Subaru B9 Tribeca 4x4 3.0 S5 5dr
Test Date 28/07/2006 12:35:00
Price when new £28,995

Subaru B9 Tribeca 3.0 S5

What's new?
Could this be Subaru's Cayenne? The car that will finance the continued development of the enthusiasts’ models?

The similarities look uncanny: new corporate face rather ungainly grafted onto SUV body; a reliance on petrol power and an unwillingness to deviate for the brand’s core requirement for taught handling.

What's it like?
Other than the rather indiscreet face the most noticeable thing about the Tribeca is its length: it's longer than anything in the class except the preposterously large Audi Q7.

Yet the packaging disappoints: the driver sitting so far back in the cabin that space and access for the optional third row seating is no better than average. Elsewhere, the cabin is a marked improvement for Subaru, both in design and build quality.

Subaru set the BMW X5 as the benchmark against which the Tribeca should perform, a target they've made more than a reasonable job of achieving. Steering weight and directional stability at speed are a little weak, but considering its size the Tribeca changes direction with little inertia and good control.

With no diesel engine – a fact that seems to frustrate Subaru as much as it will prospective buyers – the only option is the 3.0-litre six-cylinder boxer from the Legacy.

While 241bhp might sound impressive, 219lb ft of torque is the crucial figure – and it’s not high enough, especially given the only transmission option is a five-speed auto gearbox. Despite well-chosen ratios and reasonably rapid responses, the somewhat unharmonious noise of the engine disrupts what is otherwise a reasonably refined experience.

Should I buy one?
At £28,995 for the cloth-upholstered, but otherwise well-specified, entry model the Tribeca undercuts petrol rivals from BMW and Volvo. But that price puts it worryingly near the Nissan Murano and diesel Discovery.

The Tribeca looks like a well-engineered new product hamstrung by an inherited powertrain. In the US it might make more sense but in the UK, where admittedly Subaru is only looking to sell 1000 units, the car desperately needs a decent modern diesel.


CABIN IS SUBARU's BEST YET

Subaru B9 Tribeca 4x4 3.0 SE5 5dr
Test Date 02/10/2006
Price when new £31,995

Subaru B9 Tribeca (06-) 3.0 SE5 5dr 4x4

What is it?
Subaru's first SUV. The B9 Tribeca is available as either a five- or seven-seater. We tried the SE5 which has, you've guessed it, five seats.

What's it like?
Rather brutal to look at, although we have to concede it's better in the metal, where it also shows up the not-exactly-pretty Porsche Cayenne.
Things improve considerably when you get in (and not just because you can't see the front from inside). The interior is a real step forward for Subaru – it's plusher than the recently tweaked Legacy's cabin.
There's also a lot in the plush interior – all models, from the £28,995 S5 to the £33,995 SE7 come with dual-zone air-con, powered front seats, front, side and curtain airbags and a six-disc CD changer, plus you also get a five-speed automatic gearbox, 18in alloys and front fog lights. SE trim adds leather upholstery, heated memory seats, a sunroof and full-colour sat-nav with a reversing camera. The SE7 also has two extra seats, extra rear air-con and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
What you may have noticed among all that, however, is that there is no choice of drivetrain – the 3.0-litre 242bhp, 219lb ft flat six engine (as used in the Legacy Spec B) is your only option. That's no bad thing for performance, which is respectable at 9.3sec 0-60mph and 121mph flat out, but it isn't great for fuel economy, at 23mpg combined.
Still, that flat six makes for a low centre of gravity that's noticeable in the B9's respectably restrained body roll. This is one of the more enjoyable SUVs to drive, although the steering isn't as feelsome or direct as we might like. Then again, if you really want something roomy and good to drive, buy an estate car instead

So should I buy one?
The B9 Tribeca looks compelling value next to, say, a BMW X5 or Volvo XC90, but what you save on purchase price you may well end up spending on fuel. In this class, you need a diesel engine, and Subaru hasn't got one. Then again, that hasn't stopped Nissan's Murano SUV from selling well. If you can live with the bills, the B9 is well worth a look.

 

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