Verdict
These are radically different buys. At RM249,245, the Subaru BRZ is RM135,727 cheaper, pays RM767 annual road tax and puts 234 hp through a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. It is the focused choice, but its 226-litre boot, two doors and four seats make it a limited only-car proposition. The RM384,972 Volkswagen Touareg brings 335 hp, 450 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 6.0-second 0-100 km/h time, plus 810 litres of boot space and five seats. Its RM1,632 road tax and purchase price are substantial commitments.
Pick the Subaru BRZ if you want the lower-cost 234 hp rear-wheel-drive coupe with a six-speed manual and can live with four seats and a 226-litre boot.
Pick the Volkswagen Touareg if you need five seats, an 810-litre boot, all-wheel drive and its far broader safety and convenience specification.
Key differences
- Price: Subaru BRZ RM249,245; Volkswagen Touareg RM384,972.
- Performance: Subaru BRZ 234 hp, 250 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds; Volkswagen Touareg 335 hp, 450 Nm and 6.0 seconds.
- Practicality: Subaru BRZ has 2 doors, 4 seats and a 226-litre boot; Volkswagen Touareg has 5 doors, 5 seats and an 810-litre boot.
- Size: Subaru BRZ is 4,265 mm long and 1,775 mm wide; Volkswagen Touareg is 4,878 mm long and 1,984 mm wide.
- Drivetrain: Subaru BRZ has a 6-speed manual and rear-wheel drive; Volkswagen Touareg has an 8-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
- Road tax: Subaru BRZ RM767 per year; Volkswagen Touareg RM1,632 per year.
BRZ
- RM135,727 less to buy.
- Six-speed manual with rear-wheel drive.
- Lower RM767 annual road tax.
- 226-litre boot versus the Touareg's 810 litres.
- Four seats and two doors versus five seats and five doors.
- No autonomous braking, collision warning or lane-keeping steering correction.
Touareg
- 335 hp and 450 Nm, with 0-100 km/h in 6.0 seconds.
- 810-litre boot and five-seat cabin.
- Air suspension, adaptive cruise control and 360-degree camera.
- RM135,727 more expensive.
- RM1,632 annual road tax versus RM767.
- No manual gearbox; it uses an 8-speed automatic.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM249,245✓ | RM384,972 |
| Body type | Coupe | SUV |
| Segment | Sports Car | Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM767✓ | RM1,632 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally-aspirated with Direct and Port Injection, Variable Valve Timing | 24-valve DOHC with Twin-scroll Turbocharger, Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,387 cc | 2,995 cc |
| Horsepower | 234 hp | 335 hp✓ |
| Torque | 250 Nm | 450 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 94 mm | 84.5 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12.5 | 10.8 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Manual | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | — | 8-speed Automatic |
| Gears | 6 | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Aisin | — |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 6.3 seconds | 6 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 226 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,265 mm | 4,878 mm |
| Width | 1,775 mm | 1,984 mm |
| Height | 1,310 mm | 1,702 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,575 mm | 2,984 mm |
| Weight | 1,289 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 50 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 226 litres | 810 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 215/40R18 | 285/45R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 215/40R18 | 285/45R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | Bridgestone Alenza 001 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloys | 20" Braga Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side and Front Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Electronic for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats | Available for two outer rear passenger seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | — | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | No | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | — | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | Front Seats | All Seats |
| Night Vision | — | Yes |
| Safety Notes | Rear Cross Traffic Alert | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | HD Matrix LED Headlights |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Manual Adjustable | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 3 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Manual rear window blinds |
| Audio | 8" Touchscreen with Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 8 Speakers | 15" Innovision Cockpit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Dynaudio Consequence Sound System (730-Watts) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | — | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | — | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | — | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | — | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Handbrake | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 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 BRZ & Touareg for sale
BRZ vs Touareg FAQ
Is the Subaru BRZ or Volkswagen Touareg better?
The Touareg is better for carrying people and luggage, safety equipment and straight-line performance. The BRZ is the better fit if a six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive, lower RM767 road tax and a RM135,727 lower purchase price matter more than space.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Touareg costs RM384,972 and the Subaru BRZ costs RM249,245, so the Touareg is RM135,727 more expensive.
Which has more boot space, the Subaru BRZ or Volkswagen Touareg?
The Volkswagen Touareg has 810 litres of boot space, 584 litres more than the Subaru BRZ's 226 litres. It also has five seats and five doors, against the BRZ's four seats and two doors.