The front seats, despite their power adjustments, are not as comfortable as yours truly would like; they’re overstuffed in the middle, so they lack lateral support. The second-row seat is pretty good for three adults, but the third-row seat is not as accommodating.
My kids hopped on the rearmost bench, but the cushions are so low that there’s no legroom, and while I was driving, I could barely see the tops of their heads. Plus, there are no pull straps for the third-row seatbacks, so you can’t lift them from the cargo area. The hatch, by the way, is pretty heavy and requires some muscle to close.
The Tribeca’s powertrain and handling, though, compensate for the hit-and-miss interior. Power comes from a 24-valve, 3.6-litre flat-6 that develops 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, and is connected to a smooth-shifting 5-speed automatic with manual mode.
Although it’s not a road rocket, the Subie SUV gets to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, which is decent for a 4,250-lb (1,930-kg) vehicle. It’s quiet on the highway and the raspy sound that usually accompanies boxer-type engines is virtually absent.
Fuel economy isn’t quite on par with certain competitors, like the Toyota Highlander, for example. We’re averaging 14.2 L/100 km; that’s what you get when you have a full-time all-wheel drive system.
On the other hand, the Tribeca’s road manners are hard to fault. Despite a slightly harsh ride, it exhibits minimal body roll while concerning, and its speed-sensitive power steering has a good on-center feel. In addition, the Tribeca’s turning circle diameter is among the best of the mid-size SUVs, which really helps during parking manoeuvres.
Base price for a 2010 Subaru Tribeca is $40,995, while our Limited trim sells for $48,120 including freight charges and A/C tax. For that sum, you get 18-inch alloys, a power sunroof, leather upholstery, xenon headlights, Bluetooth and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
Competition includes the $51,275 Chevrolet Traverse 2LT AWD, the $44,949 Ford Edge Limited AWD, the $46,210 Honda Pilot EX-L, the $49,795 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, the $49,608 Nissan Murano LE DVD and the $50,132 Toyota Highlander 4WD V6 Limited with DVD.
For someone who’s looking for an SUV that drives more like a car than a truck, the Tribeca is a very interesting proposition. It feels a step behind several rivals, however, partially because of its age, and because several little details need improving. But for its first effort in producing a mid-size sport-ute, Subaru figured out the basic ingredients.
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| The front seats, despite their power adjustments, are not as comfortable as yours truly would like. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
My kids hopped on the rearmost bench, but the cushions are so low that there’s no legroom, and while I was driving, I could barely see the tops of their heads. Plus, there are no pull straps for the third-row seatbacks, so you can’t lift them from the cargo area. The hatch, by the way, is pretty heavy and requires some muscle to close.
The Tribeca’s powertrain and handling, though, compensate for the hit-and-miss interior. Power comes from a 24-valve, 3.6-litre flat-6 that develops 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, and is connected to a smooth-shifting 5-speed automatic with manual mode.
Although it’s not a road rocket, the Subie SUV gets to 100 km/h in 8.6 seconds, which is decent for a 4,250-lb (1,930-kg) vehicle. It’s quiet on the highway and the raspy sound that usually accompanies boxer-type engines is virtually absent.
Fuel economy isn’t quite on par with certain competitors, like the Toyota Highlander, for example. We’re averaging 14.2 L/100 km; that’s what you get when you have a full-time all-wheel drive system.
On the other hand, the Tribeca’s road manners are hard to fault. Despite a slightly harsh ride, it exhibits minimal body roll while concerning, and its speed-sensitive power steering has a good on-center feel. In addition, the Tribeca’s turning circle diameter is among the best of the mid-size SUVs, which really helps during parking manoeuvres.
Base price for a 2010 Subaru Tribeca is $40,995, while our Limited trim sells for $48,120 including freight charges and A/C tax. For that sum, you get 18-inch alloys, a power sunroof, leather upholstery, xenon headlights, Bluetooth and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
Competition includes the $51,275 Chevrolet Traverse 2LT AWD, the $44,949 Ford Edge Limited AWD, the $46,210 Honda Pilot EX-L, the $49,795 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, the $49,608 Nissan Murano LE DVD and the $50,132 Toyota Highlander 4WD V6 Limited with DVD.
For someone who’s looking for an SUV that drives more like a car than a truck, the Tribeca is a very interesting proposition. It feels a step behind several rivals, however, partially because of its age, and because several little details need improving. But for its first effort in producing a mid-size sport-ute, Subaru figured out the basic ingredients.
 |
| The Subaru Tribeca starts at $40,995. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
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