Photo: Honda Prelude by Aos.1905, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. It shows the model, not always this exact version.
Honda · model year 1987
1987 Honda Prelude
Subcompact · Front-Wheel Drive · Gas · EPA class: Subcompact Cars
Where it places
The CarCody take
The 1987 Honda Prelude is a subcompact gasoline car with front-wheel drive, a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, and a four-speed automatic transmission. Its EPA rating is 23 MPG combined, with 21 MPG city and 27 MPG highway. The listed annual fuel cost is $2,900, and tailpipe CO2 is 386.39 grams per mile.
Good to know
- Front-wheel drive
- Four-speed automatic transmission
- 27 MPG highway rating
- 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine
Watch for
- 21 MPG city rating
- 23 MPG combined MPG
- $2,900 listed annual fuel cost
- 386.39 g/mi tailpipe CO2
Who it suits. Drivers seeking a subcompact gasoline car Mostly highway driving Buyers wanting front-wheel drive and an automatic
The 1987 Honda Prelude is a compact-footprint choice for drivers who prefer gasoline power, front-wheel drive, and automatic shifting. The 23 MPG combined rating is the key ownership number, with city trips rated lower than highway travel. A listed $2,900 annual fuel cost makes fuel planning important. Consider it when those drivetrain and body-size basics fit your needs, and compare its combined MPG directly with other cars you are weighing.
What it is
The 1987 Honda Prelude is a subcompact car from Honda. It uses gasoline and sends power to the front wheels through a four-speed automatic transmission.
Its engine is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder.
The numbers
The figure to watch is 23 MPG combined. EPA figures are 21 MPG in city driving and 27 MPG on the highway.
That spread gives you a simple guide: stop-and-go trips use the lower city figure, while steady highway travel can reach the higher one.
What it costs to run
The EPA annual fuel-cost figure is $2,900. Your actual spending will follow how much city and highway driving you do, but 23 MPG combined is the single planning number.
Tailpipe emissions are listed at 386.39 grams of CO2 per mile.
How it compares
Use the 23 MPG combined figure when lining the Prelude up with other cars in an MPG chart. Its city and highway numbers show where it may differ in daily traffic or longer trips.
Who it suits
The Prelude fits a driver who wants a gasoline subcompact with front-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. Its 21 MPG city rating matters most for frequent urban driving; the 27 MPG highway figure favors more open-road miles.
Trade-offs
The four-cylinder engine and automatic gearbox keep the powertrain straightforward, but the EPA figures show a clear fuel-use gap between city and highway driving. Gasoline is the only listed fuel, and the car has front-wheel drive rather than another drivetrain layout.
Verdict
Choose this Prelude if a small front-wheel-drive car and automatic transmission match your driving. Budget around $2,900 in the EPA annual fuel-cost estimate, with the lowest efficiency showing up in city use. Its 23 MPG combined rating gives you a practical baseline for comparing similar cars, while the 386.39-gram-per-mile CO2 figure describes its tailpipe output.
Every figure on record
- Combined MPG
- 23 MPG
- City MPG
- 21 MPG
- Highway MPG
- 27 MPG
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 386 g per mile
- Model year
- 1987
- Body
- Car
- EPA size class
- Subcompact Cars
- Drive
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 1.8 L 4-cyl
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Fuel
- Gasoline
Questions
What is the 1987 Honda Prelude's combined MPG?
Its EPA combined rating is 23 MPG.
What are its city and highway MPG figures?
The Prelude is rated at 21 MPG city and 27 MPG highway.
How much fuel does the EPA estimate it costs each year?
The listed annual fuel cost is $2,900.
What engine and transmission does it use?
It has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a four-speed automatic transmission.
Is the 1987 Prelude front-wheel drive?
Yes. Its listed drive layout is front-wheel drive.
What class of car is it?
The EPA classifies it as a subcompact car.
How much tailpipe CO2 does it emit?
The listed tailpipe figure is 386.39 grams of CO2 per mile.
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24 MPG · $2,800 fuel a year 1987 Honda Prelude
25 MPG · $2,700 fuel a year