Mercedes-Benz GLB vs Subaru Outback
Verdict
At RM290,888 for Mercedes-Benz GLB and RM280,390 for Subaru Outback, this is a RM10,498 call between extra seats and more usable load space. The GLB is the quicker car by a whisker, 9.3 seconds to 100 km/h against 9.6, and its 1,332 cc engine keeps annual road tax to RM100. But the Outback counters hard with all-wheel drive, a 522-litre boot, a five-year warranty and 63-litre tank. The GLB’s seven-seat layout matters; its 130-litre boot does too.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLB if you need seven seats, RM100 annual road tax and can live with 130 litres of boot space.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you want all-wheel drive, a 522-litre boot, a five-year warranty and only need five seats.
Key differences
- Seats: Mercedes-Benz GLB has 7; Subaru Outback has 5
- Boot space: Mercedes-Benz GLB has 130 litres; Subaru Outback has 522 litres
- Driven wheels: Mercedes-Benz GLB is front-wheel drive; Subaru Outback is all-wheel drive
- Warranty: Mercedes-Benz GLB gets 2 years; Subaru Outback gets 5 years
- Road tax: Mercedes-Benz GLB is RM100 a year; Subaru Outback is RM878 a year
- 0-100 km/h: Mercedes-Benz GLB does 9.3 seconds; Subaru Outback does 9.6 seconds
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 290,888 | RM 280,390✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Wagon |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Seats | 7 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,332 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Power | 161 hp | 185 hp✓ |
| Torque | 270 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 9.3 s✓ | 9.6 s |
| Top speed | 207 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,634 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,834 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,663 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,829 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Boot space | 130 L | 522 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 52 L | 63 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 | 7 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 2 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 100✓ | 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.
GLB
- Seven-seat cabin
- Lower RM100 annual road tax
- Slightly quicker 0-100 km/h time
- Small 130-litre boot
- Front-wheel drive only
- Shorter two-year warranty
Outback
- Much larger 522-litre boot
- All-wheel drive
- Longer five-year warranty
- Five seats only
- Higher RM878 annual road tax
- Slightly slower to 100 km/h
GLB vs Outback FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz GLB or Subaru Outback better?
For seven seats and lower annual road tax, the Mercedes-Benz GLB. For luggage space, all-wheel drive and warranty length, the Subaru Outback is the stronger everyday brief. Performance is nearly tied: 9.3 seconds versus 9.6 seconds to 100 km/h.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLB is RM10,498 dearer than the Subaru Outback.
Which has more luggage space?
The Subaru Outback has far more boot space: 522 litres versus 130 litres in the Mercedes-Benz GLB.