Verdict
These are two very different routes to all-wheel-drive family transport. The RM425,800 BMW iX brings 402 hp, 700 Nm, a 100.6-kWh battery and 602 km of EV range, with 5.1-second acceleration to 100 km/h. The RM279,000 Subaru Outback costs far less, carries 522 litres against 500 litres and gets a space-saver spare, but its 185 hp petrol boxer takes 9.6 seconds to 100 km/h. Choose around your charging routine, not just the SUV-versus-wagon shape.
The iX xDrive60 M Sport Pro (RM487,800) sits above every Outback variant here, so the verdict compares the closest-priced pairing — use the selectors above to match any two trims.
Pick the BMW iX if you can charge an EV and want 402 hp, 700 Nm and a claimed 602 km range.
Pick the Subaru Outback if lower upfront cost, a 522-litre boot and a space-saver spare matter more than outright pace.
Key differences
- Power and torque: BMW iX 402 hp and 700 Nm; Subaru Outback 185 hp and 245 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW iX 5.1 seconds; Subaru Outback 9.6 seconds.
- Top speed: BMW iX 200 km/h; Subaru Outback 206 km/h.
- Length and wheelbase: BMW iX 4,965 mm and 3,000 mm; Subaru Outback 4,870 mm and 2,745 mm.
- Boot and spare: BMW iX 500 litres with a tyre repair kit; Subaru Outback 522 litres with a space-saver spare.
- Annual road tax: BMW iX RM545; Subaru Outback RM878.
iX
- 602 km EV range from a 100.6-kWh battery
- 22 kW AC and 175 kW DC charging
- Air suspension, head-up display and auto parking
- RM146,800 dearer to buy
- 500-litre boot is 22 litres smaller
- No spare tyre; only a tyre repair kit
Outback
- RM146,800 lower purchase price
- 522-litre boot and space-saver spare
- Seven airbags versus six
- 185 hp and 245 Nm trail the iX's 402 hp and 700 Nm
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time is 4.5 seconds slower
- Lacks the iX's head-up display and auto parking
What the iX has over the Outback
What the Outback has over the iX
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The iX's wheelbase is 255 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom. The iX is 95 mm wider — more shoulder room, but a tighter fit in parking bays.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM425,800 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Wagon |
| Segment | Executive | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM545✓ | RM878 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM4,345/mo | RM2,850/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM11,319 | RM7,601✓ |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM1,485 | — |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM7.42 | — |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM66,743 | — |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 4.6 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 40 min | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 5th-generation BMW eDrive, 400V architecture | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | — | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | — | 185 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | — | 245 Nm at 3,400 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | — | Boxer 4 |
| Fuel | Electric | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 94 mm × 90 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 12 |
| Number of Motors | 2 | — |
| Motor Horsepower | 402 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 700 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 100.6 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 602 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 175 kW | — |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Single Ratio Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | Lineartronic CVT |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Subaru |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.1 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 200 km/h | 206 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,965 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,970 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,695 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3,000 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 2,525 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 63 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 500 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/50R21 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/50R21 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero E | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 21" Aerodynamic Style 1012 Bi-colour Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" Aerodynamic Style 1012 Bi-colour Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 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 | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with High Beam Assist | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats with 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 | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic Glass Roof | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 4 USB-C Rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-Speaker Harman Kardon 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 | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Intelligent Personal Assistant; Flexible Fast Charger (Mode 2) included | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | 8-year/160,000 km 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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Electricity at RM0.44/kWh (TNB domestic, home charging); public DC charging costs around RM1.30/kWh. Charging times estimated from battery capacity and peak charging rates. Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked November 2026.
Used iX & Outback for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW iX
iX vs Outback FAQ
Is the BMW iX or Subaru Outback better?
The BMW iX is better for EV range, charging capability and rapid acceleration, while the Subaru Outback is the more practical choice for a lower entry cost, a larger boot and a spare wheel.
What is the price difference?
The BMW iX costs RM146,800 more than the Subaru Outback.
Does the Subaru Outback need charging like the BMW iX?
No. The Subaru Outback uses a 2,498 cc petrol boxer engine and has a 63-litre fuel tank. The BMW iX is electric, with a 100.6-kWh battery, 22 kW AC charging and 175 kW DC charging.
How long does charging take?
The iX's 100.6 kWh battery takes about 4.6 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 40 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 175 kW peak.
Which has the better warranty?
The Outback carries a 5-year manufacturer warranty against 2 years for the iX. iX: 8-year/160,000 km Battery Warranty.