Two Japanese coupes, two completely opposite philosophies. Honda has revived the Prelude as a hybrid grand tourer; Toyota's GR86 remains a purist's rear-drive sports car. Choosing between them is really a question about what you want from a drive.
Honda Prelude
Priced at $65,000 drive-away in a single, well-equipped grade, the sixth-generation Prelude uses the Civic's 2.0-litre e:HEV hybrid system driving the front wheels through an e-CVT. On paper it is modest — Honda quotes 315Nm and a 0-100km/h time of around eight seconds — but the clever part is S+ Shift, software that simulates gearchanges by cutting torque on upshifts and blipping on downshifts.
Underneath, it borrows properly good hardware from the Civic Type R: the dual-axis front suspension, the brakes and adaptive dampers, retuned for comfort. The result rides beautifully on rough Australian roads, looks superb, and is a genuine liftback with folding rear seats. Honda claims around 4.3L/100km.
Toyota GR86
The GR86 is the opposite argument. A 2.4-litre naturally aspirated flat-four driving the rear wheels, available with a proper manual gearbox, low kerb weight, and a chassis built to be played with rather than admired. It makes meaningfully more power than the Prelude and it is significantly cheaper.
What you give up is refinement and everyday comfort. The GR86 is noisier, firmer and thirstier, the cabin is plain, and the back seats are essentially luggage space.
The honest comparison
The Prelude is the better car to live with — quieter, more efficient, more comfortable, better finished. The GR86 is the better car to drive when the road gets interesting, and it is the one enthusiasts will still be talking about in twenty years.
Price is the sticking point. At $65,000 drive-away the Prelude is a lot of money next to a GR86, and Honda sells it under a fixed-price model with no negotiation.
Verdict
Prelude if you want a stylish, efficient daily driver that happens to be a coupe. GR86 if you want a sports car and you are willing to live with the compromises that come with one.