Teresa’s View
The B9 Tribeca is a tall wagon that goes head-to-head with sport-ute vehicles in a relatively new category called the “crossover.” Part-wagon, part-SUV, the Tribeca is a squatty barnburner that can scramble over sloppy back roads as deftly as it tracks slick city streets.
Named after the trendy New York neighborhood that straddles Soho and Lower Manhattan, the all-new Tribeca offers the agility and composure of a sedan, practicality of a wagon and functionality of a light sport-ute. Just remember friends – crossovers are based on sedan platforms and are not serious off-road vehicles.
Unfortunately, the Tribeca pulls off this balancing act while looking like the automotive equivalent of an Ugg boot. As a fashion statement, it falls in that “love it” or “hate it” category, primarily because of its airplane-inspired front-end design.
Under the hood, the same 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that motivates the top-of-the line Outback wagons provides solid power, but is slow to accelerate off the line. Once it reaches traveling speed, the engine pulls forcefully and confidently through the gears.
The cabin contains upscale elements such as soft-touch plastics and a two-tone color theme, but follow-through is weak. Subaru might have been able to get by with less than stellar finish work when they sold inexpensive cars, but at $31K for the entry-level Tribeca, buyers expect and deserve better quality.
Other minor annoyances include a general lack of storage space. I’d especially like to see a convenient spot to set my cell phone. While the firm seats are functional up front, the rear seats are too low and flat for true comfort.
Driving enthusiasts may enjoy listening to the buzzy engine, but after a few hours on the road, the noise got old for me. Thank goodness for the standard 100-watt, AM/FM/CD/MP3 stereo and its six speakers.
What Is It? The midsize B9 Tribeca is an all-new addition to the Subaru lineup. It’s offered in two trims — standard and Limited. Add the available third-row seat option and the Tribeca seats seven.
Gadget Rating: 7 out of 10. The dash bows at the center to curve between the front occupants, giving the driver easy access to climate and audio controls. Standard features include a power moonroof and a dual-zone automatic climate control system. Navigation and a DVD entertainment system are available options for the Limited models only.
Favorite Feature: Lighted Cupholders. This thoughtful feature is a boon for anyone who’s tried to place a steaming latte back into a black cupholder at night.
Safety: All Subarus are heavy on technology and the Tribeca is no different. I love the auto-retracting brake pedal that’s designed to help prevent injury to the driver’s foot and leg in an accident. Front seat-mounted side airbags and side curtain airbags are standard.
Back Seat: Legroom is tight for adult passengers. I do like that the second-row bench seat can be moved to enlarge the cargo area or recline for those lovely car-trip naps.