Ford Mustang vs Subaru Outback
Verdict
The Ford Mustang is the emotional, faster-leaning choice: RM461,271 buys 313 hp, 432 Nm, rear-wheel drive and a 233 km/h top speed in a four-seat coupe. The Subaru Outback costs RM280,390 and goes the other way, with five seats, all-wheel drive, 522 litres of boot space and a five-year warranty. For a Malaysian buyer, this is less about close spec-sheet rivals and more about use case: weekend sports car presence versus a taller, roomier wagon with AEB listed.
Pick the Ford Mustang if you want the stronger petrol engine, rear-wheel drive and coupe body more than rear-seat practicality or warranty length.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need five seats, all-wheel drive, more boot space and AEB in a single petrol wagon.
Key differences
- Price: Ford Mustang RM461,271; Subaru Outback RM280,390
- Power and torque: Ford Mustang 313 hp/432 Nm; Subaru Outback 185 hp/245 Nm
- Driven wheels: Ford Mustang rear-wheel drive; Subaru Outback all-wheel drive
- Seats and boot space: Ford Mustang 4 seats/408 L; Subaru Outback 5 seats/522 L
- Size: Ford Mustang 4,784 mm long/1,371 mm tall; Subaru Outback 4,870 mm long/1,682 mm tall
- Warranty and road tax: Ford Mustang 3 years/RM641 yearly; Subaru Outback 5 years/RM878 yearly
Mustang
- Much higher 313 hp and 432 Nm outputs
- Rear-wheel-drive coupe layout
- Lower yearly road tax at RM641
- Only four seats
- Smaller 408-litre boot
- AEB not listed
Outback
- Five-seat cabin with 522-litre boot
- All-wheel drive fitted
- Longer five-year warranty
- Lower 185 hp and 245 Nm outputs
- Higher yearly road tax at RM878
- Top speed is lower at 206 km/h
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 461,271 | RM 280,390✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | Wagon |
| Segment | Sports Car | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| 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 | 2,261 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 313 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 432 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Boxer |
| Timing Type | — | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 87.5 mm | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5 | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 6R80 | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 6 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Ford | Subaru |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 9.8 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 233 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Co2 | 225 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,784 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,916 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,371 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,720 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,692 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 408 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 255/40R19 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/40R19 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli P Zero | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United States (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Ventilated Disc | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Knee and Curtains | 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 |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | — | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available On Two Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats Only | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Bi-xenon projector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Seats | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 50:50 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 2 Front | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights with Ambient Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 8.0" SYNC 2 Radio CD/MP3 Player with 9 Speakers | 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 Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Electroluminescent Analogue | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | 100,000 km | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 3 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 2 years | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 641✓ | RM 878 |
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.
Mustang vs Outback FAQ
Is the Ford Mustang or Subaru Outback better?
For driving appeal, pick the Ford Mustang: it has 313 hp, 432 Nm and rear-wheel drive. For daily family use, the Subaru Outback is the better fit with five seats, all-wheel drive, 522 litres of boot space and AEB.
What is the price difference?
The Ford Mustang is RM180,881 more expensive, at RM461,271 versus RM280,390 for the Subaru Outback.
Which is more practical for Malaysian family use?
The Subaru Outback. It has five seats to the Mustang’s four, a 522-litre boot versus 408 litres, a taller wagon body and all-wheel drive.