If it is anything like my SJ Forester XT 238 bhp 2.0 litre petrol auto it dropped from mid 30s on a long solo drive to just about 20 mpg towing 1300 kg. My previous SJ Forester with 2.0 litre 150 bhp non turbo auto was hardly any better towing.
Petrol engined cars can make good tow cars, especially those with turbos. I’ve had Saab 9000 CSE 2.3, two SJ Foresters of which the non turbo was rev hungry, whereas the more powerful XTCwas a delight to tow with. The only problem with our petrol towcars was a big reduction in mpg compared to diesel. But it was a conscious decision of mine to move to petrol from diesel.
It may be to get a ULEZ-compliant vehicle - diesels have to be 2015-onwards but the OP is looking older than that - presumably a matter of budget.
The OP is asking on behalf of his son who lives in New Zealand so ULEZ isn’t relevant.
The car in question is the T5 XC60 a 2.0 litre turbo 237 bhp and 236 ftilbs of torque. Virtually the same power and torque as my Forester XT with a CVT auto box although being a flat four boxer engine the Subaru would probably be a bit less efficient in mpg.
Until relatively recently, a turbo-diesel was the no-brainer choice for a tow vehicle as well as lower emissions in the form of CO2 so it should be no surprise that few petrol cars were bought before 2014 for towing.
At the years of the car being looked at very few petrol cars were being sold apart perhaps from smaller cars. Diesel was king because of mpg and its lower CO2 emissions were lauded. So it’s not that the petrol versions weren’t suitable as tow cars it’s just that fir that category of car diesel was the mainstream option for solo usage irrespective of any towing duties.
I thought the RUC only applied to fuels not taxed at source? Presumably diesel and petrol are treated the same ? If not then I agree another factor for consideration
As rule service costs are higher for diesel.
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