To get 3500 lb towing in an Outback you have to get the turbo engine which is only available a few trim levels up from the base and the EPA says you'll average

To get 3500 lb towing in an Outback you have to get the turbo engine which is only available a few trim levels up from the base and the EPA says you'll average 26MPG combined. A Ford Ranger 4x4 gets an EPA combined estimate of 22MPG. A turbo Outback starts at $35k as you have to go a few trim levels up to get the turbo engine. A base 4x4 crew cab Ford Ranger starts at around $32k. An F150 hybrid, although definitely higher in purchase price, gets an EPA combined rating of 23MPG, but can tow and haul a significantly larger amount than even a Ranger. It all depends on what you want to do as to what vehicle you should purchase. The benefit of modern pickup trucks is that they CAN do all the things a normal car can do, plus they can do lots of towing and hauling chores, and the fuel economy penalty really isn't that significant.