2026 Honda Prelude: mileage, fuel cost, safety and recalls
The 2026 Honda Prelude gets 44 miles per gallon combined.
How the Prelude ranks in its class
In the Subcompact Cars class for 2026, the Prelude ranks 1st of 18 for combined mileage (44 mpg), 1st of 17 for yearly fuel cost ($1,400 for its cheapest version, cheapest first) and 2nd of 18 for tailpipe CO2 (203 grams per mile for its lowest version, lowest first). The middle model of the class gets 25 mpg, costs $3,000 a year and puts out 343.5 grams per mile.
Across all 235 2026 models in the file that burn fuel, the middle best-version figure is 24 mpg and the highest is 57 mpg (Toyota Prius). Of the 234 other models, 9 get more miles per gallon than the 2026 Prelude's best version, no other model gets the same and 225 get less. The 2026 Prelude's cheapest version costs $1,400 a year to fuel by the agency's figure; of the 225 other models with a cost figure, 8 cost less, none the same and 217 more.
Nearest models in the class (places 1 to 4 of 18)
Open the best-mileage list of this class for 2026. Cost and CO2 in the table are each model's lowest figure over its versions; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell versions have no fuel cost and are left out of the cost column.
| Place | Model | Best version | mpg | Fuel a year, cheapest version | CO2 g/mi, lowest version |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2026 Honda PreludeThis car | 2026 Prelude | 44 | $1,400 | 203 |
| 2 | 2026 MINI Cooper | 2026 Cooper C 2 Door | 32 | $2,400 | 275 |
| 3 | 2026 BMW 4 Series | 2026 430i Coupe | 31 | $2,500 | 285 |
| 4 | 2026 BMW 2 Series | 2026 230i Coupe | 30 | $2,600 | 296 |
Your fuel cost
Pick a 2026 version, then set your miles and fuel price. Fuel price as of 2026-11-14, U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. The price box starts at the dated price of the fuel the picked version burns (regular, midgrade or premium gasoline, diesel, E85 or electricity) and sets the price of that fuel. Miles are limited to 1,000 to 60,000 a year and the price to $0.01 to $20.00; a value outside that is worked out at the nearest limit.
2026 Prelude, 4-cyl 2.0 L: 46 mpg city, 41 highway, 44 combined. The agency's own estimate for the 2026 Prelude version is $1,400 a year (15,000 miles, the agency's fuel prices).
Compare with a rival
The 3 nearest rivals in the Subcompact Cars class for 2026, picked by closest combined mileage; only versions with a fuel-cost figure are listed. Same miles as on the left. The price box on the left is the price of the fuel of the version you picked: a rival that burns the same fuel uses that price, a rival that burns another fuel keeps the dated price of its own fuel. The 5-year line is 5 times the yearly gap.
The Prelude costs $985 less to fuel each year.
Over 5 years the Prelude costs $4,925 less to fuel than the Cooper (5 times the yearly difference, at these miles and these prices).
- 2026 MINI Cooper
- 2026 BMW 4 Series
- 2026 BMW 2 Series
The Prelude against its nearest rivals
Dollar gaps use each car's best-mileage version.
| Rival in 2026 | Best version | Combined | Fuel a year, agency (15,000 miles) | Against the Prelude (mileage) | Agency yearly fuel cost against the Prelude | Side by side |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 MINI Cooper | 2026 Cooper C 2 Door | 32 mpg | $2,400 | 12 lower | $1,000 more a year | - |
| 2026 BMW 4 Series | 2026 430i Coupe | 31 mpg | $2,500 | 13 lower | $1,100 more a year | - |
| 2026 BMW 2 Series | 2026 230i Coupe | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 14 lower | $1,200 more a year | - |
Every version of the 2026 Honda Prelude
EPA test figures for 2026; the last column is the yearly fuel cost against the cheapest version.
| Version | Engine | Gearbox | Drive | City | Highway | Combined | Fuel a year | CO2 g/mi | Fuel vs cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 PreludeHybrid | 4-cyl 2.0 L | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Front-wheel | 46 | 41 | 44 | $1,400 | 203 | cheapest |
Emissions
Tailpipe CO2: the 2026 Prelude puts out 203 grams per mile.
EPA scores (1 to 10, 10 best) for the 2026 Prelude: fuel economy score 7, greenhouse gas score 7.
Mileage by model year
Best combined figure of the Prelude hybrid each model year since 2016, set against the 2026 model.
| Model year | Best hybrid | Versions tested | Against 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026This page | 44 mpg | 1 | this page |
No 2025 Honda Prelude is in the agency's file, so there is no earlier year to compare with.
Safety record
Crash-test ratings, 2026
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Honda Prelude (as PRELUDE). The U.S. safety agency's ratings list returned no star ratings for the 2026 Honda Prelude on 2026-11-14. Not every model is crash tested, so this means "not rated by NHTSA", not a good or a bad result.
Owner complaints, 2026
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Honda Prelude (as PRELUDE). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no complaints for the 2026 Honda Prelude on 2026-11-14.
Safety recalls
The U.S. safety agency's model list has the 2026 Honda Prelude (as PRELUDE). The U.S. safety agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Honda Prelude on 2026-11-14. Recalls can be added later; check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
More Subcompact Cars for 2026
Other 2026 models of the same agency class, each with its best combined figure. The Prelude itself is at 44 mpg.
Other Honda models of 2026
More Honda models that have a 2026 page here, with the class of each and its best combined figure.
Common questions
Which 2026 Honda Prelude gets the best mileage?
The 2026 Prelude with 44 mpg combined (46 city, 41 highway).
How much does a 2026 Honda Prelude cost to fuel for a year?
The 2026 Honda Prelude costs between $1,400 and $1,400 to fuel by the agency's estimate, which assumes 15,000 miles a year. Use the calculator above for your own miles and fuel price.
How does the 2026 Honda Prelude rank among 2026 Subcompact Cars models?
The 2026 Honda Prelude is 1st of 18 for combined mileage. The top of the class is the 2026 Honda Prelude at 44 mpg, and the middle figure for the class is 25 mpg. In the list, the next one behind is the 2026 MINI Cooper at 32 mpg.
How did the 2026 Honda Prelude do in crash tests?
No star ratings were returned for the 2026 Honda Prelude on 2026-11-14. Not every model is crash tested.
Do owners complain about the 2026 Honda Prelude?
No complaints were returned for the 2026 Honda Prelude on 2026-11-14.
Does the 2026 Honda Prelude have recalls?
The agency's database returned no recalls for the 2026 Honda Prelude on 2026-11-14 (its model list has this car). Check your own car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fresh these numbers are
For the 2026 Honda Prelude: EPA file 2026-11-04; fuel price 2026-11-14; crash tests 2026-11-14 (no stars returned); complaints 2026-11-14; recalls 2026-11-14. Not covered: purchase price, towing, reliability, repair and insurance costs.
Mileage and fuel cost for the 2026 Honda Prelude: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, fueleconomy.gov vehicle file (file dated 2026-11-04). Recalls for the 2026 Honda Prelude: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (checked 2026-11-14). Crash-test ratings for the 2026 Honda Prelude: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (checked 2026-11-14). Complaints for the 2026 Honda Prelude: NHTSA (checked 2026-11-14). Fuel prices: U.S. Department of Energy / EPA (2026-11-14). Your own mileage depends on how and where you drive. Where our numbers come from.