Renault Megane RS vs Subaru Outback
Verdict
The Renault Megane RS is the driver’s car here: RM279,888 buys a manual, front-drive hatch with 276 hp, 390 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 5.8 seconds. The Subaru Outback is only RM502 dearer at RM280,390, but it spends the money on D-segment wagon size, all-wheel drive, a CVT, 522 litres of boot space, seven airbags, AEB and a five-year warranty. For Malaysia, this is less about price than use case: excitement and lower RM279 road tax versus space, traction and safety kit.
Pick the Renault Megane RS if you want the quicker, sharper manual hatch and can live with less boot space and a shorter warranty.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need the bigger wagon body, all-wheel drive, AEB and a five-year warranty more than outright pace.
Key differences
- Price: Renault Megane RS RM279,888; Subaru Outback RM280,390
- Output: Renault Megane RS 276 hp/390 Nm; Subaru Outback 185 hp/245 Nm
- Acceleration: Renault Megane RS 0-100 km/h in 5.8 s; Subaru Outback 9.6 s
- Drivetrain: Renault Megane RS front-wheel drive manual; Subaru Outback all-wheel drive CVT automatic
- Size and boot: Renault Megane RS 4,364 mm long with 384 L; Subaru Outback 4,870 mm long with 522 L
- Ownership basics: Renault Megane RS 3-year warranty and RM279 road tax; Subaru Outback 5-year warranty and RM878 road tax
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 279,888✓ | RM 280,390 |
| Body type | Hatchback | Wagon |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 1,798 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Power | 276 hp✓ | 185 hp |
| Torque | 390 Nm✓ | 245 Nm |
| Transmission | Manual | CVT Automatic |
| Driven wheels | Front Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 5.8 s✓ | 9.6 s |
| Top speed | 255 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Efficiency | ||
| Fuel economy | 7.9 L/100km | — |
| CO₂ | 181 g/km | — |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,364 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,445 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,669 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Boot space | 384 L | 522 L✓ |
| Fuel tank | 50 L | 63 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 | 7✓ |
| Auto emergency braking | — | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 3 | 5✓ |
| Road tax / year | RM 279✓ | 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.
Megane RS
- Much stronger 276 hp and 390 Nm output
- Quicker 5.8-second 0-100 km/h time
- Lower RM279 annual road tax
- Smaller 384-litre boot
- No AEB listed
- Shorter 3-year warranty
Outback
- Larger 522-litre boot
- All-wheel drive for added traction
- Seven airbags, AEB and a 5-year warranty
- Slower 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time
- Higher RM878 annual road tax
- Less power and torque than the Renault
Megane RS vs Outback FAQ
Is the Renault Megane RS or Subaru Outback better?
The Renault Megane RS is better for performance, with 276 hp and a 5.8-second century sprint. The Subaru Outback is better for family use, with a 522-litre boot, all-wheel drive, AEB and a five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Subaru Outback costs RM502 more than the Renault Megane RS. At this level, the gap is tiny; the real decision is performance hatch versus larger all-wheel-drive wagon.
Which one is more practical for daily use?
The Subaru Outback is more practical on paper, with a D-segment wagon body, 522 litres of boot space and a 63-litre fuel tank. The Renault Megane RS has 384 litres and a 50-litre tank.