New Crossover Stirs Up Mixed Emotions
Finally the automaker that brought us the crossover sport wagon has made a crossover SUV, and if anyone were to take its TV
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| Despite the advertising, the simple fact is that the B9 Tribeca isn't a heck of a lot different from other car-like crossover sport utilities already available. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
ad seriously, the one that shows the new
B9 Tribeca driving past sport utilities and rival crossovers with each competitor dissipating into dust, engulfed in vines or transformed into blocks of scrap metal, you'd think that Subaru had reinvented the market segment completely. Slick DDB New York marketing aside, the simple fact is that the B9 Tribeca isn't a heck of a lot different from other car-like crossover sport utilities already available. In fact, while late to the party, as much as it shines in some respects when compared feature for feature to vehicles such as the
Acura MDX, Buick Rendezvous, Chrysler Pacifica, Ford Freestyle or
Volvo XC90, it also occasionally misses the mark.
I suppose I wouldn't be so critical of Subaru's new crossover if the Japanese automaker hadn't been so brazen with its advertising. After all, some of the vehicles that it dismisses as passé are impressive performers in the crossover SUV category, and I'm not just
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| While late to the party, the Tribeca shines in some respects when compared feature for feature to its competition, but it also occasionally misses the mark. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
talking about sales numbers. For instance, the ad attempts to make Acura's superb MDX appear like an automotive anachronism. While the current iteration is nearing the end of its lifecycle, the MDX is still a formidable player. But I'm not going to go through each and every model that Subaru attempts to smear in somewhat humourous albeit misrepresentative ad campaign, but rather talk directly about the B9 Tribeca, along with its many attributes and few faults. I will take the opportunity to compare specific features with its main rivals, however, as I think this is only fair given the harsh criticism Subaru has dealt to its competitors.
