Compare the2026 Honda PreludeVS 2025 Lexus RC

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Prelude are reminded to check the back seat. The RC doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Prelude deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Prelude’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The RC’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Prelude has a standard Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RC doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Prelude has standard Low Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The RC doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

Both the Prelude and the RC have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Prelude’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Prelude’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the RC’s camshafts. If the RC’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

On the EPA test cycle the Prelude gets better mileage than the RC:

Regenerative brakes improve the Prelude’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The RC doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Prelude’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. The RC doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Prelude uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RC requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Prelude has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The RC doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Prelude’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the RC:

The Prelude’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RC’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Prelude has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the RC.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Prelude is 1.8 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the RC.

The Honda Prelude may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 650 pounds less than the Lexus RC.

The Prelude is 6.6 inches shorter than the RC, making the Prelude easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Prelude uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RC doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Prelude has .3 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 4.7 inches more rear legroom, 3.8 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the RC.

The Prelude has a much larger trunk than the RC (15.1 vs. 10.4 cubic feet).

The Prelude’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RC’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Prelude’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The RC’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Prelude has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The RC doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.