Verdict
At RM338,990, the Audi costs RM60,990 more than the RM278,000 Honda, but it is the plainly more useful daily car: four doors, five seats and a 425-litre boot against the Prelude’s three doors, four seats and 264 litres. It is also quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds rather than 9.0, with 320 Nm from its 2.0-litre turbo. The Prelude counters with a 203 PS hybrid system, adaptive dampers, Honda Sensing and adaptive cruise control. Choose the coupe for those priorities, not luggage capacity.
Pick the Audi A3 Sedan if you need five seats, a 425-litre boot and the quicker 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
Pick the Honda Prelude if Honda Sensing, adaptive cruise control, adaptive dampers and hybrid drive matter more than rear-seat and boot space.
Key differences
- Price: Audi A3 Sedan RM338,990; Honda Prelude RM278,000.
- 0-100 km/h: Audi A3 Sedan 7.3 seconds; Honda Prelude 9.0 seconds.
- Top speed: Audi A3 Sedan 240 km/h; Honda Prelude 188 km/h.
- Boot space: Audi A3 Sedan 425 litres; Honda Prelude 264 litres.
- Doors and seats: Audi A3 Sedan four doors and five seats; Honda Prelude three doors and four seats.
- Wheels: Audi A3 Sedan 17-inch alloys; Honda Prelude 19-inch alloys.
A3 Sedan
- 320 Nm and a 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 425-litre boot, four doors and five seats.
- Power-adjustable front seats with driver memory and rear air-con vents.
- Costs RM60,990 more.
- No autonomous braking, blind-spot monitoring or adaptive cruise control.
- 17-inch wheels versus the Prelude’s 19-inch items.
Prelude
- Honda Sensing includes autonomous braking, collision warning and steering correction.
- Adaptive dampers and adaptive cruise control.
- 10-year, unlimited-mileage high-voltage battery warranty.
- Slower 9.0-second 0-100 km/h time versus 7.3 seconds.
- 264-litre boot trails the Audi by 161 litres.
- Three doors and four seats, against the Audi’s four doors and five seats.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM338,990 | RM278,000✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM372✓ | RM377 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC, Atkinson Cycle Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | 1,993 cc |
| Horsepower | 187 hp✓ | 143 hp |
| Torque | 320 Nm✓ | 189 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82.5 mm | 81 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 181 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 315 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | eCVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S tronic Transmission | e-CVT |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | BorgWarner | — |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.3 seconds✓ | 9 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 6.2 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h✓ | 188 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,495 mm | 4,522 mm |
| Width | 1,816 mm | 1,880 mm |
| Height | 1,425 mm | 1,355 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,636 mm | 2,605 mm |
| Weight | 1,535 kg | 1,469 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 40 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 3 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 425 litres✓ | 264 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R17 | 235/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R17 | 235/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005 | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Multi Link |
| Front Wheels | 17" 5-Parallel-Spoke Style Alloy | 19 |
| Rear Wheels | 17" 5-Parallel-Spoke Style Alloy | 19 |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort Suspension | Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Knee Airbags |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on front passenger seat and two outer rear passenger seats | Available on rear seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes, Honda Sensing |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | Front Seats Only |
| Safety Notes | Lane Departure Warning, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Sequential Indicators | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB | 1 Front, 2 USB Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Audio | 10.1" MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi connect, Audi smartphone interface and Audi sound system | — |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | — | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Audi Virtual Cockpit | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 10-year/unlimited-mileage high-voltage (hybrid) battery warranty |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used A3 Sedan & Prelude for sale
A3 Sedan vs Prelude FAQ
Is the Audi A3 Sedan or Honda Prelude better?
The Audi A3 Sedan is better for performance and everyday practicality, with 320 Nm, a 7.3-second sprint, five seats and a 425-litre boot. The Honda Prelude is better if its hybrid system, Honda Sensing and adaptive dampers are your priorities.
What is the price difference?
The Audi A3 Sedan costs RM338,990 and the Honda Prelude costs RM278,000, so the Audi is RM60,990 more expensive.
Which is more practical for passengers and luggage?
The Audi A3 Sedan is decisively more practical. It has four doors, five seats and a 425-litre boot, while the Honda Prelude has three doors, four seats and a 264-litre boot.