Verdict
The Volvo V60 costs RM7,910 more at RM286,910, yet brings 316 hp, 400 Nm and a 4.6-second 0-100 km/h time against the Subaru Outback’s 185 hp, 245 Nm and 9.6 seconds. Its 11.6-kWh plug-in-hybrid battery also claims 49 km of EV range and 2 L/100 km. The Outback answers with a RM878 annual road tax versus RM365, seven airbags, a space-saver spare and 1,682 mm height for buyers who want the more upright wagon. Both are AWD five-seaters with near-identical boots: 522 litres versus 529 litres.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you want the lower RM279,000 entry price, seven airbags, a spare tyre and a taller 1,682-mm wagon body.
Pick the Volvo V60 if you want vastly stronger 316-hp plug-in-hybrid performance, a 49-km EV range and more driver-assistance and parking hardware.
Key differences
- Price: Subaru Outback RM279,000; Volvo V60 RM286,910.
- Power and torque: Outback 185 hp and 245 Nm; V60 316 hp and 400 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Outback 9.6 seconds; V60 4.6 seconds.
- Powertrain: Outback 2,498-cc petrol; V60 1,969-cc plug-in hybrid with an 11.6-kWh battery and 49-km EV range.
- Dimensions: Outback 4,870 mm long and 1,682 mm tall; V60 4,761 mm long and 1,432 mm tall.
- Road tax: Outback RM878 per year; V60 RM365 per year.
Outback
- RM7,910 cheaper to buy
- Seven airbags and a space-saver spare tyre
- Taller 1,682-mm body with a 63-litre fuel tank
- 185 hp and 245 Nm trail the V60's 316 hp and 400 Nm
- 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time is 5.0 seconds slower
- No plug-in-hybrid EV range, head-up display or auto parking
V60
- 316 hp, 400 Nm and 4.6-second 0-100 km/h
- 49-km EV range from an 11.6-kWh battery; rated 2 L/100 km
- Head-up display, Park Assist Pilot and 16-speaker 600-W Harman Kardon audio
- Costs RM7,910 more
- Six airbags versus the Outback's seven
- No spare tyre listed and only a 60-litre fuel tank
What the Outback has over the V60
What the V60 has over the Outback
Based on the published spec sheets of the selected variants — a blank field on one side can also mean unlisted data.
The V60's wheelbase is 127 mm longer, which usually translates to more rear legroom.
Representative body-type outlines, drawn to scale from each car's length and height.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM279,000✓ | RM286,910 |
| Body type | Wagon | Wagon |
| Segment | D-Segment | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM878 | RM365✓ |
| Monthly instalment (est.) | RM2,850/mo✓ | RM2,930/mo |
| Insurance / year (est.) | RM7,601✓ | RM7,773 |
| Fuel / year (est.) | — | RM796 |
| Energy cost / 100 km (est.) | — | RM3.98 |
| 5-year running costs (est.) | — | RM44,666 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with turbocharger, supercharger, variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,498 cc | 1,969 cc |
| Horsepower | 185 hp at 5,800 rpm | 316 hp at 5,700 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 245 Nm at 3,400 rpm | 400 Nm at 1,200 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Boxer 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Plug-in Hybrid |
| Bore × Stroke | 94 mm × 90 mm | 82 mm × 93.2 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12 | 10.3 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 86 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 240 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 11.6 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 49 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 3.7 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Lineartronic CVT | 8-Speed Geartronic |
| Gears | — | 8 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Subaru | Aisin |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9.6 seconds | 4.6 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 2 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 206 km/h✓ | 180 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 46 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,870 mm | 4,761 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,850 mm |
| Height | 1,682 mm | 1,432 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,745 mm | 2,872 mm |
| Weight | 1,756 kg | 2,041 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 63 litres | 60 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 522 litres | 529 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 235/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225.60R18 | 235/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" 5-multi-spoke Two-Tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" 5-multi-spoke Two-Tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Electric for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian, Cyclist, Oncoming Vehicle and Large Animal Detection (4 to 80 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Blind Spot Collision Mitigation, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Mitigation, Run-off Road Protection |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | Adaptive LED Projectors with Auto High Beam |
| 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 | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC vents | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 Front, 1 Boot, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 9" Touchscreen Sensus Connect Infotainment System with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and 16-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System (600 W) |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Knob Twist |
| Locks | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go and Steering Assist |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 4 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360 Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | — | Park Assist Pilot with Parallel and Perpendicular Parking |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Boot Grocery Bag Holder |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 120,000 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. Running-cost estimates assume 20,000 km/year. Fuel at RM1.99/litre (RON95, subsidised). Insurance: comprehensive motor tariff, no NCD. Instalment: 10% down, 2.5% flat rate, 9 years. Prices checked October 2026.
Used Outback & V60 for sale
Our reviews & guides
Subaru Outback
Outback vs V60 FAQ
Is the Subaru Outback or Volvo V60 better?
The V60 is the stronger technical choice: 316 hp, 400 Nm, 49 km of EV range and a 4.6-second 0-100 km/h time. Choose the Outback for its lower price, extra airbag, spare tyre and much taller body.
What is the price difference?
The Volvo V60 costs RM286,910 and the Subaru Outback costs RM279,000, so the V60 is RM7,910 more expensive.
Which wagon has lower annual road tax?
The Volvo V60 has lower annual road tax at RM365, compared with RM878 for the Subaru Outback. That is a RM513 annual difference in the V60's favour.
Which one is locally assembled?
The V60 is assembled in Malaysia (CKD), while the Outback is fully imported (CBU) from Japan. Local assembly generally helps pricing and spare-parts supply, and CKD programmes usually signal a longer-term commitment to the model here.