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| Tribeca has a 'go anywhere' attitude |
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Beneath that lightweight bonnet sits Subaru's free-revving H6 flat-six engine driving an asymmetrical all-wheel drivetrain through a five-speed automatic gearbox. The 2999cc 24v boxer delivers 250bhp at 6600rpm and 219lb ft of torque at a highish 4200rpm. That's enough muscle to haul the big 1925kg Tribeca to 60mph in 8.5 seconds and on to 125mph. The Tribeca is, as you'd expect, a neat and grippy handler. Think of punting about a slightly bigger Legacy and you'll get the idea - fine body control, a superbly damped and supple ride despite those standard-fit 18-inch wheels, and relaxed but direct, feelsome steering. It's also pretty decent off-road too - easily capable of dealing with muddy tracks and icy roads.
The engine is satiny smooth and virtually vibration free, but it needs to be kept between its 4200rpm torque peak and 7000rpm redline for the hefty Tribeca to make decent headway - not too difficult when the engine feels like it will rev forever. A pity then that this free-breathing effervescence is hamstrung by the sluggish autobox that never feels anything but reluctant when asked to drop a gear or two. Fuel economy will also be an issue for many drivers. Even driven sedately, the Tribeca will struggle to touch the high twenties. Expect a realistic daily figure around 23mpg and no more. And company car drivers will hardly be excited by the high 280g/km CO2 rating. With no more than 300miles between refills of its 14-gallon fuel tank, you'll need deep pockets to run the Tribeca. But then think of all those lovely loyalty points you'll accumulate...
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| Tribeca will be priced around £30-35,000 when it arrives in the UK at the end of 2006 |
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So, another Subaru that Subaru fans will absolutely adore and others with find intriguing, but not interesting enough to buy. Their loss. They miss out on a distinctive, versatile, go-anywhere, dynamic and well-equipped family car that comes with an excellent reliability record. There will be three models arriving here next year, with a price range of £30-35,000. The base model will be a five-seater, the mid-range a standard-spec seven-seater, followed by a loaded seven-seater flagship. The Tribeca will rub its wide shoulders with off-roaders such as the BMW X5, Volvo XC90, Mercedes M-Class and Land Rover Discovery. That's a talented bunch of adversaries, but given the Tribeca's key strengths - individuality, versatility and driver engagement - Subaru shouldn't have too much difficulty meeting its sales goal of shifting a thousand Tribecas a year.
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