Stylish Cruiser
The Tribeca is Subaru’s first ever foray into this segment in Oman, and OER get to drive it first. Malcolm X Crosta reports

Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), the maker of Subaru automobiles, unveiled the new Tribeca at the 2008 New York International Auto Show. This is actually a face-lifted version of the existing Tribeca, which is not available in Oman. In unveiling the new version, Subaru seems to have learnt from experience and has further improved on everything that was good about the original.

The original Tribeca had very controversial external styling. It was the kind of design that is either hated or loved, with no middle ground. So this time around, they have taken the safer, more contemporary route. It now has a very simple and straightforward look, one that works. The only minor downside to this design change is that the approach angle has been reduced to 16.7 degrees, from the previous generation’s 18 degrees.

Inside
Subaru had got the interior right the first time round, so they didn’t want to mess around too much with its success. The Tribeca is very stylish, with its curved dash and aluminium accents, and at the same time very practical and functional, save for a centre stack that curves away from the driver and a few ancillary gauges that are blocked by the driver’s hands.

Space in the front and back is more than adequate, even for 6-footers. Also, access to the third row has been improved over the previous model, with the addition of a tilt-and-slide feature on the driver-side second-row seat to complement the existing one on the passenger side. There is also a stronger helper spring to make the process of getting back there easier. Unfortunately, like most of the other models in the same class, the third row is a children only section. Those of larger dimensions can find more than enough room in the second-row seats, which feature eight inches of fore-and-aft travel and also recline. To add to this, refinement has also been taken up a notch, with reduced exterior noise levels, including engine noise, making long drives rather comfortable.

The Tribeca is available in only one standard trim level in Oman and it comes with loads of features. Leather seats with power adjustments, individual rear cooling system, Subaru’s own nine-speaker premium audio and a lot more are included.

Drive
The on-road performance of the older model was good enough but lacked power. That is why Subaru has taken the existing engine and given it a whopping 20 per cent increase in displacement. The engine now displaces 3.6 litres and puts out 256hp and 247lb-ft of torque, an increase of 11hp and 32lb-ft over the previous engine.

To be on the safer side, Subaru has given the existing five-speed automatic transmission a thorough makeover. Taller gear ratios in the revised, lighter gearbox keep shift points reasonably similar to the previous transmission. Meanwhile, revised shift mapping and a new torque converter are said to deliver quicker, smoother shifts. These gearbox improvements, along with the bump in power by the revised engine, allow the Tribeca to hit 100kmph in about 8.9 seconds, which is a reasonable improvement.

The suspensions do a good job of keeping the vehicle smooth over bumps and ditches, even at high speeds. Even the roll is kept to a minimum. The Tribeca is not as sporty as you might expect, from an AWD Subaru, but it is very competent, comfortable and easy to drive.

Verdict
The Tribeca is a very straightforward, simple yet stylish vehicle. But unlike most Subarus, it is more suited towards cruising as opposed to being sporty. It is not exactly cheap at a price of around RO14,000 but considering the fact that there is only one trim level available, it matches other similar models in its class. Anyone in the market for a spacious, modern vehicle for city use and for an occasional drive to Dubai should look in the direction of the Subaru.