Lexus UX vs Subaru Forester
Verdict
At RM27,999 less, the Subaru Forester gives you the bigger hardware: 2.5 litres, 182 hp, 247 Nm and all-wheel drive, plus a 496-litre boot and 63-litre tank. The Lexus UX is smaller and pricier, but it is marginally quicker to 100 km/h at 9.2 seconds and costs RM435 a year in road tax instead of RM838. Both are C-segment, five-seat CBU SUVs with CVTs, eight airbags, AEB and a five-year warranty. For most Malaysian buyers, the Forester’s space and AWD make the Lexus premium harder to justify on paper.
Pick the Lexus UX if you want the shorter, lower SUV with the quicker 9.2-second 0-100 km/h time and lower RM435 annual road tax.
Pick the Subaru Forester if you need the 496-litre boot, all-wheel drive and the stronger 247 Nm petrol engine for less money.
Key differences
- Price: Lexus UX RM250,688; Subaru Forester RM222,689
- Engine output: Lexus UX 169 hp/205 Nm; Subaru Forester 182 hp/247 Nm
- Driven wheels: Lexus UX front-wheel drive; Subaru Forester all-wheel drive
- Size: Lexus UX 4,495 mm long/1,520 mm tall; Subaru Forester 4,655 mm long/1,730 mm tall
- Boot space: Lexus UX 228 litres; Subaru Forester 496 litres
- Road tax: Lexus UX RM435/year; Subaru Forester RM838/year
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 250,688 | RM 222,689✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | C-Segment |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,987 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Power | 169 hp | 182 hp✓ |
| Torque | 205 Nm | 247 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 9.2 s✓ | 9.7 s |
| Top speed | 190 km/h | 205 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,495 mm | 4,655 mm |
| Width | 1,840 mm | 1,830 mm |
| Height | 1,520 mm | 1,730 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,640 mm | 2,670 mm |
| Boot space | 228 L | 496 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 47 L | 63 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 8 | 8 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5 | 5 |
| Road tax / year | RM 435✓ | RM 838 |
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.
UX
- Quicker 0-100 km/h: 9.2 seconds
- Lower annual road tax at RM435
- Shorter 4,495 mm body
- Small 228-litre boot
- Front-wheel drive only
- RM27,999 dearer
Forester
- Large 496-litre boot
- All-wheel drive
- More torque: 247 Nm
- Slower 0-100 km/h: 9.7 seconds
- Higher RM838 annual road tax
UX vs Forester FAQ
Is the Lexus UX or Subaru Forester better?
For practicality, the Subaru Forester is better: it costs RM27,999 less, has AWD and a 496-litre boot. The Lexus UX is better if you want lower road tax and the quicker 9.2-second sprint.
What is the price difference?
The Lexus UX costs RM250,688, while the Subaru Forester costs RM222,689. That makes the Lexus RM27,999 more expensive.
Which has more boot space?
The Subaru Forester has far more boot space: 496 litres versus 228 litres in the Lexus UX, a 268-litre advantage.