Verdict
The BMW iX3 costs RM99,800 more at RM378,800, but brings 463 hp, 645 Nm and a 4.9-second 0-100 km/h time against the Subaru Outback’s 185 hp, 245 Nm and 9.6 seconds. Its 113.4-kWh battery, 726-km range and 400-kW DC charging suit buyers with dependable charging access. The Outback is the cheaper RM279,000 route into an all-wheel-drive five-seat car, with a marginally larger 522-litre boot and a five-year warranty. For Malaysian buyers, the BMW’s shorter two-year warranty needs consideration.
Pick the BMW iX3 if you want 726 km of electric range, 400 kW DC charging and markedly quicker 4.9-second performance.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you want all-wheel drive for RM279,000, a 63-litre petrol tank and five years of manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW iX3 RM378,800; Subaru Outback RM279,000.
- Power and torque: BMW iX3 has 463 hp and 645 Nm; Subaru Outback has 185 hp and 245 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW iX3 4.9 seconds; Subaru Outback 9.6 seconds.
- Energy storage: BMW iX3 has a 113.4-kWh battery and 726-km EV range; Subaru Outback has a 63-litre petrol tank.
- Warranty: BMW iX3 gets two years with unlimited mileage; Subaru Outback gets five years or 100,000 km.
- Boot space: BMW iX3 520 litres; Subaru Outback 522 litres.
iX3
- 463 hp and 645 Nm from two electric motors.
- 726-km EV range, 22-kW AC and 400-kW DC charging.
- Head-up display, navigation and remote-control parking assistant.
- RM99,800 more expensive than the Outback.
- Two-year warranty versus the Outback’s five years.
- Tyre repair kit instead of a space-saver spare tyre.
Outback
- RM279,000 price and five-year/100,000-km warranty.
- 522-litre boot and space-saver spare tyre.
- Front foglamps, sunroof shade and paddle shifts.
- 185 hp and 245 Nm trail the iX3’s 463 hp and 645 Nm.
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time is 4.7 seconds slower than the iX3.
- No head-up display, navigation or automatic parking system.
What the iX3 has over the Outback
What the Outback has over the iX3
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The iX3's wheelbase is 152 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM378,800 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Wagon |
| Segment | Compact Executive | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM765✓ | RM878 |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM3,865/mo | RM2,850/mo✓ |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM10,097 | RM7,601✓ |
| Fuel or electricity / year (est.) | RM1,388 | — |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | RM6.94 | — |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | RM61,248 | — |
| Charging (estimated) | ||
| AC charge 0–100% (est.) | 5.2 hours | — |
| DC charge 10–80% (est.) | 20 min | — |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 6th-generation BMW eDrive, 800V 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 | 463 hp | — |
| Motor Torque | 645 Nm | — |
| Battery Capacity | 113.4 kWh | — |
| EV Range | 726 km | — |
| Charging Rate (AC) | 22 kW | — |
| Charging Rate (DC) | 400 kW | — |
| V2L | 3.7 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 | 4.9 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 210 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,782 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,895 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,635 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,897 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 2,285 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | — | 63 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 520 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/35R22 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 275/35R22 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Hungary (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 22" Alloys (9J) | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 22" Alloys (9.5J) | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver & Front Passenger, Front Side and Rear Curtain Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | Electronic for Rear Doors | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 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, with High-beam Assistant | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | M Sport Seats, Power Adjustable with Driver Memory | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | 3-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear Vents | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | Panoramic, with Climate Comfort Glazing | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Wireless Charger, 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Ambient Light | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | Harman Kardon 13 Speakers (430W); 17.9" Central Display + 43.3" Panoramic Vision, Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Wireless Charging | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless (Comfort Access) | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | Yes | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | Yes | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Parking Assistant Professional with Remote Control Parking | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Flexible Fast Charger (Mode 2) included; Drive Recorder and Remote Theft Recorder; Intelligent Personal Assistant | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Notes | RM399,800 with 5-year extended warranty and service package | — |
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 iX3 & Outback for sale
Our reviews & guides
BMW iX3
iX3 vs Outback FAQ
Is the BMW iX3 or Subaru Outback better?
The BMW iX3 is better for electric driving, outright performance and driver-assistance convenience, with 726 km range and 4.9-second acceleration. The Subaru Outback is better if its RM99,800 lower price, five-year warranty and petrol refuelling suit your needs.
What is the price difference?
The BMW iX3 costs RM378,800 and the Subaru Outback costs RM279,000, so the BMW costs RM99,800 more.
How quickly can the BMW iX3 charge?
The BMW iX3 supports AC charging at up to 22 kW and DC charging at up to 400 kW. It has a 113.4-kWh battery and a quoted EV range of 726 km.
How long does charging take?
The iX3's 113.4 kWh battery takes about 5.2 hours for a full AC charge, and an estimated 20 minutes from 10% to 80% on a DC fast charger at its 400 kW peak.