Which Honda Prelude Has VTEC?

Most Honda Preludes with VTEC are from the fourth and fifth generations: in Japan, VTEC arrived with the 1991 Si VTEC/SiR; in North America, it debuted with the 1993–1996 “Prelude VTEC” trim; and from 1997–2001, all U.S. Preludes (Base and Type SH) used DOHC VTEC. Earlier generations did not use VTEC. This overview explains exactly which years and trims carried Honda’s variable valve timing technology across regions.

How VTEC appeared in the Prelude lineup

Honda’s VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) reached the Prelude when the company began pairing the coupe with the H22A-series DOHC VTEC engines. That rollout began in Japan in 1991 (fourth generation) and expanded globally through the mid-1990s, culminating in the fifth generation where VTEC became standard in many markets, including the United States.

Fourth generation (Japan 1991–1996; North America/Europe 1992–1996)

The following trims and markets featured VTEC during the fourth-generation Prelude. Naming and exact output varied by region, but all of these used the H22A-family DOHC VTEC engine.

• Japan: Si VTEC / SiR (H22A DOHC VTEC)
• North America: 1993–1996 “Prelude VTEC” (H22A1 DOHC VTEC); earlier 1992 U.S. cars did not have a VTEC option
• Europe/Australia: VTi / VTi-R (market-specific H22A variants with DOHC VTEC)

In this generation, non-VTEC Preludes were also common (e.g., H23A1 and F22A engines), so the presence of VTEC depended on trim—look specifically for the VTEC/Si VTEC/SiR/VTi naming or the H22A-series engine code.

Fifth generation (Japan 1996–2001; North America/Europe 1997–2001)

VTEC was even more widespread in the fifth generation, with the H22A series powering most high-spec trims worldwide. In the U.S., every fifth-gen Prelude had DOHC VTEC.

• North America: Base and Type SH (both with H22A4 DOHC VTEC)
• Japan: SiR (H22A DOHC VTEC) and Type S (high-spec H22A DOHC VTEC; ATTS standard)
• Europe/UK: 2.2 VTi and special-edition VTi-S (market-specific H22A variants with DOHC VTEC)

If you’re shopping fifth-gen models, VTEC is the rule rather than the exception—particularly in the U.S.—with differences centering more on handling packages (e.g., Type SH with ATTS) than on the engine’s VTEC status.

Engines that signify a VTEC Prelude

While trim names help, the quickest technical tell is the engine code. The H22A family is the Prelude’s DOHC VTEC workhorse across markets and years.

• H22A (Japan) — DOHC VTEC; used in Si VTEC/SiR (4th gen) and SiR/Type S (5th gen)
• H22A1 (U.S., 4th gen) — DOHC VTEC; found in 1993–1996 Prelude VTEC
• H22A4 (U.S., 5th gen) — DOHC VTEC; found in 1997–2001 Base and Type SH
• H22A8 and other market-specific H22A variants (Europe/UK) — DOHC VTEC; used in VTi/VTi-S

If a Prelude carries one of these H22A-series codes, it’s a VTEC model. Non-VTEC Preludes typically used engines like the H23A1 or F-series units.

How to tell if your Prelude has VTEC

Beyond model year and trim, several quick checks can confirm whether a particular Prelude is VTEC-equipped.

• Valve cover branding: DOHC VTEC lettering is typically cast or printed on VTEC models.
• Engine code: Look for the stamped code on the block (H22A, H22A1, H22A4, H22A8, etc.).
• Trim badging and brochures: “VTEC,” “Si VTEC/SiR,” “VTi/VTi-R,” “Type S,” or U.S. “Prelude VTEC.”
• U.S. model years: 1993–1996 VTEC trim (4th gen) and all 1997–2001 cars (Base and Type SH) are VTEC.

Because regional naming can vary, combining visual cues (valve cover), documentation (VIN/engine code), and trim identifiers is the most reliable way to verify VTEC.

Bottom line

VTEC-equipped Honda Preludes begin with the fourth generation in certain trims (Japan’s Si VTEC/SiR from 1991; U.S. “Prelude VTEC” from 1993) and continue through the fifth generation, where all U.S. models (1997–2001) and many international trims used the H22A-series DOHC VTEC engine. First, second, and third generations did not have VTEC.

Summary

Answer: Fourth- and fifth-generation Preludes with H22A-family engines have VTEC—specifically Japan’s Si VTEC/SiR (from 1991), the U.S. 1993–1996 Prelude VTEC, and all 1997–2001 U.S. models (Base and Type SH), plus equivalent VTi/VTi-R/Type S trims in other markets. Earlier generations lacked VTEC.

Does the 2000 Honda Prelude have VTEC?

The Prelude has the dual cam VTEC as opposed to the single cam VTEC the RSX had, but is just as fast if not faster. The only downfall is that it uses 93 octane gas but I would have used it anyway.

Which Honda engine has VTEC?

The first type is for performance engines like the K20A2 or K20Z3 used in the 2002-2006 RSX Type S or the 2006-2011 Civic Si and the second type is for economy engines like the K20A3 or K24A4 used in the 2002-2005 Civic Si or 2003-2007 Accord.

Which Preludes have VTEC?

Fifth Generation
Fifth Generation: 1997–2001
All fifth-gen Preludes came with a VTEC 2.2-liter inline-four with 200 horsepower and 156 pound-feet of torque.

Does the 1997 Prelude have VTEC?

So for 1997, the new coupe will be available as two models—the Prelude and the Prelude SH—and both will be powered by the top-drawer 2.2-liter VTEC engine, which now musters another five horsepower (thanks to a new exhaust header and revised valve timing) to peak at 195 horsepower at 7000 rpm.