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2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca Road Test

Good Enough to Stave Off the Savvy Sharks in the Crossover Segment?

Although Subaru is a "little guy" among car giants, it has an enviable history in all-wheel-drive (AWD) technology. Until now, the bantam car company manufactured mostly compact cars, with the Legacy/Outback wagons comprising their largest offering at 188.7 inches in overall length. At best the Legacy/Outback duo, with a maximum seating capacity of five, is classed as a mid-size wagon. Well that impediment has now been abolished.

The availability of a third row seat in the all-new seven-seat B9 Tribeca casts Subaru like fresh bait into a whole new shark tank. At 189.8 inches in length, the Tribeca isnt small in size, but it is a small fish in a big pond stocked with many very capable SUVs and crossovers. Subaru definitely has its work cut out for it if it is to survive in this highly competitive food chain. Is the B9 Tribeca SUV-enough to swim with fishes, or will it flounder belly side up?

Tribeca exhibits a decidedly European appearance, more French or Italian than Japanese. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

Well lets have a candid look.

In my view the Tribeca exhibits a decidedly European appearance, more French or Italian than Japanese. Interestingly though, all this Mediterranean flair is assembled in the good old USA - Indiana to be exact. Some folk furl their brow at the Tribecas three-piece front grille arrangement, designed to appear as the wings and fuselage of an approaching plane. This concept is intended to pay homage to Subarus aeronautic history. Other folks admire the controversial design for its artistic quality; either way credit must be given to Subaru for not cookie-cutting, although the Tribecas side profile is somewhat similar to that of

Overall the Tribecas cabin feels open and spacious, except in third-row seating. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

Nissans sporty Murano thanks to a reverse raked "C" pillar, which may look dramatic but hinders rearward visibility when reversing.

well placed and easy to operate, if not a touch glitzy due to thThe uniqueness of the Tribecas sweeping exterior lines flow through its airy cabin as well. A double cockpit-style dashboard melds seamlessly into a prominent center stack and console, which together dominate the Tribecas somewhat futuristic interior styling. Pictures fail to do this arrangement adequate justice. I was quite impressed with its eclectic theme and straightforward functionality. Controls and switchgear in the center stack areree circular HVAC switches each surrounding a small function-display screen; its different and it works. Overall the Tribecas

Second-row legroom in the Tribeca is very generous when the 3-person bench is positioned fully rearward, but doing so eradicates legroom in the third-row bench. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

cabin feels open and spacious, except in third-row seating. The front seats are quite firm and suitably supportive. As with some other vehicles without power adjustable pedals and a telescoping steering wheel, I found myself positioned too far from the steering wheel when the drivers seat was set to accommodate my legs. This isnt a problem exclusive to the Tribeca. I have encountered it numerous times before, leading me to question the normality of my limb length ratio. Second-row legroom in the Tribeca is very generous when the 3-person bench is positioned fully rearward, and thats great except doing so entirely eradicates legroom in the 2-person third-row bench. If both the second and third rows are occupied, expect a bit of fore and aft second-row jostling before the available legroom is fairly distributed. This smooth operator spins out 250-horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 219 foot-pounds of torque at 4,200 rpm. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press) />
As with most SUVs and crossovers of similar size to the Tribeca, third-row seating is awkward to access and very confining for anyone large enough to shop in the adult section of the local haberdasher. When the third row seat is stowed, the Tribeca reveals generous cargo-handling capacity, which increases to a substantial 74.4 cubic feet when the second row is also flattened. Along with this bulk space is a dandy collection of tuck-away cubbies and cup holders that can be so handy during long trips.

And you can bet that long trips in the B9 Tribeca will be most pleasurable. Supplying power to all four-corners is a 3.0-liter (183 cu in) DOHC aluminum-alloy, 24-valve 6-cylinder horizontally opposed Boxer engine, supplemented with Subarus Active Valve Control System (AVCS) and Active Valve Lift System (AVLS). This smooth operator spins out 250-horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 219 foot-pounds of torque at 4,200 rpm. A benefit of Boxer engines is their compactness,

Apart from the Tribecas low torque rating, the 6-cylinder powerplant goes about routine duties very satisfactorily. (Photo: Rob Rothwell, American Auto Press)

which contributes to a lower hoodline and front-end profile. This also improves the vehicles centre of gravity by keeping engine mass low in the chassis, something Subaru refers to as "engineering symmetry." Boxer engines are very good at canceling out vibration by firing opposing cylinders simultaneously. Within normal driving parameters the Boxer-6 is very smooth and quiet, only announcing its presence with any sort of glee when pushed hard and revving high.

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