2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca

The addition of the performance-oriented WRX and flagship WRX STi, which boasts performance on par with some of the best sports cars, has also expanded and established Subaru's presence in that market.

Now Subaru joins the midsize SUV ranks for 2006, which would seem to be an even bolder step. Yet the B9 Tribeca remains true to its Subaru heritage with confidence-inspiring driving dynamics, standard all-wheel drive, and functional passenger/cargo capacity, while at the same time taking its place in an entirely new market segment for the company.

The styling of the B9 Tribeca debuts a bold, new look for Subaru, with a prominent center air intake flanked by wing-shaped grilles that sweep up into the front fender lines. The interior styling is also new, with a modern design that delivers an upscale feel without getting in the way of functionality and ease of use.

Driver Confidence From Traditional Subaru Platform

The B9 Tribeca is the first Subaru to offer 7-passenger seating, based on a modified version of the platform used for the Legacy and Outback. Compared to the Outback, the B9 Tribeca is four inches wider and nearly five inches taller with a three-inch longer wheelbase, but is only 1.1 inches longer overall. An all-new double wishbone rear suspension design replaces the multi-link setup on the Outback. Eighteen-inch wheels and tires are standard.

Powered by the same drivetrain as the Outback 3.0 R VDC Limited, the longitudinally mounted 3.0-liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine delivers 250 horsepower through the standard 5-speed automatic transmission with SPORTSHIFT manual shift mode.

Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive combines a lightweight boxer engine with the transmission mounted longitudinally and adds Variable Torque Distribution and Vehicle Dynamics Control. The drivetrain layout lowers the vehicle's center of gravity, which Subaru claims is 1.6 inches lower than in many competitive unibody crossover vehicles.

The B9 Tribeca instills confidence in the driver right from the start with a stable, solid feel that belies its size and 4,200-lb. weight. Rearward visibility during city driving is very good, aided by large, well-placed mirrors that make it easy to change lanes and navigate streets with confidence. Outside the city at highway speeds, the stable, solid feel continues—the B9 Tribeca is enjoyable to drive, with minimal body roll during cornering.

The three-spoke sport steering wheel also found in other Subaru models contributes to the B9 Tribeca's solid, confident feel. Drivers can easily find their optimum position in the SUV's comfortable seats.

On the tight, twisty roads of the Tomales Bay area north of San Francisco, there were definitely times when it would have been more fun behind the wheel of a Subaru WRX STi, but for an SUV the B9 Tribeca held its own. The steering turn-in is not as crisp as it is in the Legacy or Outback, but snappy turn-in should probably not be an attribute of a crossover SUV anyway. The steering is consistent and predictable through the corners, and has a good on-center feel.

Modern Interior Focused on Functionality

The B9 Tribeca has an appealing interior design, with a modern, flowing layout that Subaru describes as a twin cockpit that echoes the front grille design. The center console sweeps up into the dash and wraps all the way around into the upper door panels. While dramatic and stylish, the interior is equally practical and ergonomically designed.

The speedometer and tachometer are electroluminescent gauges with red lighting, flanked by fuel and temperature gauges with LCD bar-graph displays. A multi-function screen is located at the top of the center stack, with separate climate control and audio system controls located below the screen. The standard dual-zone climate control system features large dials with illuminated readouts at the base of the center stack.

The B9 Tribeca is offered in 5-passenger and 7-passenger versions and delivers exceptional functionality for passengers and cargo. The second row seats feature a 60/40 split bench with the seatback split 40/20/40, so the center section can be folded down as a center armrest. The second-row seat reclines in a 60/40 split, slides fore and aft nearly eight inches for passenger comfort, and folds flat to maximize cargo capacity. The third-row seat on 7-passenger versions accommodates two passengers and folds flat in a 50/50 split.

One surprise about the interior: the material covering the dash has a much harder feel to the touch than one would expect, based on appearance. Also, the gaps where the dash sweeps into the upper door panels didn't match up exactly in the test vehicle we drove; both of these are minor points in an otherwise beautifully done interior.

Controversial Styling, Attractive Interior

When the B9 Tribeca was introduced in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show in January 2005, the front styling was touted as the new corporate face of Subaru—not a face that we found particularly attractive. With a prominent central air intake grille and headlights incorporated into the front fenders, the design is said to recall Subaru's history as an aircraft manufacturer.

When we spoke with Andreas Zapatinas, chief designer for Subaru at Fuji Heavy Industries Tokyo Studio in March, he downplayed the new look of the B9 Tribeca's front fascia by emphasizing that the design actually echoes the dynamic driving experience of previous Subaru designs.

"The Subaru B9 Tribeca is a dynamic vehicle, like every Subaru is, so the shape has to represent that," explained Zapatinas. "Actually what we created is a design that has a very unique visual flow from the front fender all the way to the back, following along a line from the headlights all the way to the back."

Zapatinas explained further: "The side section of the car has to respect very spacious packaging inside, you have to respect the room that we offer inside for the passengers but at the same time the car has to look like it is very well composed, very solid with the wheels and it has a very good stance on the road."

Viewed from the side, we would agree that Zapatinas has accomplished what he set out to do with the profile of the B9 Tribeca, creating an attractive overall look that is aggressive and solid, incorporating large wheels and tires into the overall design. At the rear, the styling has not generated the same controversy as the prominent nose, but it still takes some getting used to with taillights high on the liftgate and a large, wide, flat area below incorporating the rear bumper.

If the exterior styling is controversial, we found the interior to be attractive, with modern styling without compromising functionality or comfort. "The interior is of extreme importance on a modern vehicle; it has to represent the qualities of the vehicle and it has to interact very well with the driver and that is what we are trying to do with the B9 Tribeca," Zapatinas told MSN Autos.

"What we tried to achieve is an interior that gives you a sense of modernity, but at the same time has some kind of classic values associated with it, classic values about quality and craftsmanship, but at the same time modernity referring to the way the interface is occurring between the user and the vehicle, " explained Zapatinas. "We paid a lot of attention to the illumination; we paid a lot of attention to the different kind of switches so they are not so repetitive. For example, the switches around the climate control are very characteristic and the movements are very specific, so the driver has a quick and spontaneous interaction with them," he said.

Pricing and Equipment

The B9 Tribeca will start at $30,695 for the 5-passenger version, with standard equipment that includes a 250-horsepower 3.0-liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine, a 5-speed automatic transmission with SPORTSHIFT, 7-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels and six airbags. Standard interior features include dual-zone automatic climate control; a power moonroof, electroluminescent gauges, a 100-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 compatibility, an 8-way power driver's seat, a 4-way power front passenger seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and deep-tinted glass on the rear side windows and liftgate.

The B9 Tribeca Limited adds leather seat surfaces; a 160-watt audio system with a 6-disc CD changer, eight speakers plus a rear sub-woofer and three-mode heated front seats at an MSRP of $32,295.

The seven-passenger B9 Tribeca adds to the base 5-passenger with a 50/50 split-folding third-row seat, a rear-seat air conditioner with fan control in the second row and three-mode heated front seats for $32,395. The 7-passenger Limited is priced at $33,895. Prices listed do not include a destination and delivery charge of $625.

A rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a widescreen LCD, two sets of wireless headphones, remote control, and auxiliary input for video games is available on 7-passenger versions for $1,800. The Limited 7-passenger offers touch-screen navigation for $2,000.

Subaru's Big Move Up-Market

The Subaru B9 Tribeca is a serious challenger in the midsize crossover SUV category. While the front-end styling may take some getting used to, the interior is both beautifully designed and useful from the moment a driver's gets in for the first time.

Arriving when drivers seem to be tiring of large, truck-like SUVs, the B9 Tribeca offers an enjoyable driving experience while still offering five-plus-two seating: very comfortable seating for four adults and the ability to accommodate up to seven occupants in total.

Subaru made the first move up-market with the redesigned Legacy and Outback last year, and the B9 Tribeca continues the trend while at the same time offering significantly more passenger room and cargo capacity.

The B9 Tribeca is fun to drive, which doesn't hold true for many other 7-passenger choices in the market—so it might surprise a few people.

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