"Lack of engine stop" if your
"Lack of engine stop" if your referring to the auto start/stop it exists on everything except the Ascent. And if you were driving an ascent, of course the mileage was worse, it’s 1000 lbs more than an outback.
I don’t really believe the 2.4 is any louder or quieter than the 3.6, if your outside of the vehicle they are both rather noisy, I think they just did a better job insulating the vehicle from engine noise on the 3.6 models. Other than that, they just sound different, boxers are not quiet engines, ask Porsche, they are unique and that’s just part of their character. Unfortunately the 3.6 had to phased out because it didn’t make sense to develop any further due to tightening emissions. A lot of people are upset with the loss, but just as many if not more are excited that Subaru has brought back the turbo 4 to the outback and legacy that haven’t seen that in years, that’s Subarus heritage in turbo boxers.
As far as mileage calculations go, Subarus engines are typically very tight new, and most loaners have less than 6k miles, after the first oil change, it gets better. And usually when people are testing out the turbo 4, they don’t try to get good gas mileage out of it, they try to test performance compared to the 6 cyl. So naturally it didn’t get quite as good gas mileage. The throttle tip in of the 3.6 was something most people hated, few loved, once you got past this the 3.6 was buttery smooth. The 2.4 feels sluggish in comparison, but it’s actually quicker. The biggest change was how the throttle was tuned, its tuned for economy, letting it do its job, and its fine. Trying to get it to drive like the 3.6, impossible. The key is realizing it’s an entirely different animal, leaning the new throttle curve, and knowing what to expect. Having said all that. I loved the 3.6, I love the 2.4t and it seems to be as bulletproof as the best of them. Keep in mind the 2.4 is new, and Subaru will improve it as time goes on. The 3.6 after all was based on the 3.0 before it. It dates back to the 90s. Lots of R&D, the 2.4 is based off the wrx 2.0 turbo, and is a dramatically improved from that. I suspect a lot of your complaints will be addressed in coming years. I suspect on the 2023 models.