2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca
Expert Review

Subaru still is going its own way with vehicles, which is why it's finally offering a fairly large crossover sport utility despite helping pioneer the crossover market with its 1995 Legacy Outback station wagon.

The new midsize Subaru is its early 2006 all-wheel-drive B9 Tribeca, which is the automaker's first model with 7-passenger seating and its biggest, most expensive model ever.

Subaru says the Tribeca is named for the hip "triangle below Canal Street" section of Manhattan. The "B" stands for the Tribeca's "boxer" engine with its horizontally opposed piston layout and "9" is for the model series.

The Tribeca is built in Subaru's revamped, rural Lafayette, Ind., plant, which is on another planet from Manhattan, figuratively speaking. But this new Subaru would look chic in any big city.

Alfa Romeo Grille?
For one thing, the Tribeca has wild styling—especially for a Subaru, which typically looks bland. Its grille theme looks as if it's from sexy, classic Italian Alfa Romeo sports models of the 1950s and 1960s, although Subaru says the theme is from the aircraft heritage of its parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries.

I suppose we'll have to take Subaru's word for that, although the automakers' new chief designer, Andreas Zapatinas, came from Alfa Romeo.

Futuristic Interior
Subaru said Zapatinas confined his Tribeca efforts to the vehicle's futuristic interior, which has a swooping dashboard and wraparound console. The quiet cockpit's dashboard is a bit over-the-top, but most controls are large, clearly marked, easily reached and thus no problem to use.

The speedometer and tachometer are backlit to make them easy to read quickly during various outside lighting conditions. Front cupholders are positioned on the console to avoid spills.

The Tribeca fits into the growing market for crossover vehicles, so it shouldn't flop like Subaru's small 1980s BRAT pickup truck or rakish 1990s SVX sports car.

The BRAT had unusual rear-facing cargo bed seats, and the SVX had such items as fighter-plane-style auxiliary side windows. Nobody but Subaru could figure out why it offered the SVX because the car didn't fit next to Subaru's bland, utilitarian models.

Easy to Maneuver
Crossovers are based on cars, and the Tribeca is based on an enlarged and modified Subaru Outback wagon platform. It's approximately as long as Honda's midsize Pilot SUV, at 189.8 inches, and thus is fairly easy to maneuver and park.

Subaru loyalists have been waiting for something larger than the Outback and Subaru's compact Forester SUV.

All-Wheel Drive
The Tribeca comes in base and Limited trim levels with all-wheel drive but no low-range gearing for rough off-road trips. Five-passenger seating is standard, and a two-passenger, third-row seat is optional for two extra occupants.

The only engine is a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder with 250 horsepower from the Outback. It provides lively in-town acceleration, but average acceleration above 60 mph. It's quiet during highway cruising, but sounds strained when asked to work hard. The Tribeca weighs a hefty 4,155 pounds for the 5-passenger and 4,225 pounds for the 7-passenger, so a larger engine with more power—and especially additional torque—would be welcome.

The engine works with a 5-speed automatic transmission, which upshifts smoothly but is a little slow to downshift. The transmission has a sporty, easily used manual shift feature.

Average Fuel Economy
The Tribeca isn't a gas-guzzler, but it's no fuel-miser, either. Estimated fuel economy is average for this type vehicle: 18 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway. But premium 91-octane fuel is called for.

The base 5-passenger Tribeca starts at $30,695 and has a comprehensive list of standard features. The base 7-passenger version begins at $32,395 and ends at $37,695 with such items as a navigation system and DVD entertainment system.

Also offered are a higher-line $32,295 version of the 5-passenger Tribeca and a lower line $33,895 version of the 7-passenger model.

First- and second-row seating areas provide plenty of room. But the split-folding third-row seat is just for kids, and there's only room for, say, a few grocery bags when the third seat is in its upright position.

Second-row seats recline and slide fore and aft up to eight inches. And second- and third-row seatbacks fold forward for substantial cargo room, although the wide load floor is rather high.

Wealth of Standard Features
The wealth of standard items for the base 5-passenger Tribeca include a power tilt/slide sunroof, power front seats and the usual power accessories (locks, windows, mirrors), cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, an AM/FM/CD sound system with MP3 audio file compatibility and six speakers, a tilt-adjustable steering column and so on.

The Limited 5-passenger trim level adds leather seats and an upgraded sound system, with a 160-watt AM/FM stereo with a 6-disc in-dash CD changer and eight speakers.

The 7-passenger version adds a 50/50 split fold-down third row seat, heated front seats and an auxiliary rear air conditioner control.

Options for the 7-passenger version include a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a 9-inch wide-screen LCD and two sets of wireless headphones. Also offered is a touch-screen GPS navigation system, but only for the Limited 7-passenger.

Safety Items
For safety's sake, all Tribecas have stability and traction control systems, along with front-seat side airbags and side-curtain airbags for the first and second seating rows.

Substantial 18-inch wheels and tires do a good job of filling the wheelwells and give the Tribeca enhanced stability and an athletic, purposeful stance. There also are anti-lock 4-wheel disc brakes with electronic brake force distribution to enhance braking performance and stability via optimized brake-force distribution between front and rear wheels.

Smooth Ride
A new double-wishbone rear suspension allows a flat rear floor and helps provide a smooth ride. That suspension and compact engine that sits low help keep the center of gravity low for good handling, which is assisted by Subaru's advanced all-wheel drive.

The rack-and-pinion steering with variable power assist is direct, and the brakes provide fairly short stops. The brake pedal should be firmer, but has a linear action that allows smooth stops.

Doors with large handles that open wide and a low floor make it easy to slide into the quiet interior, although inside handles are rather small. Occupants sit high and the driver has a nice upright position, although his seat could use more thigh support and his vision is hindered a little by thick rear roof pillars.

The B9 Tribeca isn't really a mainstream vehicle with its distinctive styling and such, but what Subaru is? The automaker is doing well by going its own way with vehicle designs.