Verdict
The Honda Prelude asks RM19,112 more for a lower, wider hybrid coupe with four seats, eight airbags and a five-year warranty. It is not the straight-line choice: 143 hp, 189 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds put it behind the MINI Countryman’s 201 hp, 300 Nm and 7.4-second sprint. For Malaysian buyers, the MINI is the easier daily tool, with five seats, AWD, a 460-litre boot and a bigger 54-litre tank. The Honda is the emotional, more specialised pick.
Pick the Honda Prelude if you want a two-door hybrid coupe and value eight airbags plus a five-year warranty more than pace or boot space.
Pick the MINI Countryman if you need five seats, AWD, stronger performance and a much bigger boot for less money.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Prelude RM278,000; MINI Countryman RM258,888
- Power and torque: Honda Prelude 143 hp/189 Nm; MINI Countryman 201 hp/300 Nm
- Acceleration and top speed: Honda Prelude 0-100 km/h in 9.0 s, 188 km/h; MINI Countryman 7.4 s, 228 km/h
- Seats and boot: Honda Prelude 4 seats, 264 litres; MINI Countryman 5 seats, 460 litres
- Drivetrain: Honda Prelude front-wheel drive with eCVT; MINI Countryman all-wheel drive with conventional automatic
- Warranty and airbags: Honda Prelude 5 years, 8 airbags; MINI Countryman 2 years, 6 airbags
Prelude
- Hybrid coupe body gives it a very different brief from the SUV
- Eight airbags
- Five-year warranty
- Slower 0-100 km/h time than the MINI
- Only four seats and 264 litres of boot space
- Costs RM19,112 more
Countryman
- 201 hp and 300 Nm give it the stronger numbers
- Five seats and 460-litre boot
- All-wheel drive
- Two-year warranty is shorter
- Six airbags versus the Honda’s eight
- Higher yearly road tax at RM439
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 278,000 | RM 258,888✓ |
| 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, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | 1,998 cc |
| Horsepower | 143 hp | 201 hp✓ |
| Torque | 189 Nm | 300 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore | 81 mm | 82 mm |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 181 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 315 Nm | — |
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | e-CVT | 8-Speed Steptronic Sports Automatic |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds | 7.4 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 188 km/h | 228 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,522 mm | 4,433 mm |
| Width | 1,880 mm | 1,843 mm |
| Height | 1,355 mm | 1,656 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,605 mm | 2,692 mm |
| Weight | 1,469 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 54 litres |
| Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres | 460 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/40R19 | 245/40R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/40R19 | 245/40R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Pirelli P Zero, Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi Link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19 | 20" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19 | 20" Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Disc |
| Rear Brakes | Disc | Solid Disc |
| Steering | Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Knee Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, 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 belts |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on rear seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats, Front Passenger Seat |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | Adaptive LED Projector with High Beam Assist |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Powered Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory and Massage Function |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding, Manual Recline |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front | 1 Front, 2 USB C, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | — | 9.4" OLED Display with MINI OS, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Harman Kardon Sound System |
| 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 Flip Switch |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| 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 Tailgate, with Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | — | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | — | 4 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year/unlimited-mileage high-voltage (hybrid) battery warranty | Repair Inclusive extendable up to 5 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 377✓ | RM 439 |
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 Countryman FAQ
Is the Honda Prelude or MINI Countryman better?
The MINI Countryman is the better all-rounder: it is quicker, cheaper, has five seats, AWD and a 460-litre boot. The Honda Prelude makes more sense if you specifically want a hybrid coupe with more airbags and a longer warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Honda Prelude costs RM19,112 more than the MINI Countryman.
Which is faster, the Honda Prelude or MINI Countryman?
The MINI Countryman is faster. It does 0-100 km/h in 7.4 seconds and reaches 228 km/h, while the Honda Prelude takes 9.0 seconds and tops out at 188 km/h.