1999 Honda Prelude: MPG and fuel economy
The 1999 Honda Prelude is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 21 combined MPG, with 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway. That sits a little below the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year.
This page collects every fuel-economy figure the EPA publishes for the 1999 Honda Prelude. Below you will find the headline combined, city, and highway MPG, the estimated annual fuel cost at three different driving levels, the tailpipe CO₂ emissions, and a full breakdown of the engine and drivetrain. The EPA rates 2 separate variants of this car (different engine, transmission, or drivetrain combinations), and you can compare them side by side in the trims table. If you want to know whether this generation got more or less efficient over the years, the year-over-year table further down covers every model year the EPA has rated.
Key takeaways
- The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 1999 model year is the Chevrolet Metro at 37 MPG.
- The Honda Prelude has gained 19 MPG since its first rated model year, the 1984 Honda Prelude at 25 MPG.
- EPA estimates this car costs around $5,750 more in fuel over five years than an average new vehicle of the same model year.
- Requires premium gasoline, which typically adds about 40 to 60 cents per gallon to the EPA's annual fuel cost estimate.
Fuel economy at a glance
These are the EPA's official ratings for the 1999 Honda Prelude. The numbers come from a standardised laboratory test cycle and are the same figures that appear on the window sticker of every new car. Real-world mileage varies with driving style, weather, fuel quality, and how heavily loaded the car is.
When the EPA tests several variants of the same nameplate (for example, a front-wheel-drive version and an all-wheel-drive version), each gets its own rating. The figures shown here are the headline variant, taken as the configuration with the best combined MPG. The trims table further down covers all 2 variants side by side.
Combined MPG is a 55/45 weighted blend of the city and highway test cycles. The EPA uses it as the single number you can compare across the entire dataset, including hybrids and EVs (which use the equivalent MPGe figure).
| Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
| City MPG | 19 MPG |
| Highway MPG | 24 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost | $3,300 |
| Tailpipe CO₂ | 423 g/mi |
| Fuel type | Premium |
How the 1999 Honda Prelude compares
The 1999 Honda Prelude returns 21 combined MPG. Cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year average 22.1 MPG, which puts this car behind the class average by about 5%.
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 1999 model year is the Chevrolet Metro at 37 MPG. The bar chart below puts the Honda Prelude alongside the class best and the class average so you can see the full picture.
For broader context, the average new car of the 1999 model year (across all classes) returns 19.1 MPG. Larger vehicles pull the all-cars average down, so do not use that figure on its own to judge a small car or a hybrid. The full list of the most efficient cars of the 1999 model year is on its own page.
Trim variants rated for 1999
The EPA rates 2 separate variants of the 1999 Honda Prelude. The differences come from the engine size, transmission type, and drivetrain (front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and so on). The same nameplate can land several MPG apart depending on the configuration you actually buy.
| Engine and transmission | Drive | Combined | City | Highway | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 19 MPG | 24 MPG | $3,300 |
| 2.2L, 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 MPG | 20 MPG | 24 MPG | $3,300 |
Annual fuel cost across driving patterns
The headline annual fuel cost the EPA publishes assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year and a fuel mix of 55% city and 45% highway. The dollar figure is calculated using the EPA's current reference price for premium gasoline, which is $4.61/gallon. EPA updates that reference periodically rather than tracking live pump prices, so treat it as a window-sticker estimate rather than today's pump number.
The table below scales the EPA's number to three common driving patterns. The combined MPG and the reference fuel price stay constant, only the annual mileage changes. To get a current-prices estimate, take your local gas price and multiply by 714.3 gallons (the car's annual consumption at the rated MPG).
| Driving pattern | Estimated annual fuel cost |
|---|---|
| Light driver, 7,500 miles per year | $1,650 |
| Average driver, 15,000 miles per year | $3,300 |
| Heavy driver, 25,000 miles per year | $5,500 |
Year-over-year MPG for the Honda Prelude
The EPA has rated the Honda Prelude across 18 model years, from 1984 Honda Prelude through 2026 Honda Prelude. The numbers below are the best combined MPG figure the EPA published for each year, which lets you see when the car was at its most efficient and how recent generations stack up.
The 1984 Honda Prelude returned 25 MPG. The most recent 2026 Honda Prelude returns 44 MPG. That is an improvement of 19 MPG over 42 model years, the kind of gain that usually comes from smaller engines, hybrid systems, or aerodynamic redesigns.
| Year | Combined MPG | Open year page |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 44 MPG | 2026 Honda Prelude |
| 2001 | 22 MPG | 2001 Honda Prelude |
| 2000 | 22 MPG | 2000 Honda Prelude |
| 1999 | 21 MPG | this page |
| 1998 | 22 MPG | 1998 Honda Prelude |
| 1996 | 23 MPG | 1996 Honda Prelude |
| 1995 | 23 MPG | 1995 Honda Prelude |
| 1994 | 23 MPG | 1994 Honda Prelude |
| 1993 | 24 MPG | 1993 Honda Prelude |
| 1992 | 24 MPG | 1992 Honda Prelude |
| 1991 | 22 MPG | 1991 Honda Prelude |
| 1990 | 22 MPG | 1990 Honda Prelude |
| 1989 | 22 MPG | 1989 Honda Prelude |
| 1988 | 22 MPG | 1988 Honda Prelude |
| 1987 | 25 MPG | 1987 Honda Prelude |
| 1986 | 24 MPG | 1986 Honda Prelude |
| 1985 | 24 MPG | 1985 Honda Prelude |
| 1984 | 25 MPG | 1984 Honda Prelude |
Compare against other Subcompact Cars for 1999
If you are cross-shopping the 1999 Honda Prelude, the most useful comparison is against the other cars in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year. The list below shows the highest-MPG peers, ranked from most to least efficient. Click any of them to open its full page.
The Volkswagen New Beetle leads this group at 38 MPG, 17 MPG ahead of the 1999 Honda Prelude.
Specifications
The 1999 Honda Prelude runs a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a automatic 4-spd, sending power through front-wheel drive.
Engine, transmission, and drivetrain together drive most of the variation in fuel economy across trims. A larger engine moves the car with less effort but burns more fuel. A turbo lets a small engine punch above its weight, often without much MPG penalty. All-wheel drive adds traction and weight, and usually costs a couple of MPG compared with two-wheel drive of the same engine.
- Vehicle class
- Subcompact Cars
- Engine
- 2.2L 4-cylinder
- Transmission
- Automatic 4-spd
- Drivetrain
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Fuel type
- Premium
- Annual petroleum use
- 14.2 barrels per year
Common questions about the 1999 Honda Prelude
Quick answers to the questions people most often search for when looking up the 1999 Honda Prelude.
-
Is the 1999 Honda Prelude fuel efficient?
It is in line with the rest of the class. The 1999 Honda Prelude returns 21 combined MPG, and the average car in the Subcompact Cars class for the same model year sits at 22.1 MPG. -
What MPG does the 1999 Honda Prelude get?
The EPA rates the 1999 Honda Prelude at 21 combined MPG, 19 MPG in city driving, and 24 MPG on the highway. Real-world numbers depend on your driving style, the weather, and how loaded the car is. -
How much does it cost to fuel a 1999 Honda Prelude per year?
The EPA estimates an annual fuel cost of $3,300 for the 1999 Honda Prelude. That figure assumes 15,000 miles of driving per year, a 55% city and 45% highway split, and the EPA's published average fuel price for the rated fuel grade. -
Does the 1999 Honda Prelude require premium gas?
Yes. The EPA lists the 1999 Honda Prelude as requiring premium gasoline. Running it on regular can reduce performance and may affect engine warranties, so it is not a recommended way to save at the pump. -
Has the Honda Prelude become more fuel efficient over time?
Yes. The first EPA-rated Honda Prelude, the 1984 Honda Prelude, returned 25 combined MPG. The most recent 2026 Honda Prelude returns 44 MPG, an improvement of 19 MPG over the run. -
How much CO₂ does the 1999 Honda Prelude emit?
Tailpipe CO₂ emissions are 423 g/mi. Multiplied across a typical year of driving (15,000 miles) that works out to about 6,348 kilograms of CO₂. -
What is the difference between the city and highway MPG of the 1999 Honda Prelude?
City driving returns 19 MPG and highway driving returns 24 MPG, a gap of 5 MPG. The two figures are close enough that the car will hold its rated efficiency well across most driving patterns. -
What engine is in the 1999 Honda Prelude?
The 1999 Honda Prelude has a 2.2-liter 4-cylinder engine (EPA description: DOHC-VTEC). -
What transmission and drivetrain does the 1999 Honda Prelude have?
The 1999 Honda Prelude comes with a automatic 4-spd transmission and front-wheel drive. -
How does the 1999 Honda Prelude compare to the best car in its class?
The most efficient car in the Subcompact Cars class for the 1999 model year is the Chevrolet Metro at 37 combined MPG. The Honda Prelude returns 21 MPG, a gap of 16 MPG. If you are comparing on fuel economy alone, the class leader is worth a look.
Source: U.S. EPA fuel economy dataset. Annual fuel cost figures assume 15,000 miles of driving per year and a 55% city, 45% highway split. Real-world mileage varies with driving conditions, vehicle maintenance, fuel quality, and driver behaviour.