Verdict
These are radically different purchases. The BMW M2 Coupe’s 473 hp, 600 Nm and 4.1-second 0-100 km/h time put performance first, while the Subaru Outback’s 185 hp and 9.6-second time reflect its practical five-door brief. The Outback carries five, has a 522-litre boot and all-wheel drive; the M2 has four seats and 390 litres. For Malaysian running costs, the Outback’s RM878 annual road tax undercuts the M2’s RM2,113, and its five-year/100,000-km warranty is far longer than BMW’s two years.
M2 Coupe
Pick the BMW M2 Coupe if 473 hp, rear-wheel drive and a 4.1-second 0-100 km/h sprint matter more than rear-seat access and luggage room.
Outback
Pick the Subaru Outback if you need five seats, a 522-litre boot, all-wheel drive and a five-year/100,000-km warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M2 Coupe RM623,800; Subaru Outback RM279,000.
- Performance: BMW M2 Coupe 473 hp, 600 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds; Subaru Outback 185 hp, 245 Nm and 9.6 seconds.
- Driveline: BMW M2 Coupe rear-wheel drive; Subaru Outback all-wheel drive.
- Practicality: BMW M2 Coupe has 4 seats and a 390-litre boot; Subaru Outback has 5 seats and a 522-litre boot.
- Warranty: BMW M2 Coupe has a 2-year unlimited-mileage warranty; Subaru Outback has a 5-year/100,000-km warranty.
- Road tax: BMW M2 Coupe RM2,113 per year; Subaru Outback RM878 per year.
M2 Coupe
- 473 hp and 600 Nm from the 3.0-litre twin-turbo inline-six.
- 4.1-second 0-100 km/h time and rear-wheel drive.
- Adaptive M Suspension, adaptive LED headlamps, head-up display and auto parking.
- Two doors, four seats and a 390-litre boot versus the Outback’s five doors, five seats and 522 litres.
- RM2,113 annual road tax versus RM878.
- Two-year warranty versus five years/100,000 km.
Outback
- Five seats, five doors and a 522-litre boot.
- All-wheel drive, 360-degree camera and adaptive cruise control.
- Seven airbags and a five-year/100,000-km warranty.
- 185 hp, 245 Nm and a 9.6-second 0-100 km/h time trail the M2 substantially.
- No head-up display, navigation or automatic parking.
- No front parking sensors.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM623,800 | RM279,000✓ |
| Body type | Coupe | Wagon |
| Segment | C-Segment | D-Segment |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM878✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC, Twin-turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | Direct Fuel Injection, Horizontally Opposed, 4-Cylinder, DOHC 16-Valve, Boxer Engine |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 2,498 cc |
| Horsepower | 473 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ | 185 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 600 Nm at 2,650 rpm✓ | 245 Nm at 3,400 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Boxer 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 84 mm × 90 mm | 94 mm × 90 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 9.3 | 12 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | CVT Automatic |
| Transmission Name | M Steptronic | Lineartronic CVT |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Subaru |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.1 seconds✓ | 9.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 206 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,580 mm | 4,870 mm |
| Width | 1,887 mm | 1,875 mm |
| Height | 1,403 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,747 mm | 2,745 mm |
| Weight | 1,725 kg | 1,756 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 52 litres | 63 litres |
| Doors | 2 | 5 |
| Seats | 4 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 390 litres | 522 litres✓ |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 225/60R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 285/30R20 | 225.60R18 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | Space Saver |
| Factory Tyres | — | Bridgestone Alenza H/L33 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Mexico (CBU) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke Style 930 M Black Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" M Double-spoke Style 930 M Black Alloy | 18" Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | — |
| Child Safety Lock | — | Manual for rear doors |
| Seat Belts | 4 Three-point | 5 three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Rear Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger 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 and Prevention, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projectors with High Beam Assist | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Foglamps | — | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver-side Memory Function | 10-way power adjustable driver with memory, 8-way powered adjustment front passenger |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC vents |
| Sunroof | — | Front, Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 1 Rear | — |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 14.9" Touchscreen, iDrive Controller, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Harman Kardon Surround Sound System | 11.6" HD Touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 11-speaker Harman Kardon Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Two 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 | Keyless Operation and PIN Code Access |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | — |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Backlit Analogue |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | BMW ConnectedDrive, Wireless Phone Charger | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 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 M2 Coupe & Outback for sale
M2 Coupe vs Outback FAQ
Is the BMW M2 Coupe or Subaru Outback better?
The BMW M2 Coupe is better for outright performance, with 473 hp and a 4.1-second 0-100 km/h time. The Subaru Outback is better for family use, bringing five seats, five doors, all-wheel drive and a 522-litre boot.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M2 Coupe costs RM344,800 more than the Subaru Outback.
Which has the lower running commitment?
The Subaru Outback has lower annual road tax at RM878 versus RM2,113 for the BMW M2 Coupe, plus a five-year/100,000-km warranty against BMW’s two-year unlimited-mileage cover.
