Between rain showers, we only had a couple hours with the Subaru B9 Tribeca. First,
we needed to learn as much as we could about it, and, second, we wanted to photograph
as much detail as time would allow.
Concerning exterior styling: Suspend judgment until you see this vehicle in person!
Photographs and online images don’t do it justice. The Subaru B9 Tribeca is
sleeker than it appears in images – not as tall, more graceful and well integrated.
Still, it’s the largest vehicle that Subaru produces, with room for up to seven
occupants.
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The heart of the Subaru B9 Tribeca is the proven 6-cylinder Subaru Boxer®
engine and Symmetrical AWD system. |
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For a comprehensive impression of the vehicle’s dramatic styling, take a couple
of steps forward from the bumper on either side. Turn and look diagonally across
the hood to the exterior mirror on the opposite side. That provides the full breadth
of the complex yet integrated curvature of the headlight lenses, heritage grille
and sculpted hood. The careful attention to intricate detail is awesome.
Because of the rain, we had to towel off one of the vehicles prior to photography.
That gave us a good opportunity to experience its build quality and athletic styling.
We could see and feel more of the styling attributes, particularly the curves across
the front from headlight assembly to headlight assembly.
Drying the vehicle also involved lifting the hood and tailgate. Both take little
effort. The interior hood release lever has a noticeably substantial feel (a detail
indicating quality), and the tailgate’s release came at an easy push of the
button under the lift edge. Two handholds allow the tailgate to be lowered without
having to touch exterior paint.
The interior impresses in two ways: It’s intuitive, and it’s finely designed.
While strikingly laid out with metallic trim, the instruments and controls are even
more notable for their ease of use and understandability. The navigation screen/control
center is very easy to read. It’s also positioned for quick visual reference.
Screen, audio and the automatic climate controls are layered beneath screen level
– all four levels easy-to-read and well within reach. The floor console has
only the shifter interrupting its visual flow.
Most reviewers point out the obvious wraparound, metallic design of the front-seat
area. But Subaru did more to integrate interior design. The entire cabin is pulled
together by uninterrupted lines that begin at the back of the floor console, flow
forward on either side and curve under the metallic dash trim into the doors, which
carry the lines to the rear, ending behind the third-row seats.
 Then
there’s the “Wow!” One of the vehicles had a ceiling-mounted DVD
player, which was impressive enough. The exciting discovery was the drawer that
held wireless earphones for the system at the back of the floor console. What a
treat for traveling with children!
Other impressive details:
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The instrument panel’s electroluminescent gauges |
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Second-row seats that slide fore and aft |
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Clips for holding the outboard second- and third-row shoulder belts when not in
use |
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The shoulder belt for the middle second-row seat that reels into the ceiling |
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Large cupholders designed into every door panel, plus others |
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The stepped roof – raised in two sections from the front to increase headroom |
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Roof vents for both the second- and third-row seating areas (7-passenger) |
At the end of our photography session, we were ready for more. After all, seeing
a vehicle only tells part of a vehicle’s story. It was time to drive!
We had one day for driving, and it dawned overcast, which eventually led to rain.
But since the Subaru models and the other vehicles we were driving all had some
type of all-wheel drive, we weren’t daunted. Most of the drive time was spent
on tightly curving, steeply pitched, two-lane canyon roads. It was a driver’s
delight – enough to make us want to sing!
The driver’s seat in
the Subaru B9 Tribeca gave us plenty of room, particularly for the arms. Where armrests
can be intrusive in some vehicles, there is ample space in the Subaru. You shouldn’t
bang your elbows on them during emergency maneuvers.
Seat adjustment via base-mounted controls was simple to figure out. With the seat
and steering wheel adjusted, the electroluminescent tachometer and speedometer show
well between the steering-wheel spokes. Like the dash controls, the shifter is easy
to reach.
The view through the windshield seems panoramic, with the tops of the headlight
lenses serving as reference points for the front end. When driving alone in the
B9 Tribeca with the head restraints on the second-and third-row seats lowered, visibility
to all quarters is excellent.
The front seats are designed to hold a person of average build in place without
sliding laterally, even on canyon roads. In back, the adjustable seatback and fore-and-aft
selections provide comfortable positioning for occupants in a wide range of sizes.
The variety of seating/cargo configurations offers tremendous versatility as well
as comfort in the second and third rows.
One word summarizes the
capabilities of the Subaru B9 Tribeca in the rain on twisting roads, and that word
is control. Even when adding power around a bend with mud on the road,
there was never a feeling of being pulled to either side by the Symmetrical AWD
system. The vehicle never felt loose – just competent and in control.
Engine power was more than enough to handle the steep canyon grades. Automatic shifting
was well-suited for any given situation, even though we were dealing with some unusually
complex combinations of grades and turns.
The B9 Tribeca models were well-sprung, providing a sporty ride. We could feel the
road, but not so much that it was distracting or uncomfortable. Cornering was excellent.
In poor weather conditions on more challenging highways, the B9 Tribeca felt well-connected
to the road at all times.
Part of that connection was due to the steering feel. Light enough to be helpful
at low speeds, the wheel felt comfortable, and steering was responsive at all speeds.
Evidence of consideration given to quality
abounds throughout the Subaru B9 Tribeca. We found a number of examples while driving
and exploring the vehicle. Here are just a few of them:
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Instrument panel and dash controls – easy to use, well marked |
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Trim – high level of fit and finish |
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Shifter feel – allows quick shifts with smooth action |
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Steering wheel feel – formed to fit easily in hand |
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Cupholder – thoughtful design in the center console, with rectangular slots
for cell phones |
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Sunroof controls – quality look and feel |
We’re not finished with the Subaru B9 Tribeca. We’ll cover this new flagship
in greater detail with the next issue of Drive.
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First Impressions was written by Drive editor Ric Hawthorne, whose automotive
experience includes more than 20 years of writing and editing automotive books,
magazines, videos and online presentations for consumers and manufacturers’
training departments. |
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