Collingwood, Ontario – After two years on the market, the 2008 Subaru Tribeca returns in July with a modified name, a new face, a more substantial rear-end and some additional muscle.

It’s been to the gym; then stopped in to see a stylist.

Subaru thinks the original B9 Tribeca didn’t find enough favour with buyers because it looked a little delicate from behind, and a bit too inventive at the front. Some critics commented that the 3.0-litre V6 didn’t have enough punch. All this has been addressed for the 2008 model.

Another issue, however, may have been that the original B9 Tribeca seemed somewhat pricey. Subaru hasn’t announced pricing for the new version, so the jury is still out on that.

But one thing the Tribeca certainly had going for it was a terrific interior (especially in the premium editions with leather). The impressive interior remains.

For 2008, Subaru has retreated from its unusual three-part grille, and replaced it with a more conventional shape. The headlamps and hood are also changed, giving the Tribeca a more conservative look, although the new 18-inch alloy wheels are eye-catching and sporty.

At the side, the rear windows are enlarged, and the rear liftgate, lights and fenders have more substance to them. “It looks bigger; more stable,” explains Subaru’s Masaaki Owa.

Under the hood, the opposed six-cylinder (flat six) engine now displaces 3.6 litres and generates 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm (up from 245) and 247 lb.-ft. torque at 4,400 rpm (up from 215). The engine is also 4.4 kilograms lighter than the outgoing 3.0 L version but surprisingly — especially in light of the extra power — now uses regular fuel rather than premium.

It probably goes without saying, but like all Subarus, the Tribeca comes standard with the company’s effective and reliable all-wheel drive system.

The engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission with “Sportshift” that features a new torque lock-up converter and a new transmission control unit that calculates the optimum gear position based on the road gradient. This offers benefits in hilly terrain, and improves fuel economy.

The Tribeca still is available in five or seven-seat versions (seven seat models are fitted with an improved system of entry and exit) and the model line-up consists of three levels of trim: Tribeca, Tribeca Limited, and Tribeca Premium.

The “base” Tribeca is well-equipped with anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, multiple airbags, air conditioning, heated seats and power windows, mirrors and locks.

The Tribeca Limited adds high intensity discharge headlamps, a moonroof, heated exterior mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, a six speaker audio system compatible with both SIRIUS and XM satellite services, leather wrapped steering wheel, Homelink system, power front seats, 40/20/40 split folding second row seating and premium cloth interior.

The Tribeca Premium will add premium audio, memory driver’s seating and leather interior. A DVD entertainment system and Navigation system is available with this trim level.

Safety is also a strong suit. The 2008 Subaru Tribeca received the highest possible safety-rating from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) New Car crash tests. Five stars, in both front and side impact crash tests for driver and passenger seating positions.

The Tribeca feels solid and poised on the road. With a suspension that’s decidedly tuned for ride, it is a little soft in corners, but is smooth and quiet at all times. The engine, notably, is typically undetectable in operation.

We drove the Tribeca through the hilly regions of Collingwood’s “Blue Mountains” (actually part of the Niagara Escarpment) and I found the Tribeca’s additional power easily enabled it to ascend steep inclines. On some of the gravel roads, especially when cornering, the stability control and all-wheel drive systems maintained a surefooted connection to the road. The Tribeca is very easy to drive, and doesn’t feel big or unwieldy.

As I say, the interior is very smart and comfortable, but the leather version is positively striking. The uniformly pastel gray of the cloth interior dulls the impact of the design.

Notable omissions were telescoping steering (Subaru is offering this for the first time on the 2008 Legacy Outback, but not the Tribeca); a power liftgate (should be standard on this flagship vehicle, or available at least); auto up/down power windows (again, this is the kind of thing consumers expect in a premium vehicle). And why not make navigation available throughout the line?

As far as the exterior design of the Tribeca is concerned, unfortunately I still don’t think Subaru has got this right. The grille is too reminiscent of Chrysler’s, and in fact I mistook an approaching Pacifica for one of our group’s Tribecas.

While embracing the fashionable and urbane Crossover look, the Tribeca doesn’t really communicate the Subaru core characteristics of toughness and engineering leadership – if the Tribeca was a computer, it would definitely be a PC on the outside and a Mac under the hood (and inside, to some extent). Competitors are the sporty and sharp handling Mazda CX-7 and CX-9, the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander SUVs, and the stylish Nissan Murano.

But the Tribeca is a Subaru, and it’s probably tough as nails. On a bleak, wintry night in a snowstorm, or battling a summer downpour, or traversing broken pavement on a remote stretch of road, I’m happy to be in any Subaru the company makes, thank-you-very-much.

source

Tags: subaru car, subaru, subaru-car

Popularity: 98% [?]