Subaru B9 Tribeca
Ratings
2 stars
Summary
Not Recommended. Sad to say, the Tribeca's ugly styling is almost the least of its worries.
Review
Something completely different from Subaru. The Tribeca B9 joins the growing list of "soft-roaders" and is pitched as a lifestyle-friendly alternative to a conventional estate car.
It's a good idea, especially considering the UK market's seemingly insatiable appetite for upmarket SUVs. Sadly, though, the Tribeca fails to deliver on pretty much every score.
The styling looks gawky and awkward, with the strange radiator grille layout making the Tribeca look as if it's wearing an enormous false moustache. The interior offers plenty of space but feels very cheap and plasticky, especially next to price-point rivals like the BMW X3 and Nissan Murano and the excessively curvy dashboard feels like a gimmick. Both five and seven seat versions are available, although the third row seats are cramped for anyone larger than small children.
The Tribeca shares its mechanical underpinnings with the existing Legacy saloon and estate, and it drives reasonably well (despite over-light steering). The ride quality is acceptable, although the suspension is too hard for urban potholes and wind noise knocks otherwise impressive motorway refinement.
Under the bonnet the Tribeca uses the same 3.0 litre "flat six" engine that powers the top-spec Legacy. Unfortunately, it's only available in conjunction with a terrible automatic gearbox that delivers over-optimistic kickdowns into lowest gears at the slightest provocation. Fuel economy is poor too and, like all Subarus, there's no diesel option.
If the Tribeca was priced against cars like the Honda CR-V it might be easier to forgive its foibles but, wearing a pricetag that puts it into contention with some very serious rivals, it really can't pass muster.
Ratings Breakdown
Styling
2 star
Wilfully ugly. The silly front end doesn't work and the rest of the car is needlessly bland.
Handling
3 star
The Tribeca corners respectably well for a car of this type, although the over-light steering takes some getting used to.
Comfort
3 star
Reasonably spacious for five occupants but cramped in seven-seat configuration. Lots of windnoise at motorway cruising speeds knocks refinement.
Quality & Reliability
3 star
Well assembled, but some of the interior plastics look and feel very cheap.
Performance
3 star
Despite the best efforts of its 3.0 litre flat six petrol engine the Tribeca is no rocketship - 0-62 mph takes just over nine seconds. At least the motor sounds nice when worked hard, something the terrible automatic gearbox ensures happens frequently.
Roominess
3 star
The five seat version has plenty of room for four adults and luggage, but only the smallest kids will voluntarily be relegated to the third-row of the seven seater.
Running Costs
2 star
The thirsty engine and the prospect of steep depreciation means the Tribeca will be costly to keep on the road - and that's before you consider Subaru's patchy dealer network.
Value for money
2 star
The Tribeca just doesn't have what it takes to compete in this segment. It's too expensive, whichever way you look at it.
