Compare the2026 Honda PreludeVS 2026 Ford Mustang

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 Mustang’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

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 Mustang doesn’t offer automatic braking for stationary objects directly to the rear.

The Prelude has standard Parking Sensors to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The Mustang doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the Prelude and the Mustang have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in long-term dependability. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Ford is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda fourth in overall reliability. Ford is ranked 13th.

On the EPA test cycle the Prelude gets better mileage than the Mustang Fastback:

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

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

The Prelude has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Mustang. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Prelude higher (6 out of 10) than the Ford Mustang (4 to 6). This means the Prelude produces up to 12.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Mustang every 15,000 miles.

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 Mustang doesn’t offer a CVT.

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

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 Mustang’s standard 50 series tires.

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

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Prelude is 1.9 inches wider in the front than the average track on the Mustang.

The Honda Prelude may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 750 pounds less than the Ford Mustang.

The Prelude is 11 inches shorter than the Mustang, making the Prelude easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Prelude has 1.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Mustang Fastback (84.6 vs. 82.8).

The Prelude has .8 inches more front shoulder room, 3 inches more rear legroom, 1.3 inches more rear hip room and 1 inch more rear shoulder room than the Mustang Fastback.

The Prelude has a much larger trunk than the Mustang Fastback (15.1 vs. 13.5 cubic feet).

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 20% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

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

The Prelude’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford charges extra for heated mirrors on the Mustang.

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 Mustang doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.