2008 Subaru Tribeca

Review

Not just another Pretty Face… I mean, it’s NOT a Pretty Face. Ah, but what a personality!

By: Nathan D. Adlen

Subaru is currently going through a bit of an identity crisis. Very few automotive manufacturers have as many cars in their inventory that are designed like a Subaru. Some of their cars (like the Legacy) are fairly handsome and look well proportioned. Unfortunately, some of the other Subarus look either boring (a-la the new Impreza) or bland (like the 2008 Subaru Tribeca) and turn off some perspective buyers before they even go for a spin– which is a shame.

Subaru’s insides make it unique. All-wheel-drive coupled with horizontally opposed 4 and 6 cylinder engines (Porsche is the only other automaker currently doing this) translate to a unique and secure driving experience. These cars reward the driver with good feel, surprising performance, very safe cockpits, all-weather security and excellent reliability.

But, what about being able to look over your shoulder and smile at your cool looking, new car?

Uh, no.

This is where the identity of your ride is lost among other cars that look similar. The new Subaru Impreza looks like a mix of a Toyota Corolla and Suzuki Forenza. Not as ugly as a Pontiac Aztec, but no one will think you’re driving an Aston Martin either.

In 2005 we first got a glimpse of the Subaru Tribeca and many scoffed. Yes, it was unique in the same way the 2007 Suzuki XL-7 is… uniquely disturbingto look at. I hate to be so negative, but if the esthetics of a vehicle makes people snicker, you’ve done something wrong. Despite being a decent SUV for function, the 2005 Subaru Tribeca’s form was a botched job.

A name like “Subaru Tribeca” is meant to inspire images of an avant-garde, hip, expensive community in New York. I think that’s kind of reaching… If you simply called it, “The Subaru SUV” and left it at that, you would not have the overwhelming burden of backing up your east coast reference. Fortunately, things have changed.

The 2008 Subaru Tribeca is something Subaru wished they got right the first time. Shortly after its debut, Subaru substituted its somewhat (okay, very) ugly styling for somewhatbland styling. Compared to Mazda’s CX-7 and CX-9, GM’s Lambda platform sharing SUVs (Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia etc.) and Mitsubishi’s excellent Outlander, the Subaru Tribeca is not-so-pretty and Chrysler-esq in frontend styling. It is a vast improvement over the original Subaru Tribeca, despite its yawn inspiring design motif. But fear not, there is a bright spot in the Subaru Tribeca’s faded armor.

Sit inside and cozy up to one of the nicest interiors in its class while you enjoy a killer 100-watt 6-speaker audio system with single-disc in-dash CD player and MP3 compatibility. Look around and notice the near perfect outward, forward visibility (the rear visibility is compromised slightly, by the thick, triangular rear pillars, which are waybetter than the pre 2008 Subaru Tribeca’s HUGE rear/side triangles).

The dashboard, center council, inside door panels, vents and front seats are beautifully designed. I would liken it to a European design language that is smoother and more esthetically pleasing than anything Subaru has previously produced. I must stress that if you are over 6 feet tall, or have long legs, you may hit the downward curve of the dashboard’s “swoosh” as it molds into the center council. Despite this, the Subaru Tribeca’s interior is a luxurious place to be and it adds to the overall driving experience.

Second row comfort is acceptable, but lacks a bit in leg room. The Subaru Tribeca’s third row seat comfort is notthe highest rated. This is a place that small people (namely children) may find tolerable, but it is not a fun place to sit. If rear seat comfort is your bag, I recommend the 2008 Acadia SLE AWD. It is competitively priced to the Subaru Tribeca, gets similar efficiency ratings and holds a lot more; however, it can’t match the Subaru Tribeca’s excellent handling and sweet looking interior.

Guess what? The Subaru Tribeca drives like a Subaru – and that’s a good thing. Power mongers would most likely want (or pray for) a turbo charger to light the fires on the fairly mellow power-plant, but most of us will enjoy its easy to modulate power delivery. The engine is turbine-like smooth and it rarely needs to strain (except when passing uphill when fully loaded).

The 247 pound-feet of torque grabbing all four wheels and maneuvering the over two ton crossovers around corners is a smooth and worry free experience. The fairly low center of gravity makes the Subaru Tribeca feel like a tall wagon rather than a tippy SUV. I opted for an ice and dirt covered on-ramp with a bend to see how the Subaru Tribeca would handle. Compared with the excellent 2008 Toyota Highlander and solid handling 2008 Nissan Murano, the Subaru Tribeca ripped around the corner and tore up the ramp with more authority than either aforementioned SUVs in the wet stuff.

My second fairly recent drive yielded a neat trait for the Subaru Tribeca; it made nice with traffic. That’s right; it is one of the best driving SUVs in its class when traversing heavy highway traffic and clogged city streets. Stop and go driving was a snap and its ride height was ideal for negotiating one of our more crowded mall parking lots. Parking the Subaru Tribeca is not as bad as I expected (it was WAY better than any of the GM Lambda SUVs) though it could use a tighter turning radius. The load height for baby seats is nearly ideal and the altitude of the rear loading area is very manageable. This is a delightful small family, urban transit.

Gas mileage is not exactly stellar in the Subaru Tribeca. Motivating fulltime all-wheel-drive makes engines thirsty. In my first brief drive, back in March, I managed about 20 MPG during mixed driving. A six-speed automatic might help (and there is a rumor of the new Subaru diesel engine finding a home in the Subaru Tribeca – which would be a good thing). The current 5 speed automatic seems to hunt for gears while cruising, but it holds the right gears when you let your lead-foot demon out. The Sportshift manual control on the automatic transmission is fun to use and could be a blast on a dirt road.

The good news is that the Subaru Tribeca’s higher engine output of 256 horsepower still gives better mileage than the previous motor and it only needs regular gas (the old H6 recommended premium). It is a refined and quiet power-plant that begins to growl nicely when you put your foot into it. Throttle response is good and modulating the RPM on back roads or city streets is fairly rewarding. The same 6 cylinder used by the Subaru Tribeca is shared only with the high-end Subaru Legacy.

Be careful if you do go off the highway, the Subaru Tribeca has a fairly low 8.4 inch clearance and is no boulder hopper. There is no low gear for the really nasty stuff and your front and rear overhangs (approach and departure angles) are way too large for anything but flat terrain. Still, in the snow or rain, the combination of size and performance make you feel like you are in a safe place.

High safety ratings and a myriad of airbags are great to have, but this is what a customer should expect from a Subaru. Their vehicles have some of the highest safety ratings of any manufacturer. The Subaru Tribeca is no exception as it is one of the safest vehicles in its class.

Would I recommend one? Well, if you need a third row on occasion and need all-wheel-drive often, then yes. If you opt for just five seats, there is an option for the Subaru Tribeca; however, I would recommend you save some major bucks and go for the more affordable (and a better driving/looking/faster/economical) Subaru Legacy Outback or Subaru Forester.

No, sadly the Subaru Tribeca is no hot-rod, nor is it much of a rally car for hauling the family around, but it rewards the occasionally aggressive driver with a nice driving experience. The Subaru Tribeca gives you a luxury level interior and one of the best all-wheel-drive setups available in the industry. Add to that the well-earned Subaru reputation for safety, reliability and ruggedness and you have a compelling case for seeing beyond the surface of the 2008 Subaru Tribeca.

Keep in mind that there are very few color choices and few options for the Subaru Tribeca. Pricing in the low 30s keeps the Subaru Tribeca competitive with many mid sized and some full sized SUVs. Given the current state of high gas prices and cut-throat deals of bigger SUVs, you should be able to get a good deal on a Subaru Tribeca. This could be a good time to get your hands on an SUV with a great personality.

Best of all, the new revisions to the 2008 Subaru Tribeca no longer makes it look like something to be pitied. Now, if Subaru (or its new partner-in-bed, Toyota who now owns 16.5% of Subaru) had any guts, they would hack off part of the back, add a tailgate/mid-gate and make the Subaru Tribeca a Honda Ridgeline contender! At least the 2008 Subaru Tribeca’s looks would be competitive with the Ridgeline’s rather unique appearance.