Nosing out the competition

For 2006, Subaru introduces its first-ever and much needed SUV. General Motors owns a 20 percent equity interest in Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries.
This new flagship is positioned above the Legacy and Outback and is about the size of the Honda Pilot, Lexus RX 330 and Nissan Murano. Subaru has dubbed its most expensive vehicle the Tribeca after the hip, trendy Manhattan neighborhood that has become synonymous with the cutting edge of New York City culture. Subaru calls it a “progressive SUV.” Most, however, would call it “odd.”
Actually, the full name is B9 Tribeca, with B standing for the 6-cylinder boxer engine and 9 for the model series. Again, an odd choice but oddities are seemingly commonplace at Subaru. Remember the BRAT (1977 to 1987)? How about the Justy, a 3-cylinder produced in the late ’80s? Then there was the weird-windowed SVX in the early ’90s, and the Nike-shoe look alike Baja, introduced in 2003.
As if the name wasn’t controversial enough, Subaru has chosen to adorn the front end of its new crossover with a distinctive new grille — a central air intake flanked by wing-shaped grilles that is meant to recall the history of Subaru as an aircraft manufacturer. Headlamps are stretched back away from the grille and reach halfway to the windshield.
One local journalist referred to its schnozzola as a “pig nose.” Personally, I think the Italian auto manufacture Alfa Romeo has a slam-dunk case for identity theft. Just do a Google image search for “Alfa Romeo” and you’ll see what I mean.
Too bad because once you get by these couple of oddities and the scary window sticker, the Lafayette, Indiana-built Tribeca has loads of appeal and flexibility.
Tribeca is available as a five-passenger or a seven-passenger model in regular or Limited editions. The latter comes with leather seats. Both share the same powertrain: a 250-horsepower, 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed automatic transmission equipped with SportShift to allow manual shifting. Tribeca requires premium, 91-octane gasoline. Both models, like all Subarus have full-time all-wheel-drive.
Tribeca is built on the same platform as the Outback, but stretches the wheelbase by three inches and the overall length about one inch.
I tested a well-equipped seven-passenger Limited with rear-seat DVD entertainment and navigation system. The second row seat slides back and forth eight inches for more legroom. The seatbacks can also be reclined for additional passenger comfort.
Getting in and out of the third row on the seven-passenger model is nearly impossible, with only enough room for single-digit aged kids. Because the second row doesn’t slide forward enough, you have to step high over part of the seat to gain access. It’s even worse trying to get out.
With the third seat in use, rear cargo space can accommodate only a couple of duffle bags. When vacant, the seats fold flat; the second and third-row seat backs are split so you can lower only one side if desired.
Up front, Tribeca has an eight-way power driver’s seat and four-way power passenger seat with manually adjustable lumbar support.
The Tribeca’s dash is visually stunning with a style unlike any vehicle we’ve tested. Curvaceous, it reminds me of the offbeat uniqueness of the Nissan Murano, Infiniti FX or Nissan Quest. I liked the swoopy cockpit and give high marks for the three-color mineral scheme of metallic material. There was too much use of hard plastic where soft touch would have been appropriate for competing in the upscale SUV market.
Beyond the controversial front-end styling, I wasn’t especially pleased with the treatment of the back end either. Thin taillamps are set high on the beltline extending around the rear quarters where they continue as fender blisters. Too much space has been carved out for the license plate resulting in a look that seems out of touch with the top half of the non-power operated liftgate.
The side profile, while attractive, incorporates overly large A and D pillars that impede visibility.
I had mixed emotions about Tribeca’s driving and riding characteristics. While power seemed adequate, there was a noticeable and annoying lag in engine response under full acceleration when attempting to pass another vehicle.
The ride was quiet and very comfortable, even on rough surfaces and highway speeds. Parking was a snap but body lean was quite noticeable in corners. I thought the brakes were on the spongy side. Even though Tribeca is all-wheel-drive it shouldn’t be considered “all-surface drive.” With its soft suspension, owners shouldn’t expect to take the vehicle off-road.
Safety features and equipment abound including dual-stage deployment driver/passenger airbags, thorax side-impact airbags up front and curtain side-impact airbags for the front and second row seats. Four-channel/four-sensor brakes with standard ABS and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, traction and stability control provide an extra sense of security. In crash tests, Tribeca earned the highest 5-stars in front- and side-impact for both driver and passenger seating positions from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
While Subaru has a loyal, almost cult-like following from Forester, Outback, Legacy and Impreza owners, the same can’t be said for the offbeat models like Baja and SVX. While overall it’s a pretty nice vehicle, it remains to be seen if consumers will accept the unusual B9 Tribeca styling.

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