Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.My automotive review background has opened up many a discussion about car shopping. Friends, family, and strangers have asked me what they should buy. For the individuals who have chosen to follow my advice, nobody has come back angry (or they've just hidden their rage). It's a good thing that I ask them numerous questions about their wants, needs, priorities, budget, etc. before even providing insights and advice. Most of the time, people have an idea of what they want before they even assess their needs. Then, there are the strictly pragmatic ones who base most of their decisions on price, safety, reliability, and fuel economy. Sometimes, I get blindsided by radical changes that people make after they think they know what they want, only to go for something totally different.Kristen BrownRecently a friend, Jeff, told me he was considering something completely divergent from his current vehicle and from the vehicles he's been talking about for months. Just a couple of weeks ago, he said he wants the new Honda Prelude. It was a bit of a head scratcher, given the fact that he currently drives an SUV and hasn't even been researching or shopping for sports cars. He has pretty much just talked about body-on-frame SUVs for his next vehicle.AdvertisementAdvertisementI try not to inject my personal opinion into the mix unless I'm directly asked. Allow me to elucidate this point. I try to make recommendations based on what the buyer is looking for rather than based on what I would, personally, purchase for me or for my family (or, for that matter, what I could buy if my budget were considerable more than it actually is). Unless they directly ask what I would personally choose, my advice is based on their input. Sometimes, things go wrong, and I wash my hands of the situation. Jeff's wife recently bought a Lexus TX 350 after I advised her to get something else. She actually regrets her decision. Just sayin'.His Current Ride: Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (JL)JeepI've known Jeff for a few years now, largely because both of our daughters are on the same swim team. We talk cars all the time. As long as I've known him, he's driven a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Although he loves it, the car has given him a fair amount of trouble. It's a good thing he's pretty handy and has been able to perform a lot of the maintenance and repairs himself. He's been talking about the need to replace his Wrangler sooner than later because it's becoming a money pit.Jeff likes himself a rugged SUV. It's kind of his personality. He's casual, easygoing, but a busy husband and father who doesn't seem to want a vehicle that can't handle the rough stuff. He drives a ton for work and for his daughter's extracurricular activities I also figured that his family was an SUV family because that's all I've ever seen them drive. His wife, after all, replaced her Audi Q7 with a Lexus TX 350.As recently as last month, Jeff has been seriously considering getting a 2026 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro. He asked me what I thought, and I said the 4Runner was excellent and that it was better on pavement than I thought it would be. I'm not sure if he does any off-roading of any kind, but I was assuming not, especially since I only see his Wrangler without mud or dirt on it. Regardless, I just figured he wanted a rugged SUV because that's what he currently owns. It didn't occur to me that he was considering something radically different from what he drives.The Prelude is a Hard PivotWhen someone makes a hard transition from one segment to a totally different one, it's usually because they're downsizing. When couples' kids start driving, and the parents no longer need a minivan, I see them move to smaller crossovers. When folks become empty nesters, they might switch to a compact sedan to save gas. When someone retires, they might opt for their dream sports car. In fact, older men in their 50s and 60s tend to gravitate to the new Honda Prelude more than young people.HondaAdvertisementAdvertisementWell, when Jeff told me he was considering the new Honda Prelude, I was shocked. He and his wife aren't empty nesters, and their youngest daughter is still two years away from driving. He's not retiring anytime soon, either. I asked him, "Why a Honda Prelude? I didn't think you were in the market for a sports car, much less a hybrid with no manual transmission." Then, he reminded me that he used to own a 2nd-gen Acura Integra with a manual back in his single days. At least there was some connection to his newfound fascination with the Prelude.The Prelude is (probably) Very GoodHondaI'll admit that I haven't driven the new Prelude yet, so was hard for me to give Jeff an informed opinion on the car. Not that it stopped me before. As with virtually all Hondas, it's likely that the Prelude is quite good. After all, it shares the same 200 horsepower engine with the excellent Civic Hybrid and adds chassis upgrades from the track-ready Civic Type R. The Civic Hybrid was easily one of my favorite vehicles in recent memory. The transmission (or lack thereof) in the new Prelude is also an upgrade from the Civic Hybrid's CVT.The Prelude gets a unique S+ paddle shifting system that simulates the sound and feel of shifting through gears in a sequential manual transmission. Here it is straight from Honda" "With the innovative new Honda S+ Shift system, Prelude delivers the ultimate electrified Honda driving experience with a responsive and engaging shifting simulation, featuring virtual rev-matched downshifts in S+ mode and enhanced engine sounds to increase driver feel and connection with the vehicle."Jeff pointed out that one of the reasons he wants the Prelude is its excellent gas mileage. The EPA rating is 46 city / 41 highway / 44 combined mpg. Those are impressive numbers for a sports car. In terms of the driving experience, numerous reviews, including our own, extol the virtues of the Prelude, calling it refined and responsive, a car that "doesn't need a manual" to be enjoyed. I would beg to differ on that last point.My Two Cents WorthHondaAlthough, I wouldn't personally buy the Prelude for myself (if I was in the market for a sports car, which I feel like I always am, even though my wife disagrees), I told Jeff that the Prelude will probably be a very fun car to drive, save him money on gas (44 mpg combined versus his Jeep's rather paltry 20 mpg combined), and projected reliability is high. The Prelude might not be a conventional sports car, and that's why he might really like it. The powertrain, alone, is unique for a sporty coupe, and the modern intepretation of the legendary Prelude might be an overdue one.HondaAdvertisementAdvertisementOn the downside, it's unlikely that he'll get sticker price for it in our area. Dealerships won't get more than two or three per year, and they'll probably mark it a couple of thousand dollars more over the $42,000 base MSRP. New models in the Chicago metropolitan area are advertising for close to $45k. That said, it's still significantly less than a new 4Runner TRD Pro ($68,400 base MSRP).From a pragmatic daily use standpoint, Jeff will have to make some serious compromises in the area of passenger space. In the second row of the Prelude, things will be tight if he wants to transport more than two people. Road tripping with his whole family would be out of the question, too. There's a mere 32 inches of legroom, which won't really work for anything more than a child, much less his teenage and young adult girls.HondaFinally, I reminded him that the Prelude is front-wheel drive only. It might be fine for most days, but in snowy Chicago winters, he will find it challenging to get around. Even with dedicated ice and snow tires, the Prelude will struggle when the snow gets deep due to the lack of ground clearance. I told Jeff that if he's hell bent on saving money on gas and getting something sporty, the Civic Hybrid Sport Touring is a smart buy because he's likely to get nearly the same driving pleasure, even better gas mileage (50 city / 47 highway / 49 combined mpg) and save gobs of dough in the process.Final ThoughtsWhen it comes to car shopping, the heart wants what the heart wants. Sometimes, when a buyer gets the opposite of what he or she has typically owned, the results can be surprisingly good. In Jeff's case, he's probably going to love the Prelude's driving dynamics, its sporty looks, and its tremendous fuel economy. He'll run into space and traction challenges, for sure. Cross-shopping segments can be a difficult hurdle to overcome, and buyers will have to sacrifice some needs in pursuit of wants.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. 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