Verdict
These two land close on pace, but they suit different lives. The Honda Prelude is the lower, wider coupe: 4,522 mm long, 1,880 mm wide, just 1,355 mm tall, with four seats and a 264-litre boot. The Mercedes-Benz EQA is the more usable C-segment SUV, shorter at 4,463 mm but much taller at 1,620 mm, with five seats, a 340-litre boot and 429 km of EV range from a 66.5 kWh battery. The RM18,888 gap buys space, range and lower road tax, not extra speed in any meaningful sense: 8.9 seconds versus 9.0.
Pick the Honda Prelude if you want a lower, wider four-seat coupe with petrol-hybrid drive, a higher 188 km/h top speed and a five-year warranty.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz EQA if you need five seats, a bigger 340-litre boot, 429 km of electric range and RM160 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Prelude RM278,000; Mercedes-Benz EQA RM296,888
- Powertrain: Honda Prelude 1,993 cc petrol hybrid/REV; Mercedes-Benz EQA single-motor electric with 66.5 kWh battery
- Output: Honda Prelude 143 hp and 189 Nm; Mercedes-Benz EQA 188 hp, torque not stated
- Performance: Honda Prelude 0-100 km/h in 9.0 s and 188 km/h top speed; Mercedes-Benz EQA 8.9 s and 160 km/h
- Space: Honda Prelude 4 seats and 264 L boot; Mercedes-Benz EQA 5 seats and 340 L boot
- Warranty and road tax: Honda Prelude 5 years and RM377/year; Mercedes-Benz EQA 4 years and RM160/year
Prelude
- Lower purchase price by RM18,888
- Higher 188 km/h top speed
- Five-year warranty and eight airbags
- Only four seats
- Smaller 264-litre boot
- Higher RM377 annual road tax
EQA
- Five seats and 340-litre boot
- 429 km EV range from a 66.5 kWh battery
- Lower RM160 annual road tax
- Costs RM18,888 more
- Lower 160 km/h top speed
- Four-year warranty and seven airbags
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 278,000✓ | RM 296,888 |
| Body type | Coupe | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Atkinson Cycle Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | — |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 143 hp | — |
| Torque | 189 Nm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | — |
| Timing Type | Chain | — |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Electric |
| Bore | 81 mm | — |
| Number of Motors | 1 | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | 181 hp | 188 hp✓ |
| Motor Torque | 315 Nm | 375 Nm✓ |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Battery Capacity | — | 66.5 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 429 km |
| Charger Type (AC) | — | Type 2 |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11.0 kW |
| Charger Type (DC) | — | CCS |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 100.0 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | e-CVT | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds | 8.9 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 188 km/h✓ | 160 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,522 mm | 4,463 mm |
| Width | 1,880 mm | 1,834 mm |
| Height | 1,355 mm | 1,620 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,605 mm | 2,729 mm |
| Weight | 1,469 kg | 2,040 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | — |
| Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres | 340 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/40R19 | 235/50R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/40R19 | 235/50R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Continental EcoContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19 | 19" AMG Five-twin-spoke Light-alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19 | 19" AMG Five-twin-spoke Light-alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers | Comfort Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Knee Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on rear seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes, Active Brake Assist |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Pre-Safe, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Adaptive LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Heated |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front | 1 Front, 2 Front USB-C, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front |
| Audio | — | Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with 10.25" Touchscreen, Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 6 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Start | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot, Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | MBUX Interior Assistant, Qi Wireless Charger |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year/unlimited-mileage high-voltage (hybrid) battery warranty | 8 Years/160,000 km Warranty for Traction Battery |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 377 | RM 160✓ |
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.
Prelude vs EQA FAQ
Is the Honda Prelude or Mercedes-Benz EQA better?
For a Malaysian buyer needing one car, the Mercedes-Benz EQA is better on paper: five seats, a 340-litre boot, 429 km EV range and RM160 road tax. The Honda Prelude is the pick if you specifically want the lower coupe body and 188 km/h top speed.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz EQA costs RM296,888, which is RM18,888 more than the RM278,000 Honda Prelude.
Which car is more practical?
The Mercedes-Benz EQA is more practical. It has five seats against the Honda Prelude’s four, a 340-litre boot against 264 litres, and a longer 2,729 mm wheelbase against 2,605 mm.