CNET editors' review
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CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 02/01/2006
The Tribeca can be optioned with a nicely executed navigation system and rear-seat entertainment package but, unfortunately, does not offer Bluetooth or any satellite radio preparation. Electronic chassis-control systems do a very good job of getting the engine's ample power to all four wheels, making this largest Subaru a relatively nimble around-town handler.
As a new entry in the crowded crossover SUV segment, the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca has its work cut out for it, and its rendition of Subaru's new corporate nose treatment won't help its cause. Overall, the exterior design seems somewhat slapped together, an unhappy combination of current fads and ungainly proportions. Well equipped in Limited trim, the 2006 Tribeca has a base price of $37,695, with minor options pushing our test car's sticker to a little less than $40,000. Whether the lure of decent value can overcome the Subaru B9's unconventional appearance remains to be seen.
The 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca draws kudos for the layout and design of its cabin. In contrast to the exterior, the bold strokes of the interior enhance a feeling of comfort. The organic curves of the dashboard aren't a completely new idea, but the uninterrupted flow from door to door wraps around the driver without the claustrophobic feeling this approach sometimes creates.The Limited trim level includes leather upholstery for all three rows of seats and a six-CD in-dash changer in place of the standard single-disc unit. Seating is comfortable throughout, with power adjustment for the front and, notably, a moveable second-row arrangement that allows easier access to the third row as well as almost 8 inches of fore-aft adjustment. Alas, the third-row seats are really only suitable for small children regardless of the position of the second row, as legroom is almost nil. However, they fold completely flat and, in conjunction with the 60/40 folding second row, make for a wide array of cargo configurations.
Up front, the driver is afforded the usual commanding SUV panorama, made more dramatic in the Tribeca by the windshield base's distance from the wheel and the thin door sill out of elbow's reach. A tilting and sliding moonroof came standard with our car's Limited package. One curious feature we couldn't quite fathom was the small triangle of glass at the base of the A-pillar, in front of the side mirror. Perhaps intended to improve front-corner visibility, it doesn't in practice and seems like an unconfident flourish.
The jumble of design cues continues down the Tribeca's profile: headlights melting from hood to fender, exaggerated waist contour, trendy bulges around the wheel openings, a curious faux-bumper cutout wrapping around the corners, and the acute angle of the rear quarter windows, which leaves an awkward stretch of sheet metal between the glass and taillights. This curve at the bottom of the trailing edge of the rear windows is known as the Hofmeister kink in BMW circles, but Subaru has turned it into a full-blown fetish. And the new Subaru grille is the clincher of the B9 Tribeca's styling woes. This basic shape was, to our eyes, done much more successfully on both the Nissan Murano and the Infiniti FX35.
For all its exterior foibles, though, the Tribeca's electronic interior systems were among the most intuitive we've tested. The Limited package also includes Subaru's touch-screen navigation system, normally a $2,000 option. Destination entry was painless, thanks to a full keyboard with predictive listing, and the road coverage seemed complete. The system also controls or displays information for the audio system, the trip computer, and when maintenance is needed. Controlled by a large central click knob, six hard buttons, and a zoom switch, the crisp color screen is mounted effectively for keeping a peripheral eye on the road. Steering wheel buttons offer easy adjustment of the basic audio functions.
Also part of the Limited setup is the rear-seat ceiling-mounted DVD player and screen ($1,800 as an option), which was similarly easy to use. The 9-inch wide-screen-format monitor is manually lowered to the desired viewing angle and provides a good picture even for the grainy black-and-white classic to which we treated passengers on a highway drive.
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