2008 Subaru Tribeca

When Subaru first introduced the B9 Tribeca, they hoped their new styling theme would honor their parent company’s aviation heritage. However, the winged front end got panned by press and public alike and hampered sales of an otherwise excellent crossover utility. So, back with a tamer grille and without the B9 in the name, does the revamped Tribeca deserve a fresh start?

With its new toned-down look, the 2008 Subaru Tribeca definitely has a leg up on its predecessor when it comes to winning over mainstream crossover utility buyers.

Where the original B9 Tribeca had unforgettable sheet metal, including a far too polarizing winged front-end, the new machine is clad in much more sensible cloth and begins with a rather Chrysler-like 3-tier grille, including a chrome cap and a taller hood with more defined character lines.

The new nose broadens its stance with 4-beam halogen projector-style headlamps, and wider fenders and wheel arches which house 18-inch alloy wheels sculpted in a new dual 5-spoke design, complete with tire pressure monitoring.

Further back, the Tribeca wears larger rear quarter windows that now open, finishing off with a reshaped lower fascia and larger tail lights. Certainly not as distinctive as the original Tribeca, but sure to appeal to a much wider group of buyers.

This new look body rides on the same unibody chassis with a 108.2-inch wheelbase and healthy 8.4-inches of ground clearance.

Tribeca is propelled by a new 3.6-liter 6-cylinder horizontally-opposed boxer engine. It not only boosts displacement over last year’s 3.0-liter H6, but beefs up power to 256 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. That’s 11 horses and a big 32 pound-feet more than before.

It also adds new technology, in the form of Subaru’s Dual Active Valve Control System with variable valve timing. But perhaps more importantly in these days of expensive fuel, it allows the Tribeca to deliver peak power with regular-grade gasoline, instead of the premium juice recommended before which under the new, more real-world testing system, delivers Government Fuel Economy ratings of 16 city/21 highway. We averaged 20 miles-per-gallon in mixed driving. The Tribeca’s government energy impact score is a hefty 19 barrels of oil per year. 

The engine’s power reaches the ground through a refined version of Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive with standard electronic stability and traction control. Nominal torque split is 45% front and 55% rear which not only eliminates wheel spin, but helps the new Tribeca get away quickly, hitting 60 in 8.5 seconds. That’s 1.2-seconds faster than before. The quarter-mile at 16.6 seconds at 87 miles-per-hour was almost a full second faster.

The revised 5-speed automatic transmission delivers sharper shifts, as the engine builds power in a smoother, faster-revving fashion, with much more mid-range reserve for passing.

The Tribeca’s handling also steps up. Retuning improved the weight and feel of the steering, and there is an overall more nimble feel. Tribeca does continue to roll quite a bit, but that roll never gets to the point that the chassis feels loose.

Braking measured a reasonable 129 feet from 60, thanks to 4-wheel discs with four-channel ABS and Brake Assist. But hard braking revealed an odd tendency to lock up the passenger side wheels which we attributed to brake pads that were not properly seated.

Unusual behavior was never evident in daily driving. During our long term test of the original Tribeca we loved it smooth ride and excellent noise control. And that praise remains.

The Tribeca’s exterior may have changed quite a bit, but the cabin retains its familiar, brightly-trimmed twin-cockpit theme and high level of standard equipment.

Key standard features include a 100-watt CD-stereo, dual-zone climate control, and power adjust for both driver and passenger. Navigation and rear camera are available.

The Tribeca seats 5, with a reclining 40/20/40 second row split bench, or 7 with the optional third row 50/50 split bench, which is now more accessible thanks to a new tilt-and-slide mechanism for the second row.

Folding both rows still yields a flat floor and maximum cargo space of 74.4 cubic feet.

Side impact and curtain airbags are a given and the Tribeca just garnered the government’s top 5-star rating for both frontal and side crash test.

Pricing for the improved Tribeca starts at $30,630 for the base 5-passenger model, and $33,245 for the base 7-passenger machine. Move up to Limited grade for $33,120 for a 5-passenger model, and $34,745 for the 7-passenger.

While the 2008 Subaru Tribeca may have lost a bit of its name, and its unique look, it gained stronger features and visual appeal. We’ve always said the Tribeca’s qualities went deep under the skin. But now they’re superficial too.