Verdict
At RM238,888, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan costs RM40,112 less and is far cheaper to tax annually at RM70 versus RM878. Its 161 hp, 270 Nm turbo 1.3-litre and 8.3-second century sprint make it the quicker road car, despite giving away 24 hp. The Subaru Outback answers with all-wheel drive, a 522-litre boot and a much larger 4,870 mm wagon body, plus rear air-con vents, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera. For Malaysian urban use, the Mercedes is the rational spend; choose the Subaru if load space and AWD matter more than running costs.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan if you want the RM40,112 saving, RM70 annual road tax and quicker 8.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need all-wheel drive, a 522-litre boot and its more family-minded rear air-con vents.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan RM238,888; Subaru Outback RM279,000
- Road tax: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan RM70/year; Subaru Outback RM878/year
- Performance: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan 0-100 km/h in 8.3 seconds; Subaru Outback in 9.6 seconds
- Driveline: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan front-wheel drive; Subaru Outback all-wheel drive
- Boot space: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan 420 litres; Subaru Outback 522 litres
- Dimensions: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan 4,549 mm long; Subaru Outback 4,870 mm long
A-Class Sedan
- RM40,112 lower purchase price
- Quicker 8.3-second 0-100 km/h time
- RM70 annual road tax and 270 Nm torque
- 420-litre boot is 102 litres smaller
- Front-wheel drive rather than all-wheel drive
- No rear air-con vents, sunroof or adaptive cruise control
Outback
- All-wheel drive and double-wishbone rear suspension
- 522-litre boot with a powered tailgate
- Adaptive cruise control, rear air-con vents and 360-degree camera
- Costs RM40,112 more
- RM878 annual road tax versus RM70
- Slower 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM238,888✓ | RM279,000 |
| Body type | Sedan | Wagon |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM70✓ | RM878 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 1,332 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 161 hp | 185 hp✓ |
| Torque | 270 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 72.2 mm | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 7G-DCT | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Getrag | Subaru |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.3 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,549 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,796 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,446 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,729 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,385 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 420 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 205/55R17 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 205/55R17 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 17" Five-twin-spoke Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Five-twin-spoke Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort Lowered Suspension | — |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Pelvis, 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 for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Active Brake Assist | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 2 Front USB-C, 1 Rear USB-C | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 10.25" Touchscreen MBUX Multimedia System with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | 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 Activated | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Active Parking Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | No | — |
| 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 | 2 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 A-Class Sedan & Outback for sale
A-Class Sedan vs Outback FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan or Subaru Outback better?
The Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan is better for lower purchase and annual tax costs, plus quicker acceleration. The Subaru Outback is better for buyers who need all-wheel drive, 102 litres more boot space, rear air-con vents and adaptive cruise control.
What is the price difference?
The Subaru Outback costs RM279,000, which is RM40,112 more than the RM238,888 Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan.
Which has more luggage space?
The Subaru Outback has the larger boot at 522 litres, compared with 420 litres in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan. That is a 102-litre advantage for the Subaru.