Subaru Crosstrek vs Volkswagen Tayron
Verdict
At RM190,788, the Subaru Crosstrek is the smaller, imported five-seat SUV here, with 154 hp, all-wheel drive and a 63-litre tank, but its 196 Nm trails the Volkswagen Tayron by a clear margin. The Tayron costs RM190,660 — just RM128 less — and uses a 1.5 turbo mild-hybrid with 250 Nm, a seven-speed wet DSG, seven seats and a much larger 4,792 mm body. It also gets a lower RM120 road tax bill versus RM438. The Subaru counters with a longer five-year warranty, though capped at 100,000 km.
Pick the Subaru Crosstrek if you want all-wheel drive, a longer five-year warranty and a smaller five-seat SUV footprint.
Pick the Volkswagen Tayron if you need seven seats, stronger torque, more cabin flexibility and lower annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: Subaru Crosstrek RM190,788; Volkswagen Tayron RM190,660
- Powertrain: Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 NA petrol, 154 hp/196 Nm; Volkswagen Tayron 1.5 turbo mild-hybrid, 148 hp/250 Nm
- Driveline: Subaru Crosstrek all-wheel drive; Volkswagen Tayron front-wheel drive
- Size: Subaru Crosstrek 4,480 mm long with 2,670 mm wheelbase; Volkswagen Tayron 4,792 mm long with 2,788 mm wheelbase
- Seats and boot: Subaru Crosstrek 5 seats/315 litres; Volkswagen Tayron 7 seats/345 litres
- Warranty and road tax: Subaru Crosstrek 5 years/100,000 km and RM438; Volkswagen Tayron 2 years/unlimited mileage and RM120
Crosstrek
- All-wheel drive, where the Tayron is front-wheel drive
- Longer manufacturer warranty at 5 years versus 2 years
- Larger 63-litre fuel tank versus 55 litres
- Only 5 seats against the Tayron’s 7
- Lower torque at 196 Nm versus 250 Nm
- Smaller 315-litre boot versus 345 litres
Tayron
- Seven seats and sliding, split-folding second row
- Higher 250 Nm torque from the 1.5 turbo mild-hybrid
- Adds rear air-conditioning, auto parking, navigation and contactless powered boot
- Front-wheel drive only, while the Crosstrek has all-wheel drive
- Shorter 2-year manufacturer warranty, though mileage is unlimited
- No sunroof, while the Crosstrek has a front tilt-and-slide sunroof
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 190,788 | RM 190,660✓ |
| Body type | SUV | SUV |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-Valve DOHC, naturally-aspirated with direct injection and variable valve timing | 16-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, turbocharger and variable intake valve timing with 48-volt MHEV assistance |
| Capacity | 1,995 cc | 1,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 154 hp✓ | 148 hp |
| Torque | 196 Nm | 250 Nm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Boxer | Inline |
| Timing Type | Chain | Chain |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | Lineartronic | 7-speed Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) |
| Gears | — | 7 |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | — | 9.6 seconds |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,480 mm | 4,792 mm |
| Width | 1,800 mm | 1,852 mm |
| Height | 1,575 mm | 1,660 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,670 mm | 2,788 mm |
| Fuel Tank | 63 litres | 55 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 315 litres | 345 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/55R18 | 235/55R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/55R18 | 235/55R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | Falken Ziex ZE001A A/S | Hankook Ventus evoSUV |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Chassis | Unibody | Unibody |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Struts | MacPherson Struts |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-links |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloys | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloys | 18" Napoli Alloys |
| Front Brakes | Ventilated Discs | Ventilated Discs |
| Rear Brakes | Solid Discs | Solid Discs |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Dynamic Chassis Control Pro |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Front Passenger Seat Cushion | Driver and Front Passenger, Front & Rear Side Bags, Curtain Airbags & Front Centre Airbag |
| 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 | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for two rear passenger seats | Available on Front Passenger Seat and 2 Outer Middle Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory | 12-Way Power-Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function, Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | — | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB Front, 2 USB Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Back Row |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Manual Rear Window Blinds |
| Audio | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | 12.9" Discover Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, 8-speaker Volkswagen Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Driver and Front Passenger Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and 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 | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Electroluminescent Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years✓ | 2 years |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM 438 | RM 120✓ |
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.
Crosstrek vs Tayron FAQ
Is the Subaru Crosstrek or Volkswagen Tayron better?
The Volkswagen Tayron is the stronger family pick on paper, with seven seats, 250 Nm, more equipment and lower road tax. The Subaru Crosstrek suits buyers who value all-wheel drive and a longer five-year warranty.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Tayron is RM128 cheaper. It is priced at RM190,660, while the Subaru Crosstrek is RM190,788.
Which has more space for family use?
The Volkswagen Tayron has the advantage: seven seats, a 2,788 mm wheelbase and 345 litres of boot space. The Subaru Crosstrek has five seats, a 2,670 mm wheelbase and 315 litres.