'Bigger' Subaru rolls in
Subaru is moving upscale - and in a "big" way.
By ANN M. JOB, Associated Press
Published July 29, 2005
The car company known for nimble, smaller-sized, all-wheel-drive vehicles is adding its largest passenger vehicle, the 2006 B9 Tribeca, with a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price, including destination charge, of $31,320.
About 5 inches taller and 4.2 inches wider than today's Subaru Outback wagon, the Tribeca is a distinctly styled sport utility crossover that's the first Subaru to offer seats for seven people.
Tribeca competitors include the 2005 Nissan Murano, which starts at $27,730 for a base, two-wheel-drive model with V6, and the 2005 Volvo XC90, which starts at $35,985 for a base, two-wheel-drive model with five-cylinder turbo engine.
Subaru uses some familiar hardware in the Tribeca, though buyers might not necessarily notice because the Tribeca looks so different from any other current Subaru.
For example, the vehicle rides on a heavily modified platform of the Subaru Legacy, uses the company's all-wheel-drive system that's in other vehicles and is powered by the 3-liter, horizontally opposed, boxer six-cylinder engine that's also in the Outback.
But the taller proportions of the Tribeca and the vehicle's front styling don't convey any Subaru family resemblance. Indeed, the look has been polarizing among auto critics, with some loving it and others reacting with strong dislike.
There are virtually no complaints, however, about the Tribeca's interior, which features a graceful, well-organized, flowing dashboard that's functional but not overwhelming in its controls and buttons.
The six-cylinder engine provides an adequate 250 horsepower and 219 foot-pounds of torque at 4,200 rpm, with a sprightly response when a driver wants to accelerate. There's a sense the Tribeca moves eagerly forward, even if the gas pedal is just nudged a bit, and it merges into traffic without fuss and without any rash surge of power.
Subaru's careful attention to keeping vehicle mass low in the Tribeca - the hood is lightweight aluminum not heavier steel, for example - contributes to the vehicle's surprisingly responsive handling and sense of stability.
Combined with comfortably precise steering, the Tribeca test vehicle moved with grace and agility on mountain twisties, with nary a bit of tippiness or discomfort.
It was also a comfortable highway cruiser, as its McPherson strut front suspension and double-wishbone rear suspension soaked up many road bumps.
And the Tribeca's good brakes and stable feel made emergency maneuvers seem well-controlled.
Shifts through the five-speed automatic transmission in the test vehicle were smooth, and it's worth noting the Tribeca's transmission includes a shift-it-yourself mode for drivers who prefer to elicit a sportier performance from their engines. Even better, drivers don't have to work a clutch pedal as they shift this automatic from gear to gear.
Fuel economy in the Tribeca isn't as thrifty as in most other Subaru models.
While the government rating for the Tribeca of 18 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway is mid pack among today's SUVs/crossovers, it's the same rating as that for the 2005 Subaru Baja four-door pickup truck. And the Baja has been the poorest in Subaru's current lineup for fuel economy.
Another note: The Tribeca's recommended fuel is the pricier premium grade.
Ground clearance for the Tribeca is a healthy 8.4 inches, like that of many other SUVs, so riders sit up from the pavement for good views. But almost everyone can get inside and settle on the first- and second-row seats with ease and without scrambling upward.
Too bad the same can't be said for the third-row seats, which are designed to accommodate two passengers. I disliked these seats for use by anyone but preteen children, because they were difficult to get into and had negligible legroom.
Still, I appreciated how second- and third-row seats fold nicely flat for a commendable 74.4 cubic feet of cargo space. Standard safety features on the Tribeca are plentiful and include three-point belts and head restraints for all passengers, a well-reinforced frame structure that's on other Subarus, stability control, curtain airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, antilock brakes and tire-pressure monitor.
Standard amenities are in good supply. Even the base Tribeca comes with dual-zone, automatic climate control, power-operated, glass moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel, eye-catching, electroluminescent gauges, power front seats, second-row seats that can move forward and back on their tracks and AM/FM stereo with CD- and MP3-playing capability.
But I found that the Tribeca's air conditioning, like that in other Subarus, could feel weak on intensely hot days, and I had to have the A/C cranked up all the way in 90-degree weather.
Next car reviews, in this order: 2006 Dodge Charger, 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible, 2006 Hyundai Sonata, 2006 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Limited 7-PassengerBASE PRICE: $30,695 for base, five-passenger model; $32,295 for five-passenger Limited; $32,395 for base, seven-passenger model; $33,895 for seven-passenger Limited.
AS TESTED: $38,320.
TYPE: Front-engine, all-wheel-drive, seven-passenger sport utility vehicle.
ENGINE: 3-liter, horizontally opposed six cylinder.
MILEAGE: 18 (city), 23 (highway).
TOP SPEED: N/A.
LENGTH: 189.8 inches.
WHEELBASE: 108.2 inches.
CURB WEIGHT: 4,245 pounds.
BUILT AT: Lafayette, Ind.
OPTIONS: Navigation system $2,000; DVD-based rear entertainment system $1,800.
DESTINATION CHARGE: $625.
- ANN M. JOB, Associated Press