Verdict
At RM278,000 against RM268,888, the Honda Prelude asks RM9,112 more for a lower, longer coupe with four seats, 264 litres of boot space and a 9.0-second 0-100 km/h time. The Volvo XC40 is the practical and quicker choice: five seats, AWD, 460 litres and 6.4 seconds. The Prelude does have eight airbags to the XC40’s seven, a lower RM377 road tax bill and a slightly higher 188 km/h top speed, but for Malaysian daily use the Volvo’s packaging gap is hard to ignore.
Pick the Honda Prelude if you want a lower two-door coupe, four seats are enough, and you value the 188 km/h top speed and eight airbags more than boot space.
Pick the Volvo XC40 if you want five seats, AWD traction, much stronger 263 hp and 390 Nm outputs, and a bigger 460-litre boot.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Prelude RM278,000; Volvo XC40 RM268,888
- Seats: Honda Prelude 4; Volvo XC40 5
- Power and torque: Honda Prelude 143 hp/189 Nm; Volvo XC40 263 hp/390 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: Honda Prelude 9.0 s; Volvo XC40 6.4 s
- Boot space: Honda Prelude 264 L; Volvo XC40 460 L
- Driven wheels: Honda Prelude front-wheel drive; Volvo XC40 all-wheel drive
Prelude
- Lower coupe body at 1,355 mm tall
- Eight airbags
- Lower annual road tax at RM377
- Costs RM9,112 more
- Only four seats and 264 L boot space
- Slower 9.0 s 0-100 km/h time
XC40
- Quicker 6.4 s 0-100 km/h time
- Five seats and 460 L boot space
- All-wheel drive with 390 Nm
- Seven airbags versus the Prelude’s eight
- Higher RM428 annual road tax
- Lower 180 km/h top speed
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 278,000 | RM 268,888✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| 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 and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | 143 hp | 263 hp✓ |
| Torque | 189 Nm | 390 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | — |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 81 mm | 82 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| 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 | Geartronic Automatic Transmission |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds | 6.4 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 7.7 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 188 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 50 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,522 mm | 4,425 mm |
| Width | 1,880 mm | 1,863 mm |
| Height | 1,355 mm | 1,658 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,605 mm | 2,702 mm |
| Weight | 1,469 kg | 1,875 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 49 litres |
| Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres | 460 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/40R19 | 235/50R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/40R19 | 235/50R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi Link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 19 | 19" 5-Y Spoke Matt Graphite Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels |
| Rear Wheels | 19 | 19" 5-Y Spoke Matt Graphite Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Disc | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers | Sport Chassis |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars |
| ANCAP | — | 5 stars |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Knee Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Driver's Knee, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Power safety lock for rear door |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on rear seats | Available on two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Honda Sensing | Yes, City Safety with Full Auto Brake, Pedestrian, Cyclist and Large Animal Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | For All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Auto High Beam | LED Reflectors |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front | 2 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | — | 9" Portrait Android Touchscreen with 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 | Active Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Parking | — | 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 | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 10-year/unlimited-mileage high-voltage (hybrid) battery warranty | 8-year/160,000 km hybrid battery warranty |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 377✓ | RM 428 |
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 XC40 FAQ
Is the Honda Prelude or Volvo XC40 better?
For most Malaysian buyers, the Volvo XC40 is better on paper. It is cheaper, quicker, has five seats, AWD and a 460-litre boot. Choose the Honda Prelude only if the coupe body and lower running-tax figure matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Honda Prelude costs RM9,112 more than the Volvo XC40.
Which is quicker from 0-100 km/h?
The Volvo XC40 is quicker, doing 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds against the Honda Prelude’s 9.0 seconds.