Verdict
At RM278,000, the Honda Prelude undercuts the Subaru Outback by RM1,000 and carries a far lower RM377 annual road tax against RM878. Its 181 hp motor and 315 Nm help it reach 100 km/h in 9.0 seconds, 0.6 seconds ahead, while adaptive dampers suit the coupe brief. The Subaru answers with AWD, five seats and a 522-litre boot—258 litres more than the Honda’s. For Malaysian family use and long trips, the Outback’s space is hard to ignore; the Prelude is the more focused two-door choice.
Pick the Honda Prelude if you want the lower road tax, quicker 9.0-second sprint and a compact four-seat hybrid coupe with adaptive dampers.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need AWD, five seats, a 522-litre boot and the greater practicality of a five-door wagon.
Key differences
- Price: Honda Prelude RM278,000; Subaru Outback RM279,000.
- Road tax: Honda Prelude RM377 per year; Subaru Outback RM878 per year.
- Performance: Honda Prelude 0-100 km/h in 9.0 seconds; Subaru Outback in 9.6 seconds.
- Driveline: Honda Prelude front-wheel drive; Subaru Outback all-wheel drive.
- Practicality: Honda Prelude has four seats and a 264-litre boot; Subaru Outback has five seats and a 522-litre boot.
- Size: Honda Prelude is 4,522 mm long; Subaru Outback is 4,870 mm long.
Prelude
- RM501 lower annual road tax.
- 181 hp motor with 315 Nm.
- Adaptive dampers and eight airbags.
- 264-litre boot is 258 litres smaller.
- Four seats and three doors versus five seats and five doors.
- Front-wheel drive rather than AWD.
Outback
- AWD with a 2.5-litre 185 hp boxer engine.
- 522-litre boot and five-seat cabin.
- Power front seats, sunroof and 360-degree camera.
- RM501 higher annual road tax.
- 0-100 km/h takes 9.6 seconds versus 9.0 seconds.
- Seven airbags versus the Prelude's eight.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM278,000✓ | RM279,000 |
| Body type | Coupe | Wagon |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM377✓ | RM878 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Atkinson Cycle Naturally Aspirated with Dual Variable Valve Timing and Variable Valve Lift | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 1,993 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 143 hp at 6,000 rpm | 185 hp at 5,800 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 189 Nm at 4,500 rpm | 245 Nm at 3,400 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Boxer 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol Hybrid/REV | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 81 mm × 96.7 mm | 94 mm × 90 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 12 |
| Number of Motors | 1 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 181 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 315 Nm | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | eCVT Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | e-CVT | Lineartronic CVT |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Subaru |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 188 km/h | 206 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,522 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,880 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,355 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,605 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,469 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 40 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 264 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 235/40R19 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 235/40R19 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental PremiumContact 6 | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi Link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19 | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19 | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Motion-Adaptive Electric Power Steering (EPS) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive Dampers | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Knee Airbags) | 7 (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 Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| 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 | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB Front | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | — | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker 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 Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| 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 Prelude & Outback for sale
Prelude vs Outback FAQ
Is the Honda Prelude or Subaru Outback better?
The Prelude is better for a lower annual tax bill, quicker acceleration and coupe driving focus. The Outback is better if five seats, a 522-litre boot, AWD and wagon access matter more than performance.
What is the price difference?
The Subaru Outback costs RM1,000 more than the Honda Prelude. The larger running-cost gap is annual road tax: RM878 for the Outback versus RM377 for the Prelude.
Which has the more useful cabin?
The Subaru Outback is substantially more useful: it has five seats, five doors and a 522-litre boot. The Honda Prelude has four seats, three doors and a 264-litre boot.
