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Everyone Liked It, Even the Dog

by: A.J. Teixeira

We at Subdriven have followed the B9 Tribeca closely, from early rumors, to its Auto Show Debut in Detroit in January, to a preview drive in Valley Forge hosted by Subaru of America. Indeed, it is perhaps Subaru’s most important new model since the debut of the Forester in 1998, so it has had our attention for quite some time.

The good news is it continues to garner attention from onlookers, as we found people doing double-takes to get a closer look. Love it or hate it, you will certainly be noticed in this distinctive design.

Sure, it performed well in a controlled environment hosted by SoA, but how would it hold up in a tough road test? Forget off-roading, we’re talking about the real-world abuse you can only get from a couple of kids and the family pet - pack the bags, we’re going to the beach!

Loading the kids in child safety seats was easy. Universal LATCH anchors that move fore/aft with the middle row seat have made this job simple. A fold-down center armrest acts as a partition and holds a pair of cup holders for the tykes, and there was still room left over for a lap dog to squeeze in between them.

Popping in a DVD of The Incredibles and putting the wireless headphones on the kids seemed about as close a solution to World Peace as we’re likely to experience. The 9” screen is the biggest you can get in an SUV, and was simple enough to use even without reading the manual. In park, and with the parking brake on, you can even play the movie on the Navigation screen.

With the kids happy and settled, we climbed in the front row. “Climbed” is the operative word here because this is the highest seat we’ve ever experienced in a Subaru. We measured and it’s about 5” higher up than the Outback, which yields a great view forward. A nice touch was the puddle lights that lit up the ground as you step in.

A wide range of seating positions could probably appease those both tall and short, but we did feel like the armrests could be better positioned, as they were set too wide. The steering wheel tilts but does not telescope, so for some people it’s possible an ideal position will be hard to locate.

A moonroof comes standard, but to be honest the cabin feels so airy you hardly need it. The opening not as big as the Forester’s, but that’s fair given the DVD system is just behind it.

Dual-zone climate control means front seat occupants didn’t have to compromise on a temperature. Heated seats have three settings - toasty, warm, and lukewarm. In back, the kids have their own controls for A/C, and it works so well we soon had to turn it off as they got cold.

Visibility is a bit of an issue when backing up, as the rear windows sits high and there are blind spots aft of the D-pillar. Wide mirrors help compensate somewhat, but we’d like to see some type of backup assist system - sonar or video. The side mirrors are heated, and in the pouring rain they remained clear and useful, which was nice. Knowing we had one the best AWD and stability control systems underneath us was even nicer.

The NAV system has a big 7” touch-sensitive screen, and could find addresses with only a street number and name. We found it easy to use, and if you choose to take a different route compared to the one suggested, it will recalculate the route quickly and automatically. A soft female voice tells you exactly where to go, allowing the driver to simply sit back and enjoy more of the scenery.

Steering feel is a little heavier than what we’re used to in most Subarus, perhaps it’s those grippy, 255mm-wide tires. Feedback, while not quite up to BMW standards, is certainly better than the over-boosted systems in Hondas and Toyotas. It would seem the Tribeca has found a comfortable middle.

Handling is what impresses most, for an SUV of this size it can be downright fun to drive, something that has been lacking in all but a few in this class (the X5 and FX45 come to mind). And it manages all this without a stiff ride. Body lean is kept in check as are secondary motions in the suspension. The guys who tuned this suspension worked overtime and deserve a pat on the back.

Wind noise is well isolated, in fact the ride was very quiet overall. You do hear the engine on kick downs, as it revs up to move all the B9’s mass.

The boxer six prefers high revs, so off the line acceleration is only about average - 0-60 arrives in 8.5 seconds (manufacturer’s estimate). Once into the revs, though, it moves along nicely, and passing was not a problem on the country two-lanes we encountered on our trip. Again, you do hear the engine working, but it’s not entirely out of character in this more-sporty-than-soft SUV.

The transmission has five ratios and does its best to stay in the right gear. A sport mode allows it to hold a gear longer, and SportShift manual mode lets control freaks pick their own gears. During our trip we mostly left the selector in Drive.

Brake feel felt firm and direct, an improvement over the older, mushy brakes we’ve experienced in late ‘90s model Subarus. Brake dive was also held in check.

Gas mileage ranged from 13 to 30 mpg, but we averaged 20.4 in mixed city driving, suburban errand running, and the above-mentioned trip to the beach. City mileage is poor and makes us question anyone who would use this vehicle as a single-occupant commuter. In Subaru’s defense, the B9 is aimed at families who value room over absolute fuel economy.

The Tribeca is more at home in the suburbs and on open highways where it can stretch its legs, and you can make use of the creature comforts offered. Our model came loaded, and perhaps the highest complement we can pay is that every family member liked it. Even the dog.

Sipping The B9 Tribeca

by: Bob Holland

Is the glass half-full, or half-empty?

Up till recently, SubDriven seat time in Subaru’s new B9 Tribeca SUV has consisted mainly of brief stints behind the wheel during various Subaru of America press events. A couple weeks ago that situation changed for the better, as SubDriven staffers got a full week behind the wheel of Subaru’s controversial new ‘ute.

There’s a lot at stake for Subaru with this new vehicle, and its bold new look and upscale sticker have already received a great deal of attention from the automotive media and general public alike, so we’re going to skip all the history lessons and get right to the reviews.

We’ll get the not-so-good and iffy stuff out of the way first (and finish on a positive note!).

The front seats need better side bolstering! I really miss the deep side bolstering found on the Forester. The seats just don’t hold you in place very well when cornering hard. There is also a big blind spot when looking over your right shoulder. That Murano-like rear quarter window may look neat, but from the inside driver’s seat, it’s strictly bad news. Also, I would think 3rd-row passengers would like a bigger window from which to view the scenery.

There’s no dashboard power outlet for your radar detector, cell phone or other electronic device. The electric rear hatch is not a great idea - especially if you have a dead battery. There’s a passenger airbag amber warning light? Why? I find it a tad annoying to look at, and being amber rather than green, it suggests that there is a problem. Why can’t this warning light go off right after start up, like the other warning lights?

The steering wheel audio mode control does Rear Entertainment, AM, and whatever FM you have selected on the dash. Both FM 1 and FM 2 should be available on the steering wheel controls, but that’s not the case now.

Navigation should be standard. That’s a lot to ask, I know; but I bet this will become a ‘must-have’ standard feature on all premium brands before too long.

Speaking of navigation: The navigation system needs more language options. I find it hard to believe that Spanish isn’t an available option, especially since Subaru is trying to make more sales headway in the Sunbelt. Right now you can select only English and French. It’s not as user-friendly as I would like. Subaru needs to design this unit so that the learning curve is as short as possible. Like with BMW’s iDrive (though this set-up is not nearly as ornery), it’s reasonable to expect that over time the owner of a Tribeca equipped with navigation will come to learn quite well the system in place, folks like us (who only had the car for a week) tend to find the set-up more complicated than it ought to be.

There is a rather thick separate users manual for the navigation system, and for a first-time user, it’s rather daunting to deal with. I think if you rely on the navigation system to get you to a place you've never been before, it will do that. However, I have to admit, when cross-comparing directions with known destinations, I find it a bit lacking. Now granted, I’m a NAV-newbie here, so with more time and experience, I might find it better and easier to use.

Finally, having the clock and the exterior temperature reading on the Navigation screen is a bit much for one screen, no matter how big it might be. With the current setup, the clock is hard to read and the outside temperature readout isn’t viewable on certain navigation screens, such as a map being displayed.

Subaru really needs to get that rumored Subie minivan into production - and the sooner the better! This would take much of the pressure off the B9 Tribeca trying to be Subaru’s sole 7-seat entry. As it stands, the third row - for adults - is strictly emergency seating, and nothing more. A longer wheelbase model at some point would be welcome, and would add the critical space to the rearmost row that would make it more usable by adults, even if they’re mainly smaller adults.

There are a few other features I wish the Tribeca had. Memory seats and auto-up windows are beginning to be standard features in this segment, and the Tribeca has neither. The current headlights are very good, though bi-xenon lighting would help play up the techno-performance nature of the brand.

Opt for the tow package, and the Tribeca is good for 3500 lbs. It’s probably a frame rating issue, so upping that limit may have to wait until the Tribeca is redesigned, but a 5,000 lb. rating would be nice, never mind the 7,000-plus rating of SUVs like the Volkswagen Touareg. In this class, the Volkswagen’s is probably overkill.

Now the good stuff!

The front seats recline to an almost flat position. This is a great feature if you need to carry something long, such as a ladder, 2x4s, or a surfboard. Even better, the crunchier side of the Subaru demographic might even catch some Zs in this cabin while out in the bush on a camping excursion. Amongst the trees, I’d opt for the Tribeca suite.

The voice guidance feature with the navigation system is very helpful, and it gives you plenty of warning before you need to turn. Also the navigation screen is up high on the dashboard’s center stack, right where it should be. It’s very easy to see and operate with the touch screen controls.

The 3.0 boxer six is a sweet, sweet engine. It loves to rev and makes most of its 250 horsepower up rather high on the tach scale. It’s a decent engine that is unfortunately stuck in a rather heavy vehicle, and as such could benefit from some additional displacement (to 3.5 liters, for example) or a turbo. The 3.0 in the Outback is a great match, but slightly less so in the B9 Tribeca because of its extra girth. I suspect a larger, easier working engine would also yield as good if not better gas mileage. Going by the car’s computer, I only averaged 17.7 mpg, though that’s not hateful for an SUV by any measure.

Let me be a bit more specific with my request for a larger engine: I had mentioned a 3.5 H-6, but what I would love to see is a 3.7 H-6. If you take the existing 2,457cc H-4, and add two more cylinders, you will get a 3,686cc H-6. I’m sure this would require a new block, but I really think that’s the best answer. Also, I would love to see it offered in two versions: one that is designed to run on regular gas, and a turbocharged unit that would give the hardcore Subaru enthusiasts a warm and fuzzy feeling and teach the Porsche Cayenne a thing or two about being spicy.

So does it feel underpowered with the 3.0 H-6? No, not once you get used to the powerband. It does have plenty of get up-and-go, but the engine has to work hard to achieve that. Downshifts are common, and especially noticeable on even slight grades. Here’s where I found the manual-mode Sport-Shift to be very helpful. For the most part I was driving by myself; so I do wonder what it would be like on a long trip with seven passengers and luggage, or towing. A larger engine would go a long way toward easing that concern.

The B9 Tribeca is a real pleasure to drive on all kinds of roads. I live out in the country, so I had plenty of opportunity to evaluate it on back roads - roads far better suited to sports cars than SUVs. Here the B9 Tribeca need not offer any apologies. It’s one of the few SUVs that I really enjoyed driving on these types of roads. It’s also a great interstate cruiser too, smooth, quiet and very refined. The vehicle has a very Euro-like feeling, which is not surprising since the BMW X5 reportedly was a vehicle that Subaru wanted to benchmark.

Subarus historically offer a lot of content, and the B9 Tribeca is no exception. Even on base models a moonroof is standard, as is Subaru’s most sophisticated VDC AWD system, and the 5-speed automatic transmission with a Sport and Sport-Shift modes. The Sport mode keeps the car in gear longer for those times in which more power is needed. The Sport-Shift is a lot of fun, and I found it to be very useful too. I do like having the ability to choose my own gears, I did however, find it to be a bit slower to shift than I would have liked.

Aside from the 3rd-row seat, both the front and middle row seats offer plenty of room. Both legroom and seat width are quite generous. The middle row seat slides fore and aft about seven inches or so. If the 3rd row is being occupied, just slide the middle row seat forward. In doing so you may also want to slide the front row seats a bit forward too, to better accommodate the middle row passengers.

The interior is very upscale looking. I very much like the instrument illumination during the daylight. With the exceptions of the temperature and fuel gauges, which are sort of tucked next to the inside edge of the steering wheel, the instrumentation is very easy to see and read. In fact the overall feeling of the interior sets a new standard for Subaru. Is it Lexus-like? Not quite, but it’s close. Where the B9 Tribeca falls short is that some of the Lexus gee-whiz gadgetry is MIA, but other than that, the quality is certainly there.

The front seats are very comfortable (aside from the lack of front side bolstering mentioned earlier), as is the middle-row seat. The front seats are very wide, and should be able to easily accommodate those ‘wide-bodies’ out there. The middle seat has a center fold-down armrest with two cupholders. Speaking of cupholders, there are plenty in this vehicle, including indentations in the front door pockets for bottled water, and the front covered cupholders are large and will also accommodate square juice-box containers. There are even cupholders for 3rd-row passengers.

Both front seats are power operated, and therefore allow for an almost inexhaustible amount of adjustments.

Finally, there’s the styling - easily the most controversial aspect of this car. People either love it or hate it. I’m one of those who loves it. For what it’s worth I have been involved with design for well over 30 years, both as a graphic design business owner and educator. I know design and marketing. I believe Subaru is doing the right thing here. For those who would like to learn bit more of why this is occurring, SoA has done an excellent job explaining this very important business decision by FHI with a couple of articles that they’ve published in DRIVE, their quarterly owners magazine. There they discuss the origin of the design direction, branding, and the big picture as FHI sees it. Both are good reads.

So, is the glass 1/2 full or 1/2 empty? Neither. It’s more like 7/8 full and 1/8 empty. Subaru has an excellent platform here to build upon. Most of the B9 Tribeca v1.0 issues can be easily addressed, and I’m sure Subaru is already in the process of doing just that. I can’t wait to see how this vehicle will evolve over the next few years.

Counterpoint: Jamie Vondruska

Every once in a while I get a vehicle that I take home and my neighbors come over for a look-see and occasionally we'll all go out for a drive - the Tribeca was one of those vehicles that drew them out of the house.

I think the fascination with the Tribeca is interesting to note. Up till now, Subaru hasn't really put a serious contender in the SUV marketplace yet and this is their first real effort. Couple that with the unique looks, lots of recent press and tons of marketing on Subaru's end and people are taking notice - at least my neighbors were.

As we all climbed in and out of the Tribeca there were both a number of positive and negative comments that started to accumulate. Outside, the shape from the profile or rear 3/4 view is pleasing and handsome. Circle around to the front though, and people seem to either like it or hate it. Overall it has overtones of Nissan Murano/Infiniti FX45 in it which is a look that's a little less SUV and more lifestyle oriented. Inside the vehicle it is a collision obetween family hauler (3rd row seating, DVD entertainment system with wireless headphones, etc.) and fashion statement. Universally, people had a hard time getting a comfortable position in the front seats with most feeling the seats lacked support and were too flat. The swoopy looking dash may be pleasing to look at from a design standpoint but functionally it suffers a bit as glare, odd shapes, and ergonomic quirks soil the intent of the designers. Interior plastics were pretty good in some places and a little Fischer Price in others. The improvements regarding material quality as seen in the most recent renditions of the Impreza and Forester haven't completely transferred over to the Tribeca and that's significant to note, as the entry fee is quite a bit higher here.

Power from the flat-6 is more than adequate for a vehicle this size with good off-the-line response and decent passing power. Brakes are quite good with little fade and effective pedal modulation. The ride, while firm, is still quite compliant over everything but the harshest of bumps. Handling is fairly good - not as hardcore as in the FX45 but better than the Lexus RX.

So overall Subaru has put forth a commendable effort. There are a few edges that could use some sanding and polish to help push the Tribeca into the luxury territory to which it aspires, but otherwise this is a decent vehicle. This will all largely come down to what is important to you in a luxury SUV - if you value handling and sport above everything else then the Infiniti FX is a better choice. If you value top level interior trim and materials and a more aggressive AWD system then the Volkswagen Touareg may be a better choice. If the badge is important then you may want to look to Lexus or the Mercedes ML at a few bucks more. I'd consider the Volvo XC90 as well if you need substantial third row seating or the Volkswagen Touareg if you don't. Drive them all and see what works for you.

One of my neighbors probably summed it up best when he said the Tribeca makes a really nice lower $30,000 vehicle but becomes a little more difficult to swallow at $38,000. That's an interesting point of view and really speaks as to how competitive this segment has become as of late.

Counterpoint: by Bryan Joslin

Subarus have never been known for their graceful styling, so the B9 Tribeca can be forgiven on that front (no pun intended). What’s unforgivable is that it feels like an entry-level offering trying too hard to be upscale. The B9 would be more believable as Kia’s attempt to copy the Lexus RX 330- except for the fact that the Sorrento already does that, only far better and for far less than $38K.

And I guess therein lies my real rub with the Tribeca. It lacks enough real substance to justify its lofty window sticker. Sure, the engine is athletic and the all-wheel-drive system is unbeatable, but in this segment the details matter. The dashboard and center console arrangement look like a video game console. The seats feel cheap, especially the leather upholstery. The doors sound hollow. And the third row seats? Let’s be real, they were a token effort.

I felt let down by the B9's utility aspect as well. The front and rear seat room are adequate, but the usable space in the cargo area is confined by slope and contouring of the rear pillars. I don't expect modern SUVs to live up to the old "sheet o' plywood" standard of old, but I prefer a more cubical shape in a so-called utility vehicle. With the third row seats up, there's barely room for a stroller and a diaper bag.

In short, the Tribeca works better on paper than in reality. Is it a bad vehicle? No, but it would be a lot more attractive at $30,000. The additional eight grand opens the door to a lot more options in the marketplace, most of which make a lot more sense.

Counterpoint: by Jacoby O'Connor

Subaru has thrown a stone into the still waters that make up the small SUV market. I am not even going to address the looks of the Tribeca. That horse has been beaten to death since the first spy shots appeared around the Internet. If you don’t like the look of it then you won’t buy one. I am more concerned with where this new platform for Subaru fits by price and options with the already established competition, such as the Acura MDX, the Lexus RX330, and company.

Our test B9 came loaded to the gills at a price of just over $38,000. Before really comparing it, let’s look at the price and options of the base Tribeca first. Take off the premium package that includes the “token” rear 2 seats, the DVD rear entertainment system and navigation and what you have left are 5 cloth seats, a 250 hp H-6, 5-speed automatic transmission, and one of the best All Wheel Drive systems you can buy. Standard.

The price tag in the window will read something like $31,320. For the sake of comparing apples to apples I did some price checks on the competition’s models with the lowest price including AWD, since almost all of them list AWD as an option.

Acura MDX $36,900
Lexus RX330 $41,703
Nissan Murano $29,330
VW Touareg $37,795
Volvo XC90 (2.5T AWD) $41,105

The Murano is the only one that is truly in the price range of the Tribeca. By the time you load up the B9 to the $38,000 mark, the other vehicles in the class have gone well into the 40’s.

With a base price just over $31,000 and AWD standard, you should really look for another reason to dislike the Tribeca because price isn’t the problem.

Counterpoint: by George Achorn

In today’s market where the SUV craze has gotten quite mature, and as definitions of what actually constitutes an SUV have become less clear, Subaru has chosen to release the B9 Tribeca. Much like its smaller brother the Forester, the Tribeca is made from an enlarged corporate platform. The Forester uses that of the Impreza, the Tribeca that of the Legacy.

I’ve always thought the Forester was a bit more tall wagon than SUV. Inasmuch, the Tribeca feels more like a minivan with hinged doors and all-wheel drive than it does an SUV. Neither seems as rugged as, say, a Jeep, but their quirkiness and utilitarianism fit the Subaru demographic just fine and their capable chassis development lends well to higher-performance variants.

Design is a little odd, and maybe a little ahead of its time. I’m guessing the Subaru exterior styling will become accepted as time goes by, actually being quite attractive once our eyes have time to chew and swallow its somewhat revolutionary lines – a really big bite, if you will.

Inside, design seems to have gone too far. The space-age and dare-to-be-different look probably goes beyond the stylistic appetite of many customers, though it's certainly livable and the equipment levels such as the large in-dash Navigation screen and drop-down DVD make it a very attractive choice. Just don’t set a leaking juicebox on the surface vent smack dab in the center of the dash as you fumble for your purse or briefcase, as I suspect the air coming out of it will smell like apple juice for an eternity.

Aside from the styling quirks, what the car needs more and less of comes down to brand qualities…Subaru-ness.

The traits Subaru can take back are the instant-on throttle modulation to make the H6 feel strong off the line and the interior quality that tends to frustrate because you know Subaru could be a real contender if they just went those few more feet towards going the distance.

The Subaru qualities it needs are its nameplates and fashion… namely “STi” and “Outback”. A Tribeca STi with decent wheels and suspension might be a fun competitor for the likes of the Magnum SRT-8, while a Tribeca Outback with some beefier cladding and more rugged kit and stance would help drop the minivan-like appearance and make a proper ride for the Treehugger family.

For many, performance, design and image aren’t the most important things. Admittedly, I am a self-proclaimed performance car enthusiast and tend to view the Tribeca with a skeptical eye. That doesn’t change the fact that this very affordable crossover is almost perfect for families and caused its share of brake checks by passing cars when parked in front of my house. Subaru needed this sort of entry in the lineup, and the Tribeca is an admirable starting point.


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