Verdict
The Audi A3 Sedan is the faster, more compact choice on paper, reaching 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds with 320 Nm, against the Subaru Outback’s 9.6 seconds and 245 Nm. It is also 375 mm shorter, which matters in tighter urban parking. The Subaru takes a different route: all-wheel drive, a 2,745-mm wheelbase and a 522-litre boot make better sense for family loads. Its RM878 annual road tax is steep beside the Audi’s RM372, but autonomous braking, steering correction and adaptive cruise control give it the stronger driver-assistance suite.
Pick the Audi A3 Sedan if you want the 7.3-second sprint, 320 Nm turbo punch and a smaller 4,495-mm footprint.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need all-wheel drive, a 522-litre boot and standard active safety assistance for family trips.
Key differences
- Acceleration: Audi A3 Sedan 0-100 km/h in 7.3 seconds; Subaru Outback in 9.6 seconds.
- Driveline: Audi A3 Sedan front-wheel drive; Subaru Outback all-wheel drive.
- Length: Audi A3 Sedan 4,495 mm; Subaru Outback 4,870 mm.
- Boot space: Audi A3 Sedan 425 litres; Subaru Outback 522 litres.
- Annual road tax: Audi A3 Sedan RM372; Subaru Outback RM878.
- Driver assistance: Audi A3 Sedan has no autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist; Subaru Outback has autonomous braking and steering correction.
A3 Sedan
- 187 hp and 320 Nm with a 7-speed wet dual-clutch transmission.
- 6.2 L/100 km rated fuel economy and a 240 km/h top speed.
- 10.1-inch MMI Navigation plus, Audi Virtual Cockpit and six front and six rear parking sensors.
- No autonomous braking, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring or lane-keeping assist.
- 425-litre boot is 97 litres smaller than the Subaru Outback’s.
- Front-wheel drive only, where the Subaru Outback has all-wheel drive.
Outback
- All-wheel drive, 522 litres of boot space and a 63-litre fuel tank.
- Autonomous braking, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, steering correction and adaptive cruise control.
- 11.6-inch touchscreen, 11-speaker Harman Kardon audio and a 360-degree view monitor.
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time trails the Audi A3 Sedan by 2.3 seconds.
- RM878 annual road tax is RM506 higher than the Audi A3 Sedan’s.
- 245 Nm torque is 75 Nm down on the Audi A3 Sedan’s 320 Nm.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM338,990 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Wagon |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM372✓ | RM878 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, turbocharged with variable valve timing | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 1,984 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 187 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 320 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 82.5 mm | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7-speed S tronic Transmission | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | BorgWarner | Subaru |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.3 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 6.2 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 240 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,495 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,816 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,425 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,636 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,535 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 425 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R17 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R17 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Turanza T005 | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 17" 5-Parallel-Spoke Style Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" 5-Parallel-Spoke Style Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort Suspension | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | 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 | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on front passenger seat and two outer rear passenger seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | Lane Departure Warning, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED with Sequential Indicators | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 10.1" MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi connect, Audi smartphone interface and Audi sound system | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive 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 | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 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 |
| Convenience Notes | Audi Virtual Cockpit | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
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 A3 Sedan & Outback for sale
A3 Sedan vs Outback FAQ
Is the Audi A3 Sedan or Subaru Outback better?
The Subaru Outback is the better family-oriented choice for all-wheel drive, boot space and active safety assistance. The Audi A3 Sedan is better if quicker acceleration, lower road tax and a smaller footprint matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Audi A3 Sedan costs RM59,990 more than the Subaru Outback.
Does the Subaru Outback have better driver assistance than the Audi A3 Sedan?
Yes. The Subaru Outback adds autonomous braking, collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, steering correction and adaptive cruise control. The Audi A3 Sedan has lane departure warning and tyre-pressure monitoring, but no autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist.