The Prelude was launched in Japan on 24 November 1978, serving as the inaugural model for the Honda Verno retail sales channel. While the nameplate was originally trademarked by Toyota, it was amicably transferred to Honda for use. The car followed a musical naming convention shared with other Honda models such as the Accord, Quintet, and Concerto.
The first-generation (SN) chassis was developed by chief engineer Hiroshi Kizawa specifically for a sporting profile, featuring a wheelbase 60 mm shorter than the contemporary Accord. It was the first Honda to feature a moonroof as standard equipment, a feature that became a trademark for the model. Though marketed as a 2+2, the rear seating was noted as unusable for adults.
The second-generation Prelude (AB), released in late 1982, introduced pop-up headlights to achieve a more aerodynamic front clip. This generation marked the transition of the Prelude into a "mini-gran turismo." In 1985, Honda introduced fuel injection to the "Si" models. The car gained significant traction in the United Kingdom, selling well even as other manufacturers, such as Ford with the Capri, exited the sports car sector.
The third-generation (BA), released in 1987, achieved a breakthrough in handling technology. Its mechanical 4WS system used two steering boxes linked by a dedicated shaft, allowing the rear wheels to turn in opposition to the front wheels once the steering wheel passed 140 degrees of rotation. In a 1987 Road & Track slalom test, the Prelude 2.0Si 4WS recorded a speed of 65.5 mph, outperforming that year's Chevrolet Corvette C4, as well as contemporary models from Ferrari and Porsche.
During the 1990s, the Prelude evolved through its fourth and fifth generations. The fourth-generation (1991) moved away from pop-up headlights and introduced an electronic version of the 4WS system. It featured the 2.2-liter DOHC VTEC H22A1 engine, producing 190 PS. This generation also saw the introduction of a sophisticated 8-speaker Gathers DSP audio system.
The fifth-generation (1996) returned to the more angular, square styling of the third generation to address slumping sales. A significant technical addition was the Active Torque Transfer System (ATTS), featured on the Type SH (Super Handling) and Japanese Type S models. ATTS was designed to counter understeer by distributing up to 80 percent of torque to the outside front wheel during cornering. Despite these advancements, the Prelude faced internal competition from the sixth-generation Accord coupe, the Civic Si, and the rear-wheel-drive S2000. Production of the original run concluded in 2001 upon the introduction of the fourth-generation Integra.
The Prelude served as the official Formula One safety car during the 1994 Japanese Grand Prix. It had previously been utilized as a pace car at the Suzuka International Racing Course in 1992.
In technical development, the introduction of the B21A1 engine in the 1990 North American Si model featured Fiber Reinforced Metal (FRM) cylinder liners. While extremely tough, these liners were reported to cause premature piston ring wear, leading to high oil consumption in those units.
Between 1978 and 1982, Honda manufactured 313,000 units of the first-generation Prelude, with 80% sold outside of Japan. The model's safety record in Australia, assessed by the Roads & Traffic Authority, improved from "average" (1983–1996) to "significantly better than average" for the 1997–2001 models.
The nameplate was revived in 2025 with the BF1 generation, a hybrid electric liftback. This model received the 2025-2026 Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car Design of the Year award.
The Prelude has been modified into convertible formats by various aftermarket firms. Solaire Corporation in California, collaborating with Bruce Meyers, produced approximately 250 first-generation convertibles between 1980 and 1982. In Germany, Tropic Design and Honda-Autohaus Manfred Ernst performed similar conversions on second and fourth-generation models, respectively.
In motorsport, the HRC Prelude-GT, utilizing the silhouette of the sixth-generation model, began competing in the GT500 class of the Japanese Super GT series in 2026, replacing the Civic Type R-GT.
Car and Driver Ten Best: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998.
Wheels magazine Car of the Year: 1987.
Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car Design of the Year: 2025-2026 (Sixth generation).
European Car of the Year: Third place, 1988.
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