Compare the2026 Dodge ChargerVS 2026 Honda Prelude

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 Charger are reminded to check the back seat. The Prelude doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Charger has standard Rear Park Assist with Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Prelude doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Charger has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Prelude doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Charger offers an optional 360° Surround View Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Prelude only offers a rear monitor.

The Charger has standard Uconnect 9-1-1, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Prelude doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Charger and the Prelude have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 2 times as many Dodge dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Charger’s warranty.

The Charger R/T’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 220 more horsepower (420 vs. 200) and 236 lbs.-ft. more torque (468 vs. 232) than the Prelude’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Charger Scat Pack’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder produces 350 more horsepower (550 vs. 200) and 299 lbs.-ft. more torque (531 vs. 232) than the Prelude’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Charger Daytona Scat Pack’s standard electric motors produces 470 more horsepower (670 vs. 200) and 395 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 232) than the Prelude’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

The Charger Six Pack has 6.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Prelude (17.5 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Charger has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Prelude doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

All wheel drive, available in the Charger, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Honda Prelude is not available with all wheel drive.

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

The Charger’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Prelude are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the Charger has larger standard tires than the Prelude (275/40R20 vs. 235/40R19). The Charger’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Prelude (F:305/35R20 & R:325/35R20 vs. 235/40R19).

The Charger’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Prelude’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Charger has standard 20-inch wheels. Only 19-inch wheels are available on the Prelude.

The Charger has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Prelude doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Charger’s wheelbase is 18.4 inches longer than on the Prelude (121 inches vs. 102.6 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Charger is 4.1 inches wider in the front and 5 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Prelude.

The front grille of the Charger uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Prelude doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the Charger Two-Door a Large car, while the Prelude is rated a Subcompact.

The Charger has standard seating for 5 passengers; the Prelude can only carry 4.

The Charger has 18.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Prelude (103.1 vs. 84.6).

The Charger has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 2.1 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.8 inches more rear headroom, 5.2 inches more rear legroom, 7.4 inches more rear hip room and 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Prelude.

The Charger has a much larger trunk with its rear seat up than the Prelude (22.7 vs. 15.1 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Charger. The Prelude doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Charger offers an optional power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button. The Prelude doesn’t offer a power liftgate.

The Charger 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 Prelude doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Charger’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Prelude has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

The Charger offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Prelude doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The power windows standard on both the Charger and the Prelude have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Charger is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Prelude prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the Charger to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Prelude doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

When the Charger with available tilt-down mirrors is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Prelude’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

The Dodge Charger comes in coupe and four door hatchback bodystyles; the Honda Prelude isn’t available as a four door.