New in 2004 and redesigned last year to meet customer needs, the seven-seater Subaru Tribeca is the biggest vehicle produced by Subaru, although for a mid-sized SUV crossover one wonders how so much can be fit in what appears to be a relatively small package. There is plenty of stiff competition in the SUV crossover class, and particularly with such superb new offerings like the Honda Pilot and Nissan Murano, the Tribeca struggles to compete with less than brilliant performance and low fuel economy. But if it is space-age interior design and the Subaru brand name you like, then the Tribeca may be the car for you.
2009 Subaru Tribeca Performance
The Tribeca comes with a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine that produces 256hp and 247lb-ft of torque. This was significantly improved last year, increasing the horsepower from 245 and liters from 3.0, so although power is now significantly better, it still has issues with low-end acceleration and strangely, for such a moderate sized vehicle, it still drives more like a minivan than a car. Five-speed automatic transmission is standard with manual shift gate, as well as symmetrical all-wheel-drive, but the lack of low-range gear indicates that the AWD is really there for all-weather rather than all-terrain driving. Subaru has added the Dual Active Valve Control System for a smoother driving experience and increased fuel economy, but this does not help a great deal, offering just 16/21mpg city/highway driving.
The Tribeca can tow 3500lb if the optional towing package is included or 2000lb without, enough for a small trailer to carry the bikes for the weekend activities or the jetski for the beach holiday. Suspension is adequate but on the soft side, meaning cornering is a little loose and there is a fair degree of body lean.
2009 Subaru Tribeca Interior and Features
There are three trims available for the 2009 Tribeca and all offer an optional third-row seating package which means seating for seven instead of five. The cockpit-style dash is an acquired taste with its wrap-around dash and has polarized users between love and hate. But overall the controls are reasonably easy to read and are clear in most lights.
The base model Tribeca includes 18-inch aluminum wheels, 100-watt six-speaker stereo system with MP3 playback and a netted storage compartment in the rear cargo area to prevent the shopping rolling around. The Special Edition Tribeca is a step up and adds leather heated front seats, powered seat adjustment with driver’s seat memory, and dual-zone climate control. Top-of-the-range is the Limited, which offers a power operated moonroof, HomeLink remote for garage doors and gates, 160-watt 9-speaker stereo system, plus an optional navigation package and rear seat entertainment package.
Although the idea of seven seats sounds enticing, the payoff is that legroom is limited, especially for the second-row seats and optional third-row bench seat. With the second-row seats pushed back, the third-row is left with enough space for only the smallest children, and even the front seat legroom is inadequate for the 6-footers. However with the third-row folded into the floor and second-row pushed back, there is still adequate cargo space in the rear. Access to the third-row through the rear doors is extremely tight.
2009 Subaru Tribeca Safety
The 2009 Tribeca scored the full five stars in government crash tests for all front and side impact collisions, earning it the top “good” rating. This is thanks to a wide range of standard safety features including 4-wheel disc brakes, ABS, Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist for maximum control and stopping power in emergency situations. The full range of airbags including dual seat-mounted front and side impact airbags and side curtain airbags are standard.
Safety features:
- Electronic Brake-force Distribution
- 4-wheel disc brakes, ABS, Brake Assist
- Front dual seat-mounted and side impact airbags, curtain airbags
- Passenger sensor for airbag activation
- LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children)
Overall the 2009 Subaru Tribeca is not the brightest star in the SUV crossover world, but many appreciate its modern lines and space-age interior and can forgive its lack of refined performance and fuel economy. For passenger space and style it is a respectable option for large families both for day-to-day city driving, soccer moms and holiday journeys.