Verdict
The BMW M4 Coupe costs RM878,800 against the Subaru Outback’s RM279,000, a RM599,800 gap that buys vastly stronger straight-line numbers: 530 hp, 650 Nm and 3.5 seconds to 100 km/h versus 185 hp, 245 Nm and 9.6 seconds. Both are petrol AWD CBU cars, but they serve sharply different Malaysian needs. The BMW is a four-seat, two-door performance coupe with 440 litres of boot space; the Subaru is a five-seat wagon with 522 litres, adaptive cruise control and a five-year warranty. The Outback is the rational family and long-distance choice.
Pick the BMW M4 Coupe if 530 hp, 650 Nm and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time matter more than price, rear-seat capacity and cargo room.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need five seats, 522 litres of boot space, adaptive cruise control and a five-year warranty for far less money.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M4 Coupe RM878,800; Subaru Outback RM279,000
- Performance: BMW M4 Coupe 530 hp and 650 Nm; Subaru Outback 185 hp and 245 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: BMW M4 Coupe 3.5 seconds; Subaru Outback 9.6 seconds
- Practicality: BMW M4 Coupe 4 seats and 440-litre boot; Subaru Outback 5 seats and 522-litre boot
- Warranty: BMW M4 Coupe 2 years with unlimited mileage; Subaru Outback 5 years/100,000 km
- Road tax: BMW M4 Coupe RM2,113 per year; Subaru Outback RM878 per year
M4 Coupe
- 530 hp and 650 Nm
- 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time
- Head-up display and navigation
- RM599,800 more expensive
- Four seats and 440-litre boot versus five seats and 522 litres
- Two-year warranty versus five years
Outback
- Five seats and 522-litre boot
- Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot information system
- Five-year/100,000-km warranty
- 185 hp and 245 Nm versus 530 hp and 650 Nm
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time versus 3.5 seconds
- No head-up display or navigation
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM878,800 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | 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 | 530 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 M Steptronic Transmission with Drivelogic | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Subaru |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.5 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,794 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,887 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,393 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 440 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/35R20 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | 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" M Forged Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" M Forged Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack & Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | M Adaptive 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 Front Passenger Door | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Laserlight | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Powered Front Seats | 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, 2 USB-C Front | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 12-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two 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, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| 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 M4 Coupe & Outback for sale
M4 Coupe vs Outback FAQ
Is the BMW M4 Coupe or Subaru Outback better?
The M4 Coupe is better for outright performance, reaching 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds with 530 hp. The Outback is better for family use, with five seats, a 522-litre boot, adaptive cruise control and a five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M4 Coupe costs RM599,800 more than the Subaru Outback. It also carries RM2,113 annual road tax, compared with RM878 for the Subaru.
Which has more usable space, the BMW M4 Coupe or Subaru Outback?
The Subaru Outback is substantially more practical: it has five seats, five doors and 522 litres of boot space. The BMW M4 Coupe has four seats, two doors and a 440-litre boot.