Verdict
At RM609,000, the Porsche Cayenne costs RM330,000 more than the RM279,000 Subaru Outback, and its annual road tax is RM1,632 against RM878. That money brings a 348 hp, 500 Nm turbocharged 3.0-litre V6, 5.7-second sprint and 772-litre boot; the Outback counters with a 185 hp boxer four, CVT and a still-useful 522 litres. Both are five-seat AWD petrol cars with adaptive cruise control and 360-degree cameras. For Malaysian buyers, the Cayenne is the clear performance and cargo choice, while the Outback makes the stronger case for a far lower entry bill and longer five-year warranty.
Pick the Porsche Cayenne if you want 348 hp, 500 Nm, a 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time and a 772-litre boot.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you want AWD, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera for RM330,000 less, plus a five-year warranty.
Key differences
- Price: Porsche Cayenne RM609,000; Subaru Outback RM279,000.
- Output: Porsche Cayenne 348 hp and 500 Nm; Subaru Outback 185 hp and 245 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Porsche Cayenne 5.7 seconds; Subaru Outback 9.6 seconds.
- Boot space: Porsche Cayenne 772 litres; Subaru Outback 522 litres.
- Wheelbase: Porsche Cayenne 2,895 mm; Subaru Outback 2,745 mm.
- Warranty: Porsche Cayenne four years/100,000 km; Subaru Outback five years/100,000 km.
Cayenne
- 348 hp and 500 Nm with a 5.7-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 772-litre boot and 40:20:40 rear seat split.
- Adaptive air suspension, 21-inch wheels and auto parking.
- RM330,000 more expensive and RM754 higher annual road tax.
- Four-year warranty is one year shorter.
- No rear air-con vents, sunroof or front foglamps.
Outback
- RM330,000 lower purchase price and RM878 annual road tax.
- Five-year/100,000 km warranty.
- Rear air-con vents, tilt-and-slide sunroof and front foglamps.
- 185 hp and 245 Nm trail the Cayenne's 348 hp and 500 Nm.
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time is 3.9 seconds slower.
- 522-litre boot is 250 litres smaller, and there is no auto parking.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM609,000 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | SUV | Wagon |
| Segment | Executive | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM1,632 | RM878✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 2,995 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 348 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 84 mm | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.5 | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Tiptronic S | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Porsche | Subaru |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 5.7 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Rated Economy | 10.8 L/100 km | — |
| Top Speed | 248 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,930 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 2,194 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,698 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,895 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 2,130 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 75 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 772 litres✓ | 522 litres |
| Front Tyre | 295/45R20 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/45R20 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus S1 evoZ | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-Link with Air Suspension | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 21" RS Spyder Design | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 21" RS Spyder Design | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Porsche Adaptive Air Suspension | — |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver and Front Passenger Knee, Front Side, Front 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 | Two Outer Rear Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector with Adaptive High Beam | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 14-way Power Adjustable with Memory Function | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding with Remote Release | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Powered sunshades for rear side windows | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 12.3" Porsche Communication Manager with Porsche Connect Plus, Apple CarPlay, 14-speaker 710-watt Bose Surround Sound System | 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 | Push Start Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | ✓ | — |
| Boot Operation | Powered with Contactless Operation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Surround View System | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Power Door | Yes | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 4 years | 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 Cayenne & Outback for sale
Cayenne vs Outback FAQ
Is the Porsche Cayenne or Subaru Outback better?
The Cayenne is better for outright pace, carrying capacity and parking assistance: it has 348 hp, reaches 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds and carries 772 litres. The Outback is better for lower ownership entry costs and its five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Porsche Cayenne costs RM330,000 more than the Subaru Outback. Its annual road tax is also RM754 higher, at RM1,632 versus RM878.
Which has more boot space, the Porsche Cayenne or Subaru Outback?
The Porsche Cayenne has the larger boot at 772 litres, compared with 522 litres in the Subaru Outback. That is a 250-litre advantage, and the Cayenne also has a 40:20:40 rear-seat split versus the Outback's 60:40 arrangement.