Mid-size SUVs with three rows, like the 2001 Honda Prelude are popular with families, in part because their cabins are big enough for both people and goods. Buyers have so many options right now that it’s hard for an SUV to stand out. Its boxy shape doesn’t, and neither do its features or powers. It has a 285-hp V-6 engine and a 10-speed automatic gearbox.
All-wheel drive is an option, but the 2001 honda prelude comes with front-wheel drive as standard. If you want to go off-road, there is a Trail Sport model that looks more rugged and has more ground clearance, all-terrain tires, and skid plates to protect the underbody.
Most buyers, though, will choose one of the 2001 Honda Prelude mid-range trims, and they will find it to be a nice SUV for running errands or going on road trips.
The honda prelude 2001, is a good choice among mid-size SUVs because of its smooth-running V-6 engine and up-to-date technology. However, the Kia Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee L all offer similar, and in some cases, more upscale packages. Here is the best 2024 Lotus Emira you can check it now!
What’s Different in 2024?
The fourth-generation 2001 honda prelude doesn’t get any big changes for its second year on the market. The 2024 model comes in the same range of trims and is powered by the same petrol engine as the 2023 model.
We like the 2001 honda prelude EX-L because it has a good mix of functions and price. The EX-L trim adds leather seats, a bigger 9.0-inch tablet, wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a power tailgate. It’s up to you to decide if you need all-wheel drive or not. We think it’s worth the money to be able to pull more weight.
2001 honda prelude Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The 2001 honda prelude has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 285 horsepower and a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Even though the SUV is mostly a front-wheel-drive model, there is a choice for all-wheel drive.
Even though the Pilot’s V-6 engine doesn’t make it very fast, the throttle response is smooth, and the 10-speed automatic makes smooth moves. On the road, the 2001 honda prelude feels smooth and has steering and braking that give you trust.
The most rugged Trail Sport model worked well on real-world off-road roads near Breckenridge, Colorado, and again in Sedona, Arizona, where the terrain was not too hard. But Honda hasn’t made a rock-crawling super-machine like the Broncos, Wranglers, and 4Runners that can take on Moab.
The 2024 Honda pilot Trail sport has a special frame with a 1-inch lift, steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, a hill-descent control system, and an all-wheel drive system with a Trail driving mode.
Cost of petrol and MPG in the Real World
The EPA says the 2001 Honda Prelude can get up to 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. On our 75 mph highway fuel economy route, we tried a 2023 Pilot Trail Sport with bigger all-terrain tyros and more off-road protection. It got 22 mpg.
That is almost as good as other three-row SUVs with a V-6 engine, like the Kia Telluride, which got 24 mpg. In the same test, the Pilot Elite we looked at, which had less harsh tires, got 27 mpg. Visit the EPA’s website to learn more about the Pilot’s gas mileage.
Cargo, Interior, and Comfort of the 2001 Honda Prelude
The 2001 honda prelude type sh, is a family-friendly SUV, so the body is made with that in mind. All models can fit up to eight people in the three rows, but the second-row captain’s chairs that can be added to the EX-L trim drop the number to seven.
The Trail Sport comes with captain’s chairs as standard. When not in use, the middle part of the second-row seat in the Touring and Elite models can be taken out and stored under the floor in the storage area.
Honda says that eight of the 2001 Honda prelude cup holders can hold big 32-ounce water bottles and that its cargo space is bigger than ever. When all three rows of seats are up, there is a good amount of room for cargo.
We were able to fit six carry-on-sized boxes behind the third row, which is two more than we could fit into a Kia Telluride. Here is the best 2024 Hyundai Sonata you can check it now!
How good is the Pilot’s comfort?
The front seats and available captain’s chairs for the second row are soft and comfortable without being too soft. Some rivals offer more ways to adjust the front seats, so not everyone will be as comfortable as they could be. The 2001 Honda Prelude suspension is good at smoothing out most bumps, but some types of uneven roads can make the cabin feel sharp and loud.
Overall, there isn’t much noise from the wind, road, or engine, but the car isn’t as quiet as top-rated competitors like the Kia Telluride. The air control is easy to use and has enough power for the big cabin.
There are vents in all three rows, but the placement of the vents in the second and third rows isn’t the best. Vents are put by the armrests in the third row, so people can get air to their hands. Here is the best Performance and Features of the 2024 dodge Durango you can check it now!
Technology
The Pilot has a lot of useful tech features, but it’s a half-step behind the rest of the pack. The infotainment system works quickly and is easy to use, and it can connect to a wireless phone. However, the 9-inch screen seems small in the big cabin. It’s too bad that we don’t have the 12.3-inch screen of the Accord.
There are a lot of places to charge, and one of them is a pad that charges wirelessly. There is only a single USB-C port, though. The rest are the less powerful USB-A type, which reduces your choices for fast-charging phones, tablets, and laptops.
2001 Honda Prelude does give the Pilot a lot of tools that help the driver that come as standard. Even at very low speeds, lane keeping aid keeps the car in the middle of the lane.
But adaptive cruise control follows smoothly at motorway speeds, but it’s less reassuring when there’s more traffic. During our tests, it was too slow to respond to rapid stops in traffic, so the driver had to step in. Even after a short stop, you have to press a button on the steering wheel or step on the gas pedal to get it going again, so it doesn’t save you much work.