Verdict
For a Malaysian buyer carrying people and luggage, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan is the more usable choice: it has four doors, five seats and a 420-litre boot against the Subaru BRZ’s two doors, four seats and 226 litres. Its RM70 annual road tax is also far easier on the wallet than RM767. The BRZ is the driver’s pick, with rear-wheel drive, a six-speed manual and 234 hp for 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds, versus 161 hp and 8.3 seconds for the front-drive Mercedes. But the A-Class brings Active Brake Assist and a longer 2,729-mm wheelbase.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan if you need five seats, a 420-litre boot, Active Brake Assist and much lower RM70 annual road tax.
Pick the Subaru BRZ if you want rear-wheel drive, a six-speed manual and a 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
Key differences
- Price: Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan RM238,888; Subaru BRZ RM249,245.
- Performance: A-Class Sedan 161 hp and 8.3 seconds to 100 km/h; BRZ 234 hp and 6.3 seconds.
- Driveline/transmission: A-Class Sedan front-wheel drive with seven-speed dual-clutch automatic; BRZ rear-wheel drive with six-speed manual.
- Practicality: A-Class Sedan has five seats and a 420-litre boot; BRZ has four seats and a 226-litre boot.
- Road tax: A-Class Sedan RM70 per year; BRZ RM767 per year.
- Warranty: A-Class Sedan has a two-year manufacturer warranty; BRZ has a five-year/100,000-km manufacturer warranty.
A-Class Sedan
- Five seats, four doors and a 420-litre boot.
- RM70 annual road tax.
- Active Brake Assist, front parking sensors and Active Parking Assist.
- Slower 8.3-second 0-100 km/h sprint versus 6.3 seconds.
- Front-wheel drive and no manual gearbox.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus five years/100,000 km.
BRZ
- 234 hp and a 6.3-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Rear-wheel drive with a six-speed manual.
- Double-wishbone rear suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.
- RM767 annual road tax versus RM70.
- Two doors, four seats and a 226-litre boot.
- No autonomous braking system or front parking sensors.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM238,888✓ | RM249,245 |
| Body type | Sedan | Coupe |
| Segment | C-Segment | Sports Car |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM70✓ | RM767 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC with Direct Fuel Injection, Turbocharger and Variable Valve Timing | 16-valve DOHC, Naturally-aspirated with Direct and Port Injection, Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 1,332 cc | 2,387 cc |
| Horsepower | 161 hp at 5,500 rpm | 234 hp at 7,000 rpm✓ |
| Torque | 270 Nm at 2,000 rpm✓ | 250 Nm at 3,700 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 4 | Boxer 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | 72.2 mm × 81.4 mm | 94 mm × 86 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.6 | 12.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) | Manual |
| Transmission Name | 7G-DCT | — |
| Gears | 7 | 6 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | Getrag | Aisin |
| Driveline | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 8.3 seconds | 6.3 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 230 km/h✓ | 226 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,549 mm | 4,265 mm |
| Width | 1,796 mm | 1,775 mm |
| Height | 1,446 mm | 1,310 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,729 mm | 2,575 mm |
| Weight | 1,385 kg | 1,289 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 51 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 420 litres✓ | 226 litres |
| Front Tyre | 205/55R17 | 215/40R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 205/55R17 | 215/40R18 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Continental EcoContact 6 | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Japan (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | MacPherson Strut | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear Suspension | Torsion Beam | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 17" Five-twin-spoke Alloy | 18" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 17" Five-twin-spoke Alloy | 18" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Comfort Lowered Suspension | — |
| Crash Safety Ratings | ||
| EuroNCAP | 5 stars | — |
| ANCAP | 5 stars | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front Pelvis, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side and Front Curtain) |
| 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 Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Two Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, Active Brake Assist | — |
| Lane-keeping Assist | — | No |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | Front Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Rear Cross Traffic Alert |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Reflector | LED Projector |
| Taillamps | LED Combination | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function | Manual Adjustable |
| Rear Seats | 60:40 Split-folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 2 Front USB-C, 1 Rear USB-C | 1 Front |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) | Map Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front |
| Audio | 10.25" Touchscreen MBUX Multimedia System with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | 8" Touchscreen with Bluetooth, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, 8 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | — |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activated | Remote Control Activation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 4 Sensors | — |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 4 Sensors | 4 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes, Active Parking Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | No | — |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Handbrake |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited✓ | 100,000 km |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 5 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 2 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 A-Class Sedan & BRZ for sale
A-Class Sedan vs BRZ FAQ
Is the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan or Subaru BRZ better?
The A-Class Sedan is better for daily Malaysian use, with five seats, four doors, a 420-litre boot and RM70 road tax. The BRZ is better for the driver who wants rear-wheel drive, a manual gearbox and 234 hp.
What is the price difference?
The Subaru BRZ costs RM10,357 more than the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan.
Which is quicker, the Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan or Subaru BRZ?
The Subaru BRZ is quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds. The Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan takes 8.3 seconds, a two-second gap.
