Vehicle Tested
| 2011 Subaru Tribeca Touring
Base Price: $35,795
At-Tested Price: $38,720
Built in Lafayette, Indiana.
Options
Navigation System
Engine: 3.6-liter H6
Transmission: 5-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
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Easily the largest vehicle in the Subaru lineup, the Tribeca is a seven-passenger crossover sport-utility. It competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse, Dodge Journey, Ford Flex, GMC Acadia, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Veracruz, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-9, and Toyota Highlander.
Bucking Subaru's unconventional trend, the Tribeca is quite conformist inside and out, though it still retains the Asian automaker's trademark horizontally opposed "boxer" engine and comes standard with all-wheel drive. Tribeca comes only as a four-door wagon with front bucket seats, a three-place second-row bench, and a two-passenger third row bench. Both the second- and third-row seats can be folded.
Three models are offered: Premium, Limited and Touring. All are powered by a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine that makes 256 horsepower. Sole transmission is a five-speed automatic with separate shift gate for manual operation. Maximum towing capacity is 3500 pounds when equipped with the available towing package. As mentioned before, all-wheel drive is standard. The AWD system does not have a low range and is not intended for severe off-road use.
Standard safety features include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control with rollover sensors, tire-pressure monitor, front-seat active head restraints, daytime running lights and dual-front, front-side and front- and second-row curtain side airbags with rollover deployment. A rear-view camera is standard on models equipped with the available navigation system and a rear-obstacle-detection system is a stand-alone option.
The Premium lists for $30,495 and includes air conditioning with dual-zone automatic climate controls, rear air conditioning with rear controls, interior air filter, tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, cloth upholstery, heated front bucket seats with lumbar adjustment, eight-way power driver seat, four-way power passenger seat, center console, heated power mirrors with turn signals, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, trip computer, outside-temperature indicator, variable-intermittent wipers with deicer, illuminated visor mirrors, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, automatic-off headlights, floormats, theft-deterrent system, rear privacy glass, 255/55R18 tires and alloy wheels.
The $32,495 Limited adds to the Premium leather upholstery, driver-seat memory, harman/kardon AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, satellite radio, Bluetooth cell-phone connection and universal garage door opener. The line-topping Touring has a starting price of $35,795 and adds to the Limited power sunroof, automatic day/night rearview mirror, rear-view camera, compass, HID headlights and roof rails.
Options include rear-seat entertainment system, navigation system, sunroof, iPod interface and remote engine start. The Tribeca is assembled in Lafayette, Indiana, and has a destination charge of $725.
Get Up and Go Most vehicles in this class are powered by six-cylinder engines with a displacement of between 3.3 and 3.6 liters and the Tribeca is no exception. From a stop the flat six will push the Sube from 0-60 mph in about 8.5 seconds. That's class average and plenty of punch to keep up with everyday traffic. Load the Tribeca up with five or more passengers and some cargo and progress is blunted considerably--though that's also par for the class.
The unique design of the engine leads to slightly more rasp in hard acceleration and a lumpier idle than a traditional V6.
The five-speed automatic is down a gear or two to most competitors and that no doubt affects highway fuel economy. Still, the transmission shifts smoothly and is prompt to downshift in passing situations.
Speaking of fuel economy, the Tribeca is EPA rated at 16 mpg city and 21 mpg highway on Subaru recommended regular-grade gasoline. Those numbers fall slightly short of the class leaders, especially on the highway.
In routine Chicagoland commuting Tribeca is likely to average about 18 mpg overall. If your commute includes lots of highway cruising, you'll likely bump that number into the low 20s. Rush-hour slogging will yield about 15 mpg.
On the Road Tribeca is probably the smoothest riding Subaru ever. The absorbent suspension does and excellent job of balancing comfort with stability. Occasionally a large bump or particularly nasty expansion joint will pound through, but that's the exception rather than the rule.
Though the suspension defiantly favors comfort over handling, the Tribeca feels more stable and secure than a typical minivan or most crossover SUVs. Once up to speed, the steering and suspension respond nicely to input to make this big vehicle feel much smaller. Body lean and brake dive keep it from feeling nimble, but overall the Tribeca is one of the sportier seven-passenger crossovers.
Unfortunately, Tribeca has an unusually wide turning radius. This makes parking in tight spaces more difficult and also means you'll have to carve a wider arc into many spots.
Tribeca isn't the quietest crossover on the market, but noise levels are low enough for casual conversation at highway speeds. Engine noise can get intrusive in hard acceleration and tire roar isn't well muffled on coarse pavement.
Behind the Wheel Function is king when it comes to controls. Gauges are large and easy to read, as are smaller dials for fuel and engine temperature. Audio and climate controls are nicly grouped high in the center of the dashboard and thankfully none are absorbed by the optional navigation system. Navigation controls are straight forward but are a long reach for taller drivers.
The oversized front seats are quite comfortable and very supportive. Head room is adequate, but leg room grows tight for taller drivers. Step-in height is only slightly higher than a traditional sedan. Visibility to the front and sides is good, but looking rearward small windows and thick pillars hamper the view. This is somewhat offset by the large outside mirrors.
Second-row seats are split 60/40 and slide fore and aft to provide more leg room or cargo space. They are quite comfortable and will seat three across no problem. Third-row seats are kid sized and not really designed for adult use. Knee room is tight and head room cramped. In addition, getting back there is difficult. To be fair this is a common malady of nearly all vehicles in the class. If you need more than occasional seven-passenger capacity, get a minivan.
Cargo space behind the third-row seats is minimal, but enough for a couple of rows of grocery bags. Those seats fold flat into the floor to open up a generous cargo area. Second-row seats also fold and thankfully provide a long and flat load floor. There's also a covered bin behind the third-row seats. Interior storage is class adequate and no more.
Bottom Line Tribeca is an interesting alternative to the me-too range of vehicles in this class. It's not quite as roomy or as fuel efficient as it should be, but it's fun to drive and comes standard with all-wheel drive.
Prices are quite competitive and the Tribeca doesn't lack for features. Dealers should be willing to discount, making the Tribeca an even better value proposition.
Specifications 2011 Subaru Tribeca Touring
| Dimensions
| 4-door wagon
| Engine
| DOHC H6
| Wheelbase, in.
| 108.2
| Size, liters/cu. in.
| 3.6 / 221
| Length, in.
| 191.5 | Horsepower
| 256 @ 6000 | Width, in.
| 73.9
| Torque (lb.-ft.) | 247 @ 4400
| Height, in.
| 66.4
| Transmission
| 5-Speed Automatic
| Weight, lbs.
| 4256
| EPA Estimates, mpg
| 16 city / 21 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 74.4 |
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| Fuel Capacity, gals.
| 16.9
| Manufacturer's Warranty
| Seating Capacity
| 7
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 38.9
| Powertrain
| 5 years / 60,000 miles
| Front Leg Room, in.
| 42.3
| Corrosion
| 5 years / Unlimited miles
| Second-Row Head Room, in.
| 38.2
| Free Roadside Assistance
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Second-Row Leg Room, in.
| 34.3
| Free Scheduled Maintenance
| None
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