1996 Honda Prelude Review
1996 Honda Prelude Review
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
What’s new
This is the last year for the current-generation Prelude.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1996 Honda Prelude S 2dr Coupe and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.20 per gallon for regular unleaded in Kansas.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Kansas
$172/mo for Prelude S
Prelude S
vs
$160/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
Usually, when a carmaker introduces a model with unusual styling, we assume that the styling will grow on us, becoming attractive as the rest of the carmakers introduce models with similar styling themes. Since we first laid eyes on the Prelude in the fall of 1991, only two cars have dared tread where Honda designers did when creating the current-generation Prelude. The new Supra's roofline and greenhouse share the Prelude's proportions, and the Lincoln Mark VIII sports an interior as radical as that found in the Prelude. Needless to say, we still haven't grown accustomed to, or very fond of, this Honda's looks, inside or out.
Underneath the questionably attractive sheetmetal is where the Prelude shines, at least in Si and Si VTEC form. The Si gets a 160-horsepower 2.3-liter twin-cam engine; the Si VTEC a 2.2-liter twin-cammer good for 190-horsepower. The VTEC motor is sweet, with a high redline and rev-me-red personality, but it costs an extra $3,000 and reduces the Prelude's acceleration times by a scant half a second over the Si. We don't think it's worth it.
A deeply slotted dashboard greets the front passengers, running the length of the cowl and housing a combination of digital and analog gauges. At either end is a speaker housing and chintzy-looking speaker grille. The design provides an ample amount of interior room for the front passengers, but compared to Honda's previously-brilliant interior layouts, this one is cheesy and ineffective.
The frontal styling is downright ugly, and the alloy wheels look as though they were heisted from a Saturn SL2. The Prelude is a fun car, with reliability that is nearly matchless. However, we think Honda blew it with this version. The 1988-1991 Prelude was nicer to look at, more user-friendly, and less expensive. No wonder they hold their value so well.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1996 Honda Prelude.
5 star(91%)
4 star(9%)
3 star(0%)
2 star(0%)
1 star(0%)
47 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.88 out of 5 stars
1995 Honda Prelude VTEC-Coupe (Black)
VTEC-R, 07/11/2004
1995 Honda Prelude VTEC 2dr Coupe
One of the Best Performance cars I have
ever driven!!!
4.5 out of 5 stars
Amazing Car
Tom McGean, 05/01/2010
1996 Honda Prelude S 2dr Coupe
This is an amazing vehicle. First car I have ever owned, I got it when I was 16. Dropped suspension and a shift kit makes this baby fly and it handles like a pro. I love flying into parking lots and putting the car into a space at 30 mph. Blows my friends mind. Hilarious to crush Mustang Cobras and VWs at stop lights. Very rare and hard to find car that looks fantastic. Interior is … cramped, don't expect to make any trips over 30min with someone in the back seat without them complaining incessantly. Gauges are a little silly, and the glare at night can be tough, but the lighting can be lowered. Looks sick with some interior neon and a Kenwood though. All in all, a fantastic car
4.88 out of 5 stars
fun to corner
Fang, 05/09/2003
1995 Honda Prelude Si 2dr Coupe
Whenever I made a sharp turn in my
prelude, it just makes me feel
handsome. The build quality is also
outstanding. The only problem is that
the car feels bumpy on uneven road. I
think Honda could not avoid this
problem since the car is too light.
5 out of 5 stars
1995 Prelude Si
Murrell, 01/03/2010
1995 Honda Prelude Si 2dr Coupe
I have had my prelude for 5 years now and i have put a total of 85,000 miles on it. It has been the most fun car to drive I have ever had. It still has the same amount of power since the day i bought it. Actually a little more because of a few mods. I added a cold air intake and a full exhaust. The sound of the car is amazing. I have nothing bad to say about it. It is a totally reliable … car. With the mods i made i get about 28.5 miles per gal around town driving.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 1996 Honda Prelude, so we've included reviews for other years of the Prelude since its last redesign.
1996 Prelude Highlights
Coupe
S
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 23 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $172/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 7.9 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original0
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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