Verdict
At RM279,000, the Subaru Outback is RM2,073 cheaper, but the Xpeng X9’s RM281,073 price buys a very different family tool: seven seats, a 721-litre boot and a 535 km EV range. Its 315 hp, 450 Nm motor also cuts the 0-100 km/h time to 8.2 seconds, versus 9.6 seconds for the Outback’s 185 hp, 245 Nm 2.5-litre boxer. The Subaru answers with all-wheel drive, a smaller 4,870 mm footprint and a 206 km/h top speed. For large families with dependable charging access, the X9 is the more practical choice.
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need all-wheel drive and a more manageable five-seat wagon rather than a 5.3-metre seven-seat MPV.
Pick the Xpeng X9 if you want seven seats, 721 litres of boot space, 535 km of electric range and far more rear-cabin equipment for only RM2,073 more.
Key differences
- Price: Subaru Outback RM279,000; Xpeng X9 RM281,073.
- Powertrain: Outback 185 hp/245 Nm 2.5L petrol boxer; X9 315 hp/450 Nm single motor.
- Acceleration: Outback 0-100 km/h in 9.6 seconds; X9 in 8.2 seconds.
- Seating and boot: Outback five seats/522 litres; X9 seven seats/721 litres.
- Size: Outback 4,870 mm long with a 2,745 mm wheelbase; X9 5,316 mm long with a 3,160 mm wheelbase.
- Road tax: Outback RM878 per year; X9 RM365 per year.
Outback
- All-wheel drive.
- Shorter 4,870 mm body is easier to place than the 5,316 mm X9.
- Higher 206 km/h top speed.
- Only five seats versus the X9’s seven.
- 522-litre boot trails the X9’s 721 litres.
- 185 hp and 245 Nm are well down on the X9’s 315 hp and 450 Nm.
X9
- Seven seats and a 721-litre boot.
- 535 km EV range with 11 kW AC and 537 kW DC charging.
- Air suspension, rear-axle steering and powered rear sliding doors.
- At 5,316 mm long and 1,988 mm wide, it is substantially larger than the Outback.
- Front-wheel drive rather than the Outback’s all-wheel drive.
- RM2,073 more expensive.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM279,000✓ | RM281,073 |
| Body type | Wagon | MPV |
| Segment | D-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM878 | RM365✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine | 800V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,498 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 185 hp at 5,800 rpm | — |
| Torque | 245 Nm at 3,400 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Boxer 4 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 94 mm × 90 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 12 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 315 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 450 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 94.8 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 535 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 537 kW |
| V2L | — | 3.3 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | CVT Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Lineartronic CVT | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Subaru | — |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 9.6 seconds | 8.2 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 206 km/h✓ | 200 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,870 mm | 5,316 mm |
| Width | 1,875 mm | 1,988 mm |
| Height | 1,682 mm | 1,785 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,745 mm | 3,160 mm |
| Weight | 1,756 kg | 2,750 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 63 litres | — |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 522 litres | 721 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 225/60R18 | 235/50R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 225.60R18 | 235/50R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Space Saver | — |
| Factory Tyres | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 | Michelin e-Primacy |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Japan (CBU) | China (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 18" Alloy | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Rear Wheels | 18" Alloy | 20" Alloys with Floating Logo |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | Air Suspension, Rear-axle Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Front Passenger, Side and Curtain Airbags, Integrated Second Row Seat Airbags, Front Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for rear doors | Electronic for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats | Available on Second & Third Row Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projector | LED Projectors |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | Full LED |
| 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 | Driver and Front Passenger Powered Seats, Front Seat Ventilation and Massaging |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 14-way Second Row Individual Captain Seats with Ventilation, 60:40 Split-folding Third Row with One-touch Electric Folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC vents | Triple-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Front, Tilt and Slide | Double Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | — | 1 Front, 2 USB Front, 4 Wireless Chargers, 2 USB Second Row, 2 USB Third Row |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Second Row, 2 Third Row |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Sunroof Shade, Rear Window Shades |
| Audio | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 17.3" Touchscreen with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 27-speaker XOpera 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 Start (Depress Brake Pedal) |
| 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 | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | — | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Surround View |
| Auto Parking | — | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | — | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | — | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Front Doors & Rear Sliding Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Backlit Analogue | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | 100,000 km | 120,000 km✓ |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 5 years | 5 years |
| Warranty Notes | — | 8-Year/160,000 km Battery Warranty |
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 & X9 for sale
Outback vs X9 FAQ
Is the Subaru Outback or Xpeng X9 better?
The Xpeng X9 is better for family capacity and equipment, with seven seats, a 721-litre boot and 535 km range. Choose the Subaru Outback if all-wheel drive and a shorter 4,870 mm wagon body matter more than passenger capacity.
What is the price difference?
The Xpeng X9 costs RM281,073 and the Subaru Outback costs RM279,000, so the X9 is RM2,073 more expensive.
Which is quicker and cheaper to tax each year?
The Xpeng X9 reaches 100 km/h in 8.2 seconds and has RM365 annual road tax. The Subaru Outback takes 9.6 seconds and has RM878 annual road tax.
