Honda Malaysia has officially launched the new 2026 Honda Prelude. The Prelude arrives in Malaysia fully imported (CBU), priced at RM 278,000 on-the-road without insurance. The 2026 Honda Prelude shares some of its underpinnings and chassis components with the FL5 Civic Type R. This includes a dual-axis strut front suspension and adaptive dampers, although Honda
Honda Malaysia has officially launched the new 2026 Honda Prelude. The Prelude arrives in Malaysia fully imported (CBU), priced at RM 278,000 on-the-road without insurance.
The 2026 Honda Prelude shares some of its underpinnings and chassis components with the FL5 Civic Type R. This includes a dual-axis strut front suspension and adaptive dampers, although Honda has taken a very different approach with the powertrain.
Instead of a turbocharged petrol engine and manual transmission, the Prelude uses Honda’s Intelligent Multi-Mode Drive (i-MMD) hybrid system. It combines a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated Atkinson-cycle inline-four petrol engine with an electric motor.
The petrol engine produces 141 PS at 6,000 rpm and 182 Nm at 4,500 rpm, while the front traction motor produces 184 PS and 315 Nm. Total system output is rated at 203 PS. The engine primarily works as a generator for the hybrid battery, but can also directly drive the wheels when required.
The Prelude rides on 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 235/40 tyres. It also gets four-piston Brembo front brake calipers from the Civic Type R, finished in Prelude Blue.
One of the main highlights is the S+ Shift system, making the Prelude the first Honda model in Malaysia to feature it. The system works with Active Sound Control to simulate gear shifts from an eight-speed transmission, despite the car using Honda’s hybrid drive system.
Inside, the Prelude’s cabin takes clear inspiration from the Civic, but with several model-specific changes. The dashboard gets hexagonal air vents without the Civic’s full-width mesh design, while the car also gets a flat-bottomed three-spoke steering wheel with a 12 o’clock marker.
The front seats are bucket-style units with pronounced shoulder bolstering. The centre console has also been reworked, replacing a conventional gear lever with a push-button gear selector.
Equipment includes wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a wireless phone charger, an eight-speaker Bose sound system and the full Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance systems.
The Honda Prelude is offered in three exterior colours. These are Rallye Red, Winter Frost Pearl and Crystal Black Pearl. Regardless of exterior colour, the cabin is finished in a blue and white interior theme.
Warranty coverage consists of a five-year, unlimited-mileage vehicle warranty, along with a 10-year, unlimited-mileage warranty for the lithium-ion hybrid battery and selected hybrid components.