1992-1996 Honda Prelude: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1992-1996 Honda Prelude and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Acceleration
- Steering/handling
- Antilock brakes (except S)
Cons
- Passenger and cargo room
- Instruments/controls
Vehicle Highlights
Far different in appearance from its predecessors, Honda's sporty front-drive coupe was three inches shorter and two inches wider than the 1988-91 design. Two models were available. Base engine was a 135-horsepower 2.2-liter four. The sporty Si carried a new 2.3-liter twin-cam four, rated at 160 horsepower. Either engine may drive a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. New all-electronic 4-wheel steering marked the Si 4WS model. With this setup, rear wheels turn slightly in the same direction as the fronts, to improve cornering and maneuverability. A driver-side airbag was standard on all Preludes, while the Si 4WS added a passenger-side airbag. Antilock braking was standard on the Si, but not available on the S edition.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Honda Prelude Si 5-speed Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 7 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 2 | |
| Value within Class | 6 | |
| Total Score: | 44 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1992-1996 Honda Prelude. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1992-1996 Honda Prelude.
Year to Year Changes
1993 Honda Prelude:
A high-performance VTEC edition joined the lineup, with a 190-horsepower twin-cam version of the 2.2-liter base engine. VTEC Preludes rode larger wheels and tires. Both the VTEC and the Si 4WS had dual airbags.
1994 Honda Prelude:
All models got dual airbags, plus a modestly restyled nose and turn-signal lamps. Inside, new vacuum-fluorescent instruments sat behind a smoked dashboard lens.
1995 Honda Prelude:
Slow-selling four-wheel steering models were dropped. Otherwise, Preludes were unchanged, except that the base S model gained air conditioning.
1996 Honda Prelude:
For its final outing in this form, no change was evident on the Prelude.
Our road test for the 1992-1996 Honda Prelude includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1992-1996 Honda Prelude and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1992-1996 Honda Prelude is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Space up front is okay, but split-back rear seats really are tight--best left to toddlers--and the Prelude's skimpy trunk is tinier than before. Controls are conveniently placed and typically Honda-friendly, but Prelude instruments are annoyingly odd. Warning lights stretch all across the dashboard top, sitting too far to the right for easy checking while underway. Vacuum-fluorescent fuel and temperature gauges are near the center, difficult to read. On the plus side, expect strong performance and good fuel economy. All engines are turbine-smooth. While a base-model Prelude's acceleration is only adequate, the Si feels snappy, and the VTEC is sports-car quick. The automatic transmission hurts performance only slightly, but it has poor shift quality and seems to wander haphazardly through the gears at highway speeds. Test stick-shift Si Preludes have yielded a reasonably frugal 23.1 mpg in daily driving. Cornering is flat and grippy, handling poised and responsive. Stopping ability is commendable, but lack of antilock braking on the S model is unfortunate. We haven't found that 4-wheel steering helps much, yielding only a small gain in maneuvering ease. Not many are around, anyway.
Value for the Money
Expensive? Sure it is; but for buyers who value fine workmanship, refinement, and a solid, reassuring feel, Prelude deserves a trial.
Expensive? Sure it is; but for buyers who value fine workmanship, refinement, and a solid, reassuring feel, Prelude deserves a trial.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Honda Prelude Si 5-speed Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 4 | |
| Ride Quality | 3 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 7 | |
| Quietness | 3 | |
| Controls/Materials | 6 | |
| Interior Room | 5 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 2 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 2 | |
| Value within Class | 6 | |
| Total Score: | 44 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Honda Prelude includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Honda Prelude .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Brakes:
The parking brake may not fully release because a rivet was installed too snugly. (1993-94)
Seatbelts/safety:
Seatbelts may not retract or may retract slowly. Also, the button that keeps the seatbelt tongue from sliding down breaks. The belts should be serviced under the Honda Lifetime Seat Belt Limited Warranty. (1992-96)
Steering problems:
The car may drift to the right on flat roads due to a faulty spool valve in the power-steering system. (1992-93)
Transmission noise:
The transmission grinds when shifting into fifth gear due to mismanufactured shift fork. (1992-95)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $370 |
| Alternator | $410 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $965 |
| Brakes | $210 |
| Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing | $520 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $675 |
| Exhaust System | $670 |
| Radiator | $480 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $845 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $250 |
Our price chart for this generation Honda Prelude details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1996 | |||
| Prelude | $2,900-3,600 | $2,200-2,700 | $700-800 |
| Prelude VTEC | $3,600-4,300 | $2,900-3,400 | $1,000-1,200 |
| 1995 | |||
| Prelude | $2,500-3,200 | $1,800-2,300 | $500-700 |
| Prelude SE/VTEC | $3,100-3,700 | $2,400-2,900 | $700-900 |
| 1994 | |||
| Prelude | $2,100-2,700 | $1,500-1,900 | $400-500 |
| Prelude 4WS/VTEC | $2,600-3,200 | $1,900-2,400 | $500-700 |
| 1993 | |||
| Prelude | $1,800-2,300 | $1,200-1,600 | $300 |
| 1992 | |||
| Prelude | $1,500-2,000 | $1,000-1,300 | $200-300 |
|
|
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This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Honda Prelude include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door coupe | |
| Wheelbase, in. | 100.4 | |
| Overall Length, in. | 174.8 | |
| Overall Width, in. | 69.5 | |
| Overall Height, in. | 50.8 | |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 2809 | |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 7.9 | |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 15.9 | |
| Seating Capacity | 4 | |
| Front Head Room, in. | 38.0 | |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 44.2 | |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 35.1 | |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 28.1 | |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
Three engines powered 1992-96 Preludes. Base S models used a 135-horsepower, single-cam 2.2-liter 4-cylinder. A dual-overhead-cam 2.3-liter, rated 160 horsepower, went into the midlevel Si. High-performance VTEC Preludes, available from 1993 to '96, benefited from a dual-cam 2.2-liter with variable-valve timing, developing 190 horsepower. Except for the VTEC, which came only with 5-speed manual shift, any Prelude might have either a manual or an automatic transmission.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| dohc I4 | 2.3 / 138 | 160 | 156 | 5-speed manual: 22/27 4-speed automatic: 21/26 |
5-speed manual: 23.1 4-speed automatic: -- |
| dohc I4 | 2.2 / 132 | 190 | 158 | 5-speed manual: 22/26 | 5-speed manual: 21.9 |
| ohc I4 | 2.2 / 132 | 135 | 142 | 5-speed manual: 24/29 4-speed automatic: 22/27 |
5-speed manual: -- 4-speed automatic: 24.6 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: Japan
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Honda Prelude include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1993 Prelude |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 4 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | 5 |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1992-1996 Honda Prelude directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1996:
Certain ball joints can wear out prematurely and, in worst case, would separate, causing front suspension to collapse.
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