The New Honda Prelude Should've Gotten a Manual Transmission

The New Honda Prelude Should've Gotten a Manual Transmission originally appeared on Autoblog.

A hybrid sports coupe with three pedals would be big news

The sixth-generation Honda Prelude will arrive before the end of this year as a 2026 model. The return of the Prelude was lauded by many as having been a long time coming, and Honda showed off a prototype back in 2023. The big news is that, for the first time, the Prelude utilizes Honda’s two-motor hybrid electric powertrain, which includes a 2.0-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and two electric motors. The system includes a simulated manual shifting mode called "S+ Shift", which will use sound effects, torque modulation, and paddle shifters to mimic the feel of gear shifts.

After five generations of manual transmission Preludes, this feels like a slap in the face of driving enthusiasts. Knowing how Honda engineers its vehicles and systems, we have eno doubt it will provide excellent performance, but we're not sold on the driver engagement factor. Honda now only has two cars with manual transmissions: the Civic Si and the Civic Type R. It no longer offers a manual transmission on the regular Civic. We’re happy to see that Honda is still committed to two manual transmission cars, but no one knows for how much longer.

Why a hybrid Prelude?

The Prelude is an iconic car in sports car enthusiast circles, having shown the world what a mainstream Honda sports car should be. It changed over the years from a modest coupe to a truly eye-catching sports car with a styling all its own. The Prelude made a name for itself well before the S2000 and the Civic Type R ever hit the scene. The new Prelude isn’t meant so much as a successor to the original gas-powered Prelude as it is a replacement for the discontinued Civic and Accord coupes, balancing performance and fuel efficiency, which aligns with Honda's move towards electrification. It combines a racy design with a hybrid powertrain, offering an engaging driving experience while being mindful of sustainability.

Honda has been more than clear about its green intentions. It plans to be fully carbon neutral by 2050 and have 100% of its vehicle sales as battery electric and fuel cell electric by 2040. These are ambitious goals, and that push has already started with hybrid-electric vehicles and EVs. The wild success of the Honda Prologue and the Honda Civic Hybrid is evidence that these plans have teeth. Honda set records in 2024 with hybrid-electric vehicles, which now represent more than a quarter of the brand's total sales. Hybrid-electric trims currently make up more than 50% of both Accord and CR-V sales, and the newly introduced Civic hybrid is on track to comprise 40% of Civic sales. The numbers don’t lie.

The lack of a manual is automatically a disappointment

While the trend in the automotive industry is leaning heavily toward hybrid and electric vehicles, those who love to drive overwhelmingly choose gas-powered, manual transmission cars. Case in point, the Subaru WRX. For the first time, the WRX is offered with a CVT, but takers are few. Around 80 percent of WRX buyers opt for the six-speed manual transmission, which is an astoundingly high number. The flipside of that is the fact that manuals are on the wane. One of the icons, the VW Golf GTI, no longer has one. MINI no longer has a single manual transmission vehicle, not even the JCW. The blistering BMW M2 CS doesn’t even offer one. It’s a sad state.

The styling of the 2026 Honda Prelude looks the part, and the promise of enhanced hybrid performance for this segment is intriguing, but the glaring omission of a manual transmission leaves us wanting. Lest you say that hybrids with manuals aren’t a thing, just dig a little into Honda’s past, and you’ll find the 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid that was available with both a 5-speed manual transmission and a CVT. Then there was the 2011–2016 Honda CR-Z, also made with a manual transmission. Precedent had already been set. Honda had an opportunity to contribute to its green future while simultaneously throwing the best of bones to the enthusiast community.

The decision to forgo a manual gearbox in a car that draws so much from Honda’s performance heritage isn’t shocking, but it is disappointing when placed in the light of the original Prelude models, particularly those from the late ‘80s through early 2000s, which earned a cult following not just for their innovative technology (the 4WS four-wheel steering, especially) and stylish sports coupe design, but also for the engaging driving experience they offered. Much of that engagement came from Honda’s crisp-shifting five-speed and six-speed manuals, which delivered a level of driver involvement that can't really be replicated, otherwise.

The omission is especially disappointing given the current resurgence in manual transmission enthusiasm, if not sales figures. Automakers like Toyota offer manual options in the GR86, GR Corolla, and even the Supra, which started its life without one. Mazda continues to offer manuals in the MX-5 Miata and Mazda3 hatchback, and Nissan revived the Z with a stick shift. Even BMW put a manual back in its Z4. Honda's luxury brand, Acura, offers two Integras with manuals, the A-Spec and the Type S. These manufacturers understand that while manuals will never again be volume sellers, they create followings and help cement brand identities. They speak directly to enthusiasts, generate media buzz, and cultivate loyalty among a community that values engagement rather than just outright performance.

Final thoughts

It’s clear Honda wants the new Prelude to be more than a niche performance car by making it a hybrid that also offers efficiency. We get that a simulated manual may broaden its appeal to those who don’t want to rope their own gears, but an available true manual transmission with three pedals would rightly bridge the gap between the past and the present. Accessibility and excitement don’t have to be mutually exclusive. The new Prelude will, most likely, be great to drive. It will be quick and handle like a sports car should, but if it's truly meant to be a spiritual successor to Honda’s legendary coupes, it deserves to come with a stick.

The New Honda Prelude Should've Gotten a Manual Transmission first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 23, 2025

This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared.