Verdict
At RM279,000, the Subaru Outback costs RM17,000 less than the RM296,000 Toyota GR86, yet these are radically different buys. The Outback’s five doors, five seats and 522-litre boot suit family trips, while AWD and autonomous braking add useful reassurance in daily Malaysian driving. The GR86 answers with 234 hp, a six-speed manual and a 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time, against 185 hp and 9.6 seconds for the Subaru. Buy the Outback for space and equipment; buy the GR86 for the drive.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need five seats, a 522-litre boot, AWD and driver-assistance equipment for daily family use.
Pick the Toyota GR86 if a 234-hp rear-wheel-drive coupe with a six-speed manual and 6.3-second 0-100 km/h pace is the priority.
Key differences
- Price: Subaru Outback RM279,000; Toyota GR86 RM296,000.
- Performance: Outback 185 hp and 245 Nm; GR86 234 hp and 250 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: Outback 9.6 seconds; GR86 6.3 seconds.
- Driveline and transmission: Outback AWD with CVT automatic; GR86 RWD with six-speed manual.
- Practicality: Outback has five doors, five seats and a 522-litre boot; GR86 has two doors, four seats and a 226-litre boot.
- Driver assistance: Outback has autonomous braking and lane-keeping steering correction; GR86 has neither.
Outback
- RM17,000 lower purchase price
- Five seats and 522-litre boot
- AWD, autonomous braking and adaptive cruise control
- 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 limit is 50,000 km shorter
GR86
- 234 hp 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 limit
- RM17,000 more expensive than the Outback
- 226-litre boot and four seats are far less useful than the Outback’s 522 litres and five seats
- No autonomous braking or lane-keeping assist
| 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 at 5,800 rpm | 234 hp at 7,000 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 245 Nm at 3,400 rpm | 250 Nm at 3,700 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Boxer 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 94 mm × 90 mm | 94 mm × 86 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 | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (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 family use, carrying people and luggage, and driver assistance. The GR86 is better for performance driving: it has 234 hp, rear-wheel drive, a manual gearbox and reaches 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds.
What is the price difference?
The Toyota GR86 costs RM17,000 more than the Subaru Outback: RM296,000 versus RM279,000.
Which is more practical for long trips?
The Subaru Outback is decisively more practical. It has five doors, five seats, a 522-litre boot, rear air-con vents and a 63-litre fuel tank. The GR86 has two doors, four seats, a 226-litre boot and a 50-litre tank.
