Honda Prelude MPG by year — every rating on record

The Honda Prelude has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 18 model years, from 1984 to 2026. Across those years its best rated version returned 44 mpg (2026) and its thirstiest returned 20 mpg (1988). The EPA record holds 71 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Subcompact Cars.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Honda Prelude placed highest in 2026 at #2 of 46, and lowest in 1989 at #42 of 71. It spent 9 of its 18 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 71 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 4 of 9 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Prelude fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2026 Honda Prelude burns 261 to 261 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2026 model year is $1,400 to $1,400 a year in fuel, or $4,250 less than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Subcompact Cars

Across the 461 nameplates EPA classifies as Subcompact Cars, the median best combined rating is 24 mpg. At 44 mpg the Honda Prelude is 20 mpg better the median, which is worth about $762 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• All Subcompact Cars rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other Honda nameplates

Every Honda model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.