ability to create an adequate level of comfort, and rightly so. But it is the use of high-strength steel and intelligent body construction that demonstrates Honda's high-quality standards.
The extensive use of high-strength steel on the Prelude made the vehicle lightweight, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced tailpipe emissions.