Compare the2026 Honda PreludeVS 2025 Lotus Emira

The Honda Prelude has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Emira doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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 Emira 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 Emira doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Prelude’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Emira.

The Prelude has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Emira’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Prelude has standard Cross Traffic Monitor, helping the driver avoid collisions. Lotus charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Emira.

Both the Prelude and the Emira have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights and rear parking sensors.

The Prelude comes with free roadside assistance for 3 years 36,000 miles. Honda will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Lotus doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Emira.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Prelude 2 years and 24,000 miles longer than Lotus covers the Emira. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the Emira ends after only 3 years or 36,000 miles.

There are over 28 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lotus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Prelude’s warranty.

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

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

The Prelude has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Emira’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Prelude has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Emira doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Prelude’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Emira (102.6 inches vs. 101.4 inches).

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

The Prelude has standard seating for 4 passengers; the Emira can only carry 2.

The Prelude has 35.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Emira (84.6 vs. 49).

The Prelude has a much larger trunk than the Emira (15.1 vs. 5.3 cubic feet).

The Prelude has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Emira doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Prelude’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children from operating them. Lotus does not offer a locking feature on the Emira’s standard power windows.

The Prelude’s standard Push Button Start and Smart Entry allow you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the Emira only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

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 Emira’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Prelude has standard extendable sun visors. The Emira doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Prelude’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Emira doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

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 Emira doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.