MINI 5 Door vs Subaru Outback
Verdict
The MINI 5 Door is the quicker, smaller car: at RM293,888 it gives you 201 hp, 300 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 6.8 seconds. The Subaru Outback costs RM280,390 and goes the other way, with a D-segment wagon body, all-wheel drive, 522 litres of boot space and a five-year warranty. For a Malaysian buyer, this is less about trim and more about use: the MINI is the fun, compact choice; the Subaru is the space-and-distance car.
Pick the MINI 5 Door if you want the sharper performer, with 201 hp, 300 Nm, a 6.8-second century sprint and a much shorter 4,036 mm body.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need wagon space, all-wheel drive, a 522-litre boot and a five-year warranty for less money.
Key differences
- Price: MINI 5 Door RM293,888; Subaru Outback RM280,390
- Engine: MINI 5 Door 1,998 cc; Subaru Outback 2,498 cc
- Output: MINI 5 Door 201 hp/300 Nm; Subaru Outback 185 hp/245 Nm
- 0-100 km/h: MINI 5 Door 6.8 s; Subaru Outback 9.6 s
- Boot space: MINI 5 Door 275 L; Subaru Outback 522 L
- Warranty: MINI 5 Door 2 years; Subaru Outback 5 years
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 293,888 | RM 280,390✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Wagon |
| Segment | B-Segment | D-Segment |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,998 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Power | 201 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 300 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 6.8 s✓ | 9.6 s |
| Top speed | 242 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,036 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,744 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,464 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,567 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Boot space | 275 L | 522 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 44 L | 63 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | — | 7 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 2 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 379✓ | 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.
5 Door
- Quicker 6.8-second 0-100 km/h time
- Higher 201 hp and 300 Nm outputs
- Shorter 4,036 mm length suits tighter streets
- Small 275-litre boot
- Front-wheel drive only
- Two-year warranty
Outback
- Large 522-litre boot
- All-wheel drive
- Five-year warranty
- Slower 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- Higher RM878 yearly road tax
- Much larger 4,870 mm body
5 Door vs Outback FAQ
Is the MINI 5 Door or Subaru Outback better?
The MINI 5 Door is better for performance and compact size. The Subaru Outback is better for space, all-wheel drive and warranty cover. If this is a family or travel car, take the Subaru; if pace matters more, take the MINI.
What is the price difference?
The Subaru Outback is RM13,498 cheaper than the MINI 5 Door. The cheaper car also gets the bigger boot, all-wheel drive and the longer warranty.
Which one has more space?
The Subaru Outback has far more space on paper: 522 litres of boot capacity against the MINI 5 Door’s 275 litres, plus a longer 2,745 mm wheelbase versus 2,567 mm.