The Honda Prelude is front-wheel drive (FWD). It is a front-engine, transverse FWD two-door coupe produced by Honda from 1978 to 2001, and all generations used front-wheel drive. The car did not offer a factory rear-wheel-drive (RWD) or all-wheel-drive (AWD) configuration.
Here is a detailed look at how the Prelude’s drivetrain was configured across its five generations, along with notes on features that can be mistaken for a different layout, such as four-wheel steering (4WS).
Drivetrain at a glance
All Prelude models were designed with front-wheel drive. The layout uses a transverse engine mounted in the front, sending power to the front wheels. While some trims featured four-wheel steering, this is a handling feature, not a change in which wheels are driven.
Generations and drivetrain
Below is a concise look at each generation and its drivetrain. Note that all generations used FWD.
- First generation (1978–1982): FWD with transverse inline-4 engine
- Second generation (1983–1987): FWD
- Third generation (1988–1991): FWD
- Fourth generation (1992–1996): FWD
- Fifth generation (1997–2001): FWD
Conclusion: In every generation, the Prelude was front-wheel drive. The four-wheel steering option in some trims affected steering dynamics but did not change the driving wheels.
Details of design and layout
Four-wheel steering versus drivetrain
Four-wheel steering (4WS) was offered on some Prelude variants to enhance handling at certain speeds and driving conditions. This feature alters the steering angle of the rear wheels to improve cornering and stability, but it does not convert the car from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.
Layout and performance context
The Prelude’s FWD configuration contributed to its compact packaging, efficiency, and affordability within Honda’s sporty lineup. While it remained a performance-oriented two-door coupe, the drivetrain stayed consistently front-wheel drive throughout its production life.
Summary
The Honda Prelude is front-wheel drive (FWD) across all generations. There were no factory rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive Prelude models. Some trims offered four-wheel steering to boost handling, but this did not change the car’s fundamental front-wheel-drive layout.