SUV Cars

Subaru Tribeca SUV 4dr.
The Tribeca has a four-wheel independent suspension with front and rear stabilizer bars. While the crossover's body roll is fairly noticeable when cornering, the other side of the coin is a comfy, smooth ride that was appreciated during a drive from Chicago to Windsor, Ontario, and back. There's a concrete portion of Interstate 94 along this route that has a tendency to make a vehicle's suspension oscillate up and down annoyingly, but the Tribeca resisted this tendency admirably.

Subaru increased the Tribeca's standard horizontally opposed six-cylinder from 3.0 to 3.6 liters for 2008. The new engine makes 256 horsepower, which is a modest increase over the previous engine's 245 hp, and a more substantial increase in torque to 247 pounds-feet (up from 215 pounds-feet). As with all Subarus, all-wheel drive is standard.

The previous B9 Tribeca, while not underpowered, wasn't especially quick. Even though the new model has a more powerful engine and its curb weight is essentially unchanged, acceleration isn't remarkable at higher speeds. The Tribeca does have plenty of pep in city driving, though.

The Tribeca's five-speed automatic transmission includes Subaru's Sportshift clutchless-manual mode, which lets the driver control gear changes when desired. In normal operation, it shifts smoothly and kicks down quickly when needed.

All-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution are standard, and they're up to the task of stopping this two-ton crossover. The brake pedal, for its part, has a natural feel that doesn't ask the driver to accommodate any quirks the way some cars do.

The Interior.
The cabin has earned a comparatively warmer reception than the exterior, and Subaru didn't mess with a good thing. The wraparound cockpit and metallic overlays are still here, as are the electroluminescent gauges and center-mounted information display. Fully loaded Tribecas include a navigation system, power-adjustable leather seats, a rear backup camera and a backseat DVD entertainment system.

The swoopy dashboard styling carries over from the B9 Tribeca, and while it's different from anything else on the market, it doesn't sacrifice ease of use in the name of fashion; all of the controls you readily need, like the ones for the air conditioning and stereo, are well within reach. The dash styling is a bit heavy on silver-colored trim, but at least it doesn't look cheap.

The second-row seats can slide forward and back, and they recline. The seat cushions are split 60/40, but the backrest is split 40/20/40. This allows long items like skis to be carried inside the SUV without compromising passenger comfort, as two people can sit on either side of the cargo. The second row is spacious, with lots of legroom for tall adults, and the leather seats are firm like the front buckets. An optional 50/50-split third-row seat increases the Tribeca's occupant capacity from five to seven.

Optional features include a power moonroof, remote start, a touch-screen navigation system, a rearview camera and a rear-seat entertainment system with a 9-inch screen that includes two wireless headphones and a remote control.

Five-person Tribecas have 37.6 cubic feet of cargo room, and folding the backseat flat raises the total to 74.4 cubic feet. The seven-seat Tribeca has only 8.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row, which can fold flat into the floor when not in use. More important, the Tribeca has a low floor, which makes it easier to load luggage into it. The crossover can tow up to 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, which is competitive for its class.

The Exterior.
The new one-piece grille has a chrome upper lining and three horizontal crossbars — not the most imaginative, but certainly less divisive than the original. The old Tribeca's multibezel headlights have also been scrubbed for a pair of narrower, more compartmentalized ones that look like those on the Hyundai Santa Fe. The Tribeca's rear, too, looks like that of the Santa Fe. The 2007 model's offset midsection has been smoothed over for a more uniform look, and the taillights don't look nearly as menacing. Changes to the sides aim to improve visibility, Subaru says, with larger rearview mirrors and rear-quarter windows.

Specs:

Base price: $33,595

Engine: 256-hp, 3.6-liter H-6

Fuel: 16/21 mpg

Length: 191.5"

Width: 73.9"

Turning Radius: 18.7'

Cargo space: 8.3-74.4 cu. ft.

NHTSA Crash-Test Ratings:
Driver's side: 5 Stars; Passenger's side: 5 Stars; Front occupant: 5 Stars; Rear occupant: 5 Stars; Rollover resistance: 4 Stars.