Verdict
The Honda Prelude costs RM278,000 against the Mercedes-Benz GLB at RM290,888, so the gap is RM12,888. This is not a normal like-for-like fight: the Prelude is a Japan-built 3-door hybrid coupe with four seats, adaptive dampers and a 9.0-second 0-100 km/h time, while the Mexico-built GLB is a 5-door, seven-seat SUV with a 52-litre tank, rear air vents and powered front seats. The Honda is the keener, lower car; the Mercedes is the family tool.
Pick the Honda Prelude if you want the lower, more driver-focused hybrid coupe, value adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist, and do not need seven seats.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLB if you need five doors, seven seats, rear air-con vents and a larger 52-litre fuel tank in a premium-badged C-segment SUV.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Prelude RM278,000; Mercedes-Benz GLB RM290,888
- Body and seating: Honda Prelude 3-door coupe with 4 seats; Mercedes-Benz GLB 5-door SUV with 7 seats
- Acceleration and top speed: Honda Prelude 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds and 188 km/h; Mercedes-Benz GLB 9.3 seconds and 207 km/h
- Powertrain: Honda Prelude 1,993 cc petrol hybrid with 181 hp/315 Nm motor; Mercedes-Benz GLB 1,332 cc turbo petrol with 161 hp/270 Nm
- Size: Honda Prelude 4,522 mm long, 1,880 mm wide and 1,355 mm tall; Mercedes-Benz GLB 4,634 mm long, 1,834 mm wide and 1,663 mm tall
- Warranty and road tax: Honda Prelude 5 years/unlimited mileage plus 10-year hybrid battery warranty and RM377 road tax; Mercedes-Benz GLB 2 years/unlimited…
Prelude
- Quicker 0-100 km/h time: 9.0 seconds versus 9.3 seconds
- Adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist; the GLB has passive cruise and no lane-keeping assist
- Longer manufacturer warranty: 5 years versus 2 years, plus 10-year/unlimited-mileage hybrid battery coverage
- Only 4 seats and 3 doors versus the GLB’s 7 seats and 5 doors
- Smaller 40-litre fuel tank versus 52 litres
- No rear air-con vents, while the GLB has them
GLB
- Seven seats and five doors make it far easier for family use
- Powered front seats with driver-side memory; the Prelude’s front seats are manually adjustable
- Higher top speed: 207 km/h versus 188 km/h
- Slower to 100 km/h: 9.3 seconds versus 9.0 seconds
- Only passive cruise control and no lane-keeping assist
- Shorter warranty: 2 years versus the Prelude’s 5 years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 278,000✓ | RM 290,888 |
| 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 | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | 1,332 cc |
| Horsepower | 143 hp | 161 hp✓ |
| Torque | 189 Nm | 270 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 81 mm | 72.2 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.6 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 181 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 315 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | e-CVT | 7G-DCT |
| Gears | — | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds✓ | 9.3 seconds |
| Top Speed | 188 km/h | 207 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,522 mm | 4,634 mm |
| Width | 1,880 mm | 1,834 mm |
| Height | 1,355 mm | 1,663 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,605 mm | 2,829 mm |
| Weight | 1,469 kg | 1,555 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 52 litres |
| Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres✓ | 130 litres |
| Front Tyre | 235/40R19 | 235/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/40R19 | 235/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Continental EcoContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Mexico (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19 | 18" 5-twin-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19 | 18" 5-twin-spoke Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Steering | Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Knee Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front and Rear Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on rear seats | Available for two outer middle row seats, two last row seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Reflector with Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Driver Side Memory Settings |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front | 1 Front, 2 Rear USB-C 3rd Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | — | 10.25" Touchscreen MBUX Multimedia System with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| 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 Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 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 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year/unlimited-mileage high-voltage (hybrid) battery warranty | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 377 | RM 100✓ |
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 GLB FAQ
Is the Honda Prelude or Mercedes-Benz GLB better?
For driving and safety assistance, the Honda Prelude has the edge with quicker acceleration, adaptive cruise and lane-keeping assist. For family duty, the Mercedes-Benz GLB is better because it has five doors, seven seats and rear air-con vents.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB costs RM12,888 more than the Honda Prelude. That extra spend mainly buys the SUV body, seven-seat layout, powered front seats, rear air-con vents and larger fuel tank, not quicker acceleration.
Which one is more practical for Malaysian family use?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB is the practical pick. It has seven seats, five doors, sliding second-row seats, rear air-con vents and 7 three-point seat belts. The Honda Prelude is a four-seat, three-door coupe.