Somewhat Unexpectedly, the 2026 Honda Prelude Is Proving Very Popular with the AARP Crowd

It was always going to be hard for Honda to deliver with the reborn 2026 Prelude. The nameplate carries a lot of baggage among the American enthusiast crowd, who have proved less than impressed with the hybridized coupe (though, admittedly, they haven’t driven it yet). The same can’t be said in Japan, however, where the new sporty entry has already surpassed Honda’s expectations—particularly among the older crowd.

According to a document posted to the automaker’s Japanese language media site that was brought to broader attention by Motor1, the Prelude is massively outpacing sales targets in its home market: Honda had hoped to move 300 units a month, but received 2400 orders between September and October. That eight-fold increase, interestingly enough was largely driven by middle-aged-and-older buyers in their 50s and 60s.

That age group is well placed to have fond memories of previous Prelude generations, perhaps pushing some nostalgic purchasing. These buyers also may have a bit more disposable income on hand. In the States, people in their early fifties are responsible for the majority of car purchases; I expect the Prelude to follow a similar trend here.

Hopefully, Americans will be a bit more expressive with how we spec the cars, however. The vast majority of Japanese buyers have opted for a white or gray exterior hue, representing 63 percent and 16 percent of buyers, respectively.

Due to the unexpected demand, Honda is working on ramping up Prelude production in Japan to fight against delivery delays. The sporty coupe isn’t slated to arrive in the States until later this fall, and should start around $40,000 when it does. That’s a lot of money for what is essentially a Civic coupe, but the Prelude does borrow some suspension and chassis components from the Civic Type R. Without a proper manual, however, the Prelude might not strike the same chord with American buyers yearning for the Hondas of yesteryear. Unless they’re a touch older, perhaps.

You Might Also Like