Well Done SUV with Personality
Written: Jul 01 '05
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Pros: Breaks from the crowd, great comfort, good power and handling.
Cons: Forget the 7 seat option, rear visibility less than great
The Bottom Line: There are a lot of small SUVs out there. Most are pretty good. The Tribeca is the only one to toss in some flavor.
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| sailingshot's Full Review: 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca |
Let me start off with one the more controversial elements of this SUV: Styling. While several publications comment that the B9’s nose is odd looking, the car has drawn 100% complements from people seeing it on the street in real life. I have not gotten anything but positive comments. I do think the styling is odd, but when almost every other SUV design blends into the next, the B9 scores points by doing it’s own thing. When it comes to cars , ANY attempt at creativity is welcome. The B9 is a great looking SUV to my eyes. It’s both modern and retro all at once. It's far better looking than the still unattractive WRX or clunky Forester; cars that my eye never really adapted to. Don't worry about the looks. Decide for yourself. On things for certain: The looks aren't bland!
POWER: The 250 HP boxer is perfectly fine for this car. More so than the 2.5 has ever been for the Outback. On the other hand, it’s a very subjective thing. If you own a WRX or Forester XT, the B9 will feel slow. But it’s got plenty of real world power and I’m still in the break in period under 4000 RPM. I expect a bump in HP in a year or two, but there's plenty of power as is for most drivers.
TRANSMISSION: So far so good. Nothing but silky smoothness. I read one owner complaining about gear hunting, but my car exhibits none of that. Switching to manual mode is done on the fly and shifts are both smooth and useful. Very well done.
HANDLING: 18 inch tires translate to a lot of grip, but the B9 has enough body roll to make you think twice. The car is tossable and has good feedback, but remember that it weighs two tons. I’m impressed with the handling and feedback, but I wonder what a better roll bar and higher spec tires would add to the game. Then again, this an SUV so perhaps it best to leave well enough alone.
COMFORT: Wow! This is just a sweet car to drive and be in. I’m over 6 feetַ and I don’t recall being this happy in a car. The dual power seats, generous legroom up front and dual climate controls are just fantastic. If you’re tired of being cramped this is the way to go. Interior noise is very low, though the big tires do transmit road noise on some surfaces. The interior is a positive environment is a way few cars can match, and I’ve been in some pretty expensive cars. The interior is very upscale in appearance, though there’s plenty of plastic to remind you that this is not a 50K car. The stereo system on the Limited is excellent and most folks won’t feel the need to add more power or a sub. There are a ton of nice touches, from the illuminated cup holder to the MPG/Trip computer and two level storage in the center armrest. Everything is mounted in the right place for the most part. Very well done.
FLAWS: Yes, the rear 7 seat option is a joke. It’s all but useless. So much so that we didn’t even try to get one. The radio controls on the wheel are too easy to hit when you make a turn. The cargo cover in the back is nothing more than a flap of cloth with hooks, inferior to the outback’s retractable cover. The middle row of seats offers only acceptable legroom, odd given the fact that there was room for more. Rear visibility through the back window is marginal and you’ll need your mirrors more often. CONCLUSION: My review is based on owning this car for a few days. After engine break in I’ll post an update. Thus far it has exceeded my expectations in most areas and I’m quite pleased that I chose it over an Outback or Forester. The dash/console display is right out of Star Trek so watch the road! This car not only looks like a 35-40K SUV, it's design actually elevates it even higher in some regards. The new Toyota 4 Runner feels like a dinosaur inside by comparison, as does the MDX. Based on my previous experience with Subaru I expect this car to lead in reliability as well.
Excellent!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 35000
Condition: New
Model and Options: 5 Pass Limited
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Epinions.com ID:
sailingshot
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Reviews written: 94
Trusted by: 2 members
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