The new Honda Prelude drummed up a lot of attention in its home market of Japan. Some positive, in terms of outselling its production allocation, and some not as much. With the new Prelude’s performance figures falling short of some people’s expectations, it was only a matter of time before the waters would be further muddied. The latest social media rumors point to a large number of Prelude buyers cancelling their orders after actually test driving the hybrid coupe.
One such Japanese buyer now claims to have gotten to the bottom of the rumors on his auto hobby blog Creative Trends. One Honda dealer contacted directly contradicted the rumors, stating they have experienced zero cancellations from buyers who completed a Honda Prelude test drive experience. In fact, the opposite appears to be happening.
The Honda Prelude Test Drive Experience Contradiction
The Honda dealer noted that customers who drove the 2026 Honda Prelude actually expressed increased interest. Apparently, prospective Prelude buyers requested additional consultation appointments and to join waitlists for cancelled slots after test-driving the car. The Prelude went up for pre-order with strict limitations on purchase, including a lottery system, to dissuade people from reselling. Both the first and second batches were not offered to dealers either, meaning the 2,400 orders for the Prelude received in the first month came from individuals.
Most of these individuals proved to be Honda fans, having either owned the previous-generation Prelude or other Hondas, including the legendary Honda NSX sports car and older generations of the Honda Civic. Social media speculation suggested “buyers” were disappointed after driving the Honda Prelude hybrid. These speculations appear to come from people who own sports cars from other manufacturers, cars like the Toyota GR86, Mazda Miata, Suzuki Swift Sport, Fairlady Z and others. The dealership states that while it did receive an overwhelming response for test drives from these types of owners, they expressed disinterest in ordering the Prelude after the test drive for reasons ranging from price, powertrain specifications, or just simply not being a fan of the driving feel.
Strong Sales Numbers Tell Real Story About 2026 Honda Prelude
Despite this, the hybrid sports coupe has proven popular enough that initial batches sold out quickly, with some dealers, such as the one contacted, receiving fewer than ten units from the first 2,000-car production run. That level of demand suggests the Honda Prelude’s reviews from actual customers have been positive. The dealership interviewed indicated they had completely sold through both their initial and second production allocations, with waiting periods now extending six months to a year for new orders.
The cancellation rumors may have originated from unrealistic expectations about what the Prelude was meant to be. Honda positioned this model as an electrified sports coupe blending performance with practicality, not as a Type R competitor. For buyers seeking that balance, the Honda Prelude test drive experience appears to be delivering exactly what was promised, explaining why dealerships report strong sales rather than disappointed customers walking away.
