Subaru Outback vs Toyota GR Yaris
Verdict
At RM280,390, the Subaru Outback is RM35,210 cheaper and reads as the practical choice here: five seats, a 522-litre boot and a 63-litre tank suit long family runs. The Toyota GR Yaris costs RM315,600 and is the clear performance play, with 296 hp, 400 Nm, a manual gearbox and 0-100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. Both are CBU petrol AWD cars with AEB and five-year warranties, but they answer very different briefs: wagon space versus hot-hatch pace.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need five seats, a big 522-litre boot and easier long-distance usability from a D-segment wagon.
Pick the Toyota GR Yaris if you want the quicker AWD car, a manual gearbox and 296 hp in a compact hatchback.
Key differences
- Price: Subaru Outback RM280,390; Toyota GR Yaris RM315,600
- Body and seats: Subaru Outback wagon with 5 seats; Toyota GR Yaris hatchback with 4 seats
- Output: Subaru Outback 185 hp and 245 Nm; Toyota GR Yaris 296 hp and 400 Nm
- Gearbox and drive: Subaru Outback CVT automatic AWD; Toyota GR Yaris manual AWD
- Performance: Subaru Outback 0-100 km/h in 9.6 s and 206 km/h; Toyota GR Yaris 5.2 s and 230 km/h
- Boot space: Subaru Outback 522 litres; Toyota GR Yaris 174 litres
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM 280,390✓ | RM 315,600 |
| Body type | Wagon | Hatchback |
| Segment | D-Segment | B-Segment |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Powertrain | ||
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine | 2,498 cc | 1,618 cc |
| Power | 185 hp | 296 hp✓ |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 400 Nm✓ |
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Manual |
| Driven wheels | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance | ||
| 0–100 km/h | 9.6 s | 5.2 s✓ |
| Top speed | 206 km/h | 230 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,870 mm | 3,995 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,805 mm |
| Height | 1,682 mm | 1,455 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,745 mm | 2,560 mm |
| Boot space | 522 L✓ | 174 L |
| Fuel tank | 63 L | 50 L |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7✓ | 6 |
| Auto emergency braking | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership | ||
| Warranty | 5 | 5 |
| Road tax / year | RM 878 | RM 207✓ |
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.
Outback
- Five-seat cabin
- 522-litre boot
- 63-litre fuel tank
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h is much slower
- CVT automatic only
- RM878 annual road tax
GR Yaris
- 296 hp and 400 Nm
- 5.2-second 0-100 km/h
- Manual gearbox with AWD
- Only four seats
- 174-litre boot
- 50-litre fuel tank
Outback vs GR Yaris FAQ
Is the Subaru Outback or Toyota GR Yaris better?
For daily Malaysian family use, the Subaru Outback is better because it has five seats and a 522-litre boot. For driving pace, the Toyota GR Yaris is better with 296 hp, 400 Nm and a 5.2-second 0-100 km/h time.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota GR Yaris is RM35,210 more expensive than the Subaru Outback.
Which is more practical for long trips?
The Subaru Outback is more practical: five seats, a 522-litre boot and a 63-litre tank. The Toyota GR Yaris has four seats, 174 litres of boot space and a 50-litre tank, though its RM207 annual road tax is lower than the Subaru’s RM878.