Verdict
At RM279,000, the Outback is RM12,012 cheaper, yet both bring all-wheel drive, seven airbags, autonomous braking and a 360-degree camera. Its 522-litre boot and 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time make it the slower, less capacious choice, but the 1,682-mm-tall wagon has a tilt-and-slide sunroof and 5-year/100,000-km cover. The Arteon’s 276 hp/350 Nm turbo, 5.6-second sprint, 563-litre boot and RM372 annual road tax make more sense for fast road use. Its five-year warranty also has unlimited mileage and includes three years/45,000 km free service.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you want the lower entry price, a sunroof and a taller wagon body, and can accept a 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
Pick the Volkswagen Arteon if you want 276 hp, a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h sprint, a larger boot and lower annual road tax.
Key differences
- Performance: Subaru Outback has 185 hp and 245 Nm; Volkswagen Arteon has 276 hp and 350 Nm.
- Acceleration: Subaru Outback takes 9.6 seconds from 0-100 km/h; Volkswagen Arteon takes 5.6 seconds.
- Boot space: Subaru Outback has 522 litres; Volkswagen Arteon has 563 litres.
- Road tax: Subaru Outback costs RM878 per year; Volkswagen Arteon costs RM372 per year.
- Wheelbase: Subaru Outback measures 2,745 mm; Volkswagen Arteon measures 2,837 mm.
- Warranty mileage: Subaru Outback covers 100,000 km over five years; Volkswagen Arteon has unlimited mileage over five years.
Outback
- RM12,012 lower purchase price.
- Tilt-and-slide sunroof and front foglamps.
- 11.6-inch touchscreen and powered front passenger seat.
- 185 hp/245 Nm and 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time trail the Arteon.
- 522-litre boot is 41 litres smaller.
- RM878 annual road tax is RM506 higher, and warranty mileage stops at 100,000 km.
Arteon
- 276 hp, 350 Nm and a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 563-litre boot, 2,837-mm wheelbase and RM372 annual road tax.
- Adaptive dampers, front parking sensors, navigation and three years/45,000 km free service.
- Costs RM12,012 more.
- No sunroof or front foglamps.
- 9.2-inch infotainment screen is smaller than the Outback’s 11.6-inch unit.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM279,000✓ | RM291,012 |
| Body type | Wagon | Hatchback |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM878 | RM372✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine | 16-Valve DOHC with Twin-Scroll Turbocharger, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,498 cc | 1,984 cc |
| Horsepower | 185 hp at 5,800 rpm | 276 hp at 5,100 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 245 Nm at 3,400 rpm | 350 Nm at 1,700 rpm✓ |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Boxer 4 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 94 mm × 90 mm | 82.5 mm × 92.8 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 12 | 9.6 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | Lineartronic CVT | 7-speed DSG |
| Gears | — | 7 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Subaru | Volkswagen AG |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9.6 seconds | 5.6 seconds✓ |
| Rated Economy | — | 7.4 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 206 km/h | 250 km/h✓ |
| Co2 | — | 164 g/km |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,870 mm | 4,862 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,871 mm |
| Height | 1,682 mm | 1,450 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,745 mm | 2,837 mm |
| Weight | 1,756 kg | 1,600 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 63 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 522 litres | 563 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 225.60R18 | 245/40R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | Full-Size 19" Alloy |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 | Pirelli P Zero |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 19" Montevideo Two-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Adaptive Dampers |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | — | 5 stars — With 7 Airbags, Stability Control and Autonomous Emergency Braking |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual 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 |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors with Cornering Lights and Auto High Beam |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED with Sequential Indicators |
| 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 | 14-Way Power-adjustable with Driver's Side Memory |
| 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 | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | — |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 Front, 1 Rear, 2 Front USB-C, 1 Front Qi Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (3 Colours) |
| 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 | Discover Pro 9.2" Touchscreen Infotainment System with Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 12-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| 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 Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered 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-degree Camera |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | Unlimited✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 3-year/45,000 km Free Service |
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 & Arteon for sale
Outback vs Arteon FAQ
Is the Subaru Outback or Volkswagen Arteon better?
The Volkswagen Arteon is the stronger all-round road car here, with 276 hp, 350 Nm, a 5.6-second 0-100 km/h time and a 563-litre boot. Choose the Subaru Outback for its lower price, sunroof and taller wagon body.
What is the price difference?
The Volkswagen Arteon costs RM12,012 more than the Subaru Outback. The gap brings 91 hp more, 105 Nm more torque, adaptive dampers, navigation and three years/45,000 km free service.
Which has the better warranty?
The Volkswagen Arteon has the better mileage cover: both cars get five years, but the Arteon has unlimited mileage while the Subaru Outback is capped at 100,000 km. The Arteon also includes three years or 45,000 km of free service.
