Verdict
At RM279,000, the Subaru Outback costs RM17,000 less yet is the practical choice: five seats, five doors and a 522-litre boot dwarf the GR86’s four seats, two doors and 226 litres. Its 185 hp AWD wagon is also better equipped for daily use, with autonomous braking, lane-keeping steering correction, adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera. The Toyota GR86 is the sharper performance proposition: 234 hp, rear-wheel drive, a six-speed manual and 6.3-second 0-100 km/h against 9.6 seconds. Buy it for the drive, not family duties.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need five seats, a 522-litre boot, AWD and active safety assistance for daily Malaysian use.
Pick the Toyota GR86 if a 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual matter more than passenger and luggage space.
Key differences
- Price: Subaru Outback RM279,000; Toyota GR86 RM296,000.
- Performance: Outback 185 hp, 245 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds; GR86 234 hp, 250 Nm and 6.3 seconds.
- Driveline/transmission: Outback AWD with Lineartronic CVT; GR86 RWD with six-speed manual.
- Boot space: Outback 522 litres; GR86 226 litres.
- Seating/doors: Outback five seats and five doors; GR86 four seats and two doors.
- Warranty mileage: Outback 100,000 km; GR86 150,000 km.
Outback
- 522-litre boot and five-seat, five-door layout.
- AWD and 63-litre fuel tank.
- Autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control and 360-degree camera.
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time trails the GR86’s 6.3 seconds.
- 185 hp is 49 hp down on the GR86.
- 100,000-km warranty coverage is 50,000 km shorter.
GR86
- 234 hp, 250 Nm and 6.3-second 0-100 km/h pace.
- Rear-wheel drive, six-speed manual and rear limited-slip differential.
- 150,000-km warranty mileage coverage.
- 226-litre boot is 296 litres smaller than the Outback’s.
- Two doors and four seats versus the Outback’s five doors and five seats.
- No autonomous braking, lane-keeping assist or adaptive cruise control.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM279,000✓ | RM296,000 |
| Body type | Wagon | Coupe |
| Segment | D-Segment | Sports Car |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM878 | RM767✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine | 16-valve DOHC, direct fuel injection, naturally-aspirated with variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,498 cc | 2,387 cc |
| Horsepower | 185 hp | 234 hp✓ |
| Torque | 245 Nm | 250 Nm✓ |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore | 94 mm | 94 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12 | 12.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Manual |
| Transmission Name | Lineartronic CVT | 6-speed Manual |
| Gears | — | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Subaru | Toyota |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9.6 seconds | 6.3 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 206 km/h | 226 km/h✓ |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,870 mm | 4,265 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,775 mm |
| Height | 1,682 mm | 1,310 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,745 mm | 2,575 mm |
| Weight | 1,756 kg | 1,291 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 63 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 522 litres✓ | 226 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 215/40R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 225.60R18 | 215/40R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Full Size |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut with Stabiliser |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbone with Stabiliser |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Rear Limited Slip Differential |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | — |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Headlamps |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | — |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | Foldable |
| 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, 2 Front USB |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 8" Display Audio with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Driver and Passenger One Touch Auto Windows |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button Start |
| Locks | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access | Keyless Entry |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Manual Operation |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | — |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Digital/Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 150,000 km✓ |
| 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 Outback & GR86 for sale
Outback vs GR86 FAQ
Is the Subaru Outback or Toyota GR86 better?
The Outback is better for carrying people and luggage, with five seats and a 522-litre boot, plus AWD and driver assistance systems. The GR86 is better for performance driving, reaching 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds with rear-wheel drive and a manual gearbox.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota GR86 costs RM17,000 more than the Subaru Outback. The Outback is the lower-priced car.
Which is faster, the Subaru Outback or Toyota GR86?
The Toyota GR86 is much faster: 0-100 km/h takes 6.3 seconds versus 9.6 seconds for the Subaru Outback. It also has 234 hp and a 226 km/h top speed, against 185 hp and 206 km/h.