The best way to construct "I Would prefer [someone to do something]"

Question

I'm trying to gauge what people think is the best way to complete sentences beginning with "I would prefer" when the preference is about someone else's actions. There seems to be a few options, the meanings of which are more or less the same.

"I would prefer him to come later."

"I would prefer that he come/came later."

"I would prefer it if he came later."

Which do you think is best and are there any reasons why you would use one over the others?

I ask partly because I've noticed a few times (on internet forums and Q&A sites) that some English users express a strong disinclination towards "I would prefer him to...", which is surprising to me because that's the construction I have heard, read, and used in my own writing the most. But I've been doubting myself a lot recently when it comes to my knowledge of grammar.

Answer 1

Your sentences 1 and 3 seem to be better, because Cambridge Dictionary says: [Prefer structure][1]

When we are talking about our preferences for the actions of another person, we can use would prefer + object pronoun + to-infinitive or would prefer it if + past simple:

They’d prefer us to come later. (or They’d prefer it if we came later.)

Would you prefer me to drive? (or Would you prefer it if I drove?)

[1]: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/prefer#:~:text=When%20we%20are%20talking%20about,prefer%20it%20if%20I%20drove%3F)

Answer 2

"I would prefer it if he came later." sounds prim (stern and polite).

"I would like it if he comes later." sounds natural (without the sternness and politeness, however it has the advantage of letting one's preference be known without ambiguity and without sounding flippant).