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When I left Indianapolis a couple of weeks ago for the Goodwood Revival in the U.K., I wished my 2026 Honda Prelude long-term test car had one convenient feature: ventilated seats. It’s been abnormally hot here since late spring, and things can get swampy quickly in the car—especially when I’m already hopping in hot and sweaty after the gym or a hike.
I may as well have been gone for a whole month, because when I got back from the U.K., it was 60 degrees and full-blown fall weather. This morning it was 45 degrees, and you know what I wished the almost $45,000 Prelude also had? A heated steering wheel.
Previous Installments
The Prelude’s odd feature offerings and equipment packaging stand out whether it’s hot or cold outside, and that’s kind of annoying, really. Even the Civic Si offers a heated steering wheel (in Canada), and the $50,000 Acura Integra Type S certainly does, so you know the goodies are in the general Honda parts bin. Plus, the automaker has gone out of its way to emphasize that the Prelude isn’t as performance-focused as the Civic Type R, which makes me wonder even more about skipping this feature if they knew the car should be more comfortable for daily, civilian use.
As far as the ventilated seats, I know that’s a more complex upgrade and not even the Integra Type S offers those, so that one is probably out of reach for a year-over-year improvement, but I sure hope that the 2027 Prelude adds a heated steering wheel and, I almost can’t believe I’m saying this, adjustable lumbar support.
Next week I will publish a story highlighting all the features in the Prelude, including its tech offerings, so you’ll know what won’t be discussed in that blog.
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As deputy editor, Jerry draws on a decade of industry experience and a lifelong passion for motorsports to guide The Drive’s short- and long-term coverage.
