Based on EPA estimates, it looks like Alltrack will be doing worse than the 2.5 Outback on MPG, by a fair amount. So it does not look like the fwd-based system is at any advantage here.

Yes, it’s not rated for towing. You can find on YouTube a recording of the press conference, it’s pretty hilarious because during the question period at the end, two journalists ask the same question, and each tim the rep gives the same answer, to chuckles from the crowd: “The Alltrack has no tow rating at the moment…

Sure, 25/35 is for the FWD. The incoming 4motion SportWagen has the same MPG as the Alltrack, 22/30.

Very big MPG hit over the SportWagen, 22/30 vs 25/35. This is worse than the much larger 2.5 Outback, and actually closer to the 3.6. I don’t get how the drop can be so large. Surprised the review did not mention it.

Two things worth mentioning that very few reviewers bother to point out: