Verdict
These cars head in opposite directions. The MINI 3 Door’s 201 hp, 300 Nm and 1,295 kg kerb weight deliver a 6.6-second 0-100 km/h time, against the Outback’s 185 hp, 245 Nm, 1,756 kg and 9.6 seconds. But the Subaru brings five doors, five seats and a 522-litre boot; the MINI has three doors, four seats and 210 litres. For a Malaysian buyer carrying people or luggage, the Outback is plainly the more useful machine, while the MINI is the sharper choice if pace matters most.
Pick the MINI 3 Door if you want 201 hp, 300 Nm and a 6.6-second 0-100 km/h time in a 1,295 kg three-door hatchback.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need all-wheel drive, five seats, five doors and a 522-litre boot.
Key differences
- Performance: MINI 3 Door has 201 hp and 300 Nm; Subaru Outback has 185 hp and 245 Nm.
- Acceleration: MINI 3 Door reaches 100 km/h in 6.6 seconds; Subaru Outback takes 9.6 seconds.
- Driveline: MINI 3 Door is front-wheel drive; Subaru Outback is all-wheel drive.
- Cargo space: MINI 3 Door has a 210-litre boot; Subaru Outback has 522 litres.
- Size: MINI 3 Door is 3,876 mm long; Subaru Outback is 4,870 mm long.
- Warranty: MINI 3 Door gets two years with unlimited mileage; Subaru Outback gets five years or 100,000 km.
3 Door
- 201 hp, 300 Nm and a 6.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Adaptive LED projector headlamps, head-up display and navigation.
- Six front and six rear parking sensors with a 360-degree view monitor.
- Only three doors and four seats, versus the Outback’s five doors and five seats.
- 210-litre boot is 312 litres smaller than the Outback’s 522 litres.
- Two-year warranty is shorter than the Outback’s five-year cover.
Outback
- All-wheel drive, five doors and five seats.
- 522-litre boot, powered tailgate and rear air-conditioning vents.
- Five-year/100,000 km warranty, plus power-adjustable front seats with driver memory.
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time trails the MINI 3 Door’s 6.6 seconds.
- 185 hp and 245 Nm fall short of the MINI 3 Door’s 201 hp and 300 Nm.
- RM878 annual road tax is higher than the MINI 3 Door’s RM379.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM279,888 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | Hatchback | Wagon |
| Segment | B-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379✓ | RM878 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger, variable valve timing | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 201 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 300 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 82 mm | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 7 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | — | Subaru |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.6 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 242 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 3,876 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,727 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,414 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,495 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,295 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 44 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 3 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 210 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/45R18 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/45R18 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Pirelli Cinturato P7 | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 18" Slide Spoke Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Slide Spoke Alloys | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, 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 |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point belts | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats, Front Passenger Seat | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projector with High Beam Assist | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | 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 | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 USB C, 1 Wireless Charger | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 9.4" OLED Display with MINI OS, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Harman Kardon Sound System | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Flip Switch | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Active Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Manual Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | — | 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 | — |
| Warranty Notes | Repair Inclusive extendable up to 5 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 3 Door & Outback for sale
3 Door vs Outback FAQ
Is the MINI 3 Door or Subaru Outback better?
The Subaru Outback is better for passenger and luggage capacity, all-wheel drive and warranty cover. The MINI 3 Door is better if acceleration is the priority, reaching 100 km/h three seconds sooner.
What is the price difference?
The MINI 3 Door costs RM279,888 and the Subaru Outback costs RM279,000, so the MINI is RM888 more expensive.
Which has the more practical cabin?
The Subaru Outback does. It has five doors, five seats and a 522-litre boot, compared with the MINI 3 Door’s three doors, four seats and 210-litre boot.