Verdict
At RM898,800, the BMW M3 Touring costs RM619,800 more than the RM279,000 Subaru Outback, and that gulf buys very different priorities. The BMW’s 523 hp and 650 Nm cut the 0-100 km/h run to 3.6 seconds, against 185 hp, 245 Nm and 9.6 seconds for the Subaru. Both are five-seat, all-wheel-drive wagons with adaptive cruise control and autonomous braking. For Malaysian family use, the Outback brings a larger 522-litre boot, 63-litre tank and five-year warranty; the M3 counters with sharper hardware and far more parking, display and lighting kit.
Pick the BMW M3 Touring if 523 hp, a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time, adaptive M suspension and a 360-degree camera justify its RM619,800 premium.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you want the cheaper all-wheel-drive wagon with a 522-litre boot, 63-litre tank and five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 Touring RM898,800; Subaru Outback RM279,000
- Performance: BMW 523 hp, 650 Nm and 3.6 sec 0-100 km/h; Subaru 185 hp, 245 Nm and 9.6 sec
- Boot space: BMW 500 litres; Subaru 522 litres
- Warranty: BMW two years, extended to five years; Subaru five years/100,000 km
- Parking assistance: BMW six front and six rear sensors with auto parking; Subaru no front sensors, four rear sensors and no auto parking
- Dimensions: BMW 4,801 mm long and 1,446 mm tall; Subaru 4,870 mm long and 1,682 mm tall
M3 Touring
- 523 hp and 650 Nm with 3.6-second 0-100 km/h
- Adaptive M suspension and M Sport Differential
- 360-degree camera, head-up display and auto parking
- RM619,800 dearer
- 500-litre boot is 22 litres smaller
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years
Outback
- RM619,800 cheaper
- 522-litre boot and 63-litre fuel tank
- Five-year/100,000-km manufacturer warranty
- 185 hp and 245 Nm deliver a 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- No front parking sensors or auto parking
- No navigation or head-up display
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM898,800 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | Wagon | Wagon |
| Segment | Compact Executive | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM878✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 523 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 650 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | — | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Transmission | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Subaru |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.6 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,801 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,446 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,925 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 500 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/30R20 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Differential | — |
| 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 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 | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projectors 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 | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory Function | 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 | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and 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, 16-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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | 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 |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 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 M3 Touring & Outback for sale
M3 Touring vs Outback FAQ
Is the BMW M3 Touring or Subaru Outback better?
The BMW M3 Touring is better for outright pace and driver-focused hardware, reaching 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds. The Subaru Outback is the more sensible family wagon, with a larger boot, longer standard warranty and much lower entry cost.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 Touring costs RM619,800 more than the Subaru Outback.
Which wagon has more luggage space?
The Subaru Outback has the larger boot at 522 litres, 22 litres more than the BMW M3 Touring’s 500 litres. Both have five seats and split-folding rear seatbacks.