Let's start with styling. Few vehicles manage to polarize potential buyers as strongly as the Tribeca, with some in love with
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| Few vehicles manage to polarize potential buyers as strongly as the Tribeca. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
its daring shape and many laughing all the way to their Toyota dealer. Personally, I'm impressed that a company that has shown little creativity with regards to design in the past, Brat and Baja aside, is finally taking a stand to be as unique in appearances as it has always been under the skin. That in mind, I don't think my opinion with regards to its odd grille treatment is of any value. I'm sure that you have come to your own conclusions, and if you like it you no doubt like it a lot, and if not you probably would never buy something as unique as a Subaru anyway. Or have I misjudged Subaru's traditional buyer?
I was at the gas station filling up when a mid-30s woman walking from the cashier to her late model Ford Escape
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| If you like it you no doubt like it a lot, and if not you probably would never buy something as unique as a Subaru anyway. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
turned to me and said, "What's that? It's gorgeous!" She was looking at the Tribeca's rear quarters at the time, so upon telling her it was Subaru's new crossover SUV I walked her around the car and asked her if she liked the front end styling too. I told her I was merely testing the Tribeca so that she didn't hold back her feelings in order to save mine, when her immediate reaction was, "How futuristic!" When I asked if she thought it was odd looking, she said, "No. I really like it. How much?" She hardly batted an eye when I mentioned the as tested price of about $52,000. As she drove away she kept looking back, obviously enamored with the new Tribeca. No doubt, Subaru's daring has just won a fan that may never have noticed the brand before.
