Verdict
The Outback has a 14% bigger boot, the Outback is about 13% cheaper, while the XE is 8% more powerful. Weigh that against the equipment each side gives you in the table below.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 320,755 | RM 280,390✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Wagon |
| Segment | Compact Executive | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake and exhaust valve timing | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 1,999 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 200 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 280 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline | Boxer |
| Timing Type | — | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 87.5 mm | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.1 | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Electronic Automatic with Jaguar Sequential Shift | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Subaru |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.7 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 7.5 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 237 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Co2 | 179 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,672 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,850 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,416 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,835 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,530 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 63 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 450 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 205/55R17 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 205/55R17 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | United Kingdom (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 17" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" 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) |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars | — |
| 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 | Electric 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 | Emergency Brake Assist | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For all seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Bi-Xenon Projector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 6-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's 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 | Rear Vents | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 2 front, 1 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 | 8" touchscreen navigation system with CD/DVD playback, Aux-in, USB, Bluetooth, iPod connectivity and 6 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 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Electroluminescent Analogue | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 150,000 km✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | 5-year/80,000 km free scheduled maintenance | — |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 380✓ | 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.