Picture Gallery: 2008 Subaru Tribeca
Day 1:
 Click Image to Enlarge |
I remember vividly when the original Tribeca was revealed, with a face that only a mother could love. I could not fathom anyone purchasing it. Well, I was almost right, as very few did purchase them; now comes a redesigned front end that is much more appealing and with a few tweaks to the side and rear for an overall improved stance, Subaru hopes for better sales.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
My tester is a base model, five-seat version of the Tribeca, the only model available without leather seating. The list of standard features is rather impressive, though. Some of these include: dual zone climate control, 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, glass power tilting and sliding moonroof with sunshade, side-curtain, side-impact and front airbags and a 5-speed automatic transmission with SPORTSHIFT™ technology.
The price debate is always hot when I review a Subaru, so I will clearly point out the pricing of the 2008 Tribeca. Starting at only $41,995 and well-equipped the Tribeca may very well be one of the pricing stars for Subaru of Canada. And of course the Tribeca comes standard with the legendary Subaru all-wheel drive system, as does every vehicle in the company’s line-up.
2008 Subaru Tribeca
MSRP as tested: $41,995
For more information on Subaru and the Tribeca visit Subaru Canada
Day 2:
 Click Image to Enlarge |
Like other Subarus and like the Legacy I test last week, there are no auto-up windows and auto-down is reserved for the driver’s window. Unlike the Legacy though, the automatic climate control seems to work really well. The controls for the climate control are also easier to use, with nice large dials and an easy-to-read interface.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
I do not find the seats to be the most comfortable; the lumbar support is too high for me and with no telescopic steering, finding the ideal driving position is difficult. With the seat in its lowest position, I find the headroom to be somewhat questionable — I have plenty but I’m sure taller individuals may have some issues. I suspect this is due to the way the windshield rakes back rather steeply causing, the roof to be lower than expected.
The steeply-raked windshield also leads to A-pillars big enough to hide a bus; you really need to be careful when pulling out of an intersection to ensure the pillar is not hiding something or someone. Visibility on the sides and rear are very good though, except for the typical CUV/SUV reversing issues.
The rear seats are ultra firm, leg room is good and head room is similar to the front seats. The seats fold completely flat with a simple pull of a handle. The loading height of the Tribeca is somewhat disappointing, though, and makes me wonder if there is actually any more room inside the Tribeca than there is in the Legacy Wagon or even the Forester.
You can certainly tell the Tribeca is a newer design than the rest of the Subaru line-up, most of which has seen refresher after refresher over the years. The Tribeca’s interior quality and design are far superior to the rest of the vehicles in the Subaru line-up; hopefully this is a glimpse into the future of the new Impreza that’s due shortly.
Day 3:
 Click Image to Enlarge |
On the road, the Tribeca is quiet and smooth, although over bigger bumps, there is a banging sound that comes from the rear. I suspect it is something simple like the cardboard cover over the tools and spare tire that live underneath the cargo floor. Besides that noise, the Tribeca is rattle free — as it should be with only 1900km on the odometer.
 Click Image to Enlarge |
To top it off, when you push on the brake it does nothing until it is level with the gas pedal. If they were lined up, it would be perfect — instant brake response and comfort. As it is, with the combination of the high brake pedal and a very small left-foot dead pedal, I find comfort to be extremely low — so low in fact it hurts my back to drive this vehicle.
A few other items to note: the rear hatch is not so easy to open, closing it is not too bad although it could be lighter; the side mirrors are giant which provides excellent visibility and the ride and handling is fairly sporting for an SUV of this size.
Day 4:
 Click Image to Enlarge |
On the inside, the Tribeca is spectacular, with easily the nicest Subaru interior I’ve ever seen and one of the nicest interiors I’ve had the pleasure of being in, period. Comfort for me was brutal though. My colleague Chris Chase said he had no issues with comfort, but I had a considerable amount of back pain every time I stepped into or out of the Tribeca — I just could not get comfortable in the seats.
Gas mileage was not too bad: I averaged 14.5L/100km, which was mostly city driving. For any vehicle in this category equipped with all-wheel drive this is fairly common; at least the Tribeca uses regular fuel to keep the costs down.
The Tribeca certainly deserves a look and a test drive if you are looking for a vehicle in this category, but you will pay a slight premium for the brand’s badge. Perhaps it is just me, but I would recommend an extended test drive to ensure the seats are comfortable for you over the long haul.
*Rating out of 5:
| 2008 Subaru Tribeca | |
| Acceleration | 
|
| Handling | 
|
| Comfort |  |
| Interior | 
|
| Audio System | |
| Gas Mileage | |
*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2008 Subaru Tribeca
MSRP as tested: $41,995
For more information on Subaru and the Tribeca visit Subaru Canada
July 19, 2007, 10:36:49 pm
July 19, 2007, 10:37:25 pm
First of, Acura is a premium/near-luxury brand which Subaru it is not. I'm not seeing too many luxury buyers considering a rather bland CUV with a great 4WD. This is the same as Hyundai dreaming that the Veracruz competes with the RX350 just because they loaded it with all possible options and selling for a fraction of the RX350's price.
July 19, 2007, 10:39:01 pm Talk to Subaru not me, I totally agree. I see the CX-7 as competition.
July 19, 2007, 11:05:58 pm
First of, Acura is a premium/near-luxury brand which Subaru it is not. I'm not seeing too many luxury buyers considering a rather bland CUV with a great 4WD. This is the same as Hyundai dreaming that the Veracruz competes with the RX350 just because they loaded it with all possible options and selling for a fraction of the RX350's price.
I agree, Subaru does NOT compete against Acura. Wrong marque, guys. They may think that, but that is not reality in the majority of buyer's minds IMO.
July 19, 2007, 11:31:58 pm
Sorry, but I did not question what you said as I understood it's Subaru's claim and not yours. I was just disagreeing with the point of view.
July 20, 2007, 06:10:14 am I think that the RDX and Tribeca are within a few bucks of each other and I would take the Tribeca over the RDX. Bigger engine, regular fuel, more spacious and tried and true AWD system. I know SHAWD is good and I won't argue as to which system is better.
However when you hit that price point you also have to add other choices and that list is growing. The new Kia Sorento gets up there with the highline version and you have all the GM choices - Acadia
So many choices and if space is a requirement, the RDX is the smallest of them all.
July 20, 2007, 07:46:57 am MDX, inco, not RDX ! MDX rides on the Odyssey's platform, RDX on the CR-V's.
July 20, 2007, 10:27:55 am
Actually, inco is correct in that the price of the RDX and the Tribeca are close. The MDX is well over $50K and can get to $60K with navi and other tidbits (the Elite pkg). The RDX is $41K base plus freight/PDI, the "Tech" pkg adds another $4K.
From a handling POV, IMO the RDX will run circles around a Tribeca. I would buy a RDX to have a "fun" crossover, I wouldn't buy the Tribeca for that reason. I don't think ppl are buying the RDX for "space", they are buying it because it's more fun to drive than most other crossovers, and does offer more space than a sedan or wagon. That's my take on it.
July 20, 2007, 10:35:01 am Point well taken Ovr and I'll concede that it likely would be more fun to drive than any of the others.
For me though the two killers against it are Turbo and Premium. One goes around and the other goes up. Making an engine do more with a Turbo works, but it has it's own drawbacks and limitations and eventually wear. The engine has to work that much harder and so I prefer to keep the revs down and have it last longer. But that's me.
July 20, 2007, 12:19:03 pm Murano is closest competitor to my eyes, and the outgoing Highlander.
I've seen a few new Tribecas in my area... maybe the restyle will help them out?
August 19, 2007, 03:11:04 pm
August 19, 2007, 03:33:06 pm
Congrats on the new rig DJ! Sounds like you truely love it.
August 19, 2007, 11:23:45 pm
I've seen a few new Tribecas in my area... maybe the restyle will help them out?
The deities help me but I'm beginning to like the original design.
August 19, 2007, 11:33:28 pm
I've seen a few new Tribecas in my area... maybe the restyle will help them out?
The deities help me but I'm beginning to like the original design.
I am also in the camp that prefers the old design.
DJ - congrats on your new Tribeca. Should be a good rig.
August 20, 2007, 06:59:12 am Congrats on the new Subbie. The Tribeca in on my list to test drive as a replacement for my aging Pathfinder. I quite like the look of the new design.(my needs are really AWD SW or CUV rather than SUV) Unfortunately I'll probably have to do it in Maine because the local dealer doesn't stock them. He only ever seems to have Imprezas,base Foresters and base Outbacks. I'm guessing from his point of view it's a case of stocking what you can sell.
August 20, 2007, 12:28:27 pm Congrats DJ....now pics!
August 20, 2007, 07:13:33 pm
Congrats on the new Tribeca DJ….did you get it from the chicken barn?
August 23, 2007, 04:50:15 pm
How much extra fuel can this really use?
Would be surprised. I think switching to LED tail lamps shaves 0.2 mpg or something. Same with the switch to electric steering.
I read it's estimated for the average driver, front DRLs alone cost $10 in fuel per year.
The reason for LED lights is less amperage,
less amperage small wire,
small wire less weight,
less weight more mileage
Less amperage lower power.
Unless someone really jacked up the voltage. But I doubt this.
Still, I would think that the energy required to run the lights is a very, very small fraction of the total energy required to run the car.
Since we were talking about it, article here states 5% of fuel consumption is used for lighting purposes...
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/23/can-leds-really-save-gas/
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/BUSINESS01/70823012/1014/BUSINESS01
IMO 100% LED can be a bit dangerous if snow accumulates over the lights. Incandescent rear fog light please
August 23, 2007, 05:44:34 pm "IMO 100% LED can be a bit dangerous if snow accumulates over the lights. Incandescent rear fog light please "
How could it be dangerous? You think incandesent bulbs will melt the snow.
I have been in a storm and there was over a foot of snow on the back of wagon in the mid '80's, no snow was melt by the lights back then
August 23, 2007, 05:56:14 pm I too just got a 2008 tribeca. Imported it from the US and saved over $15,500 off the Canadian list price. The Canadian pricing is silly, its a much better deal when you see that its under $30K US for a base model and with the exchange rate its not much above $31.5K CAD.
August 23, 2007, 05:58:21 pm
Pixs please, what dealer did you buy from , details on the Tribeca
was there anything you had to change to bring it across the border
August 23, 2007, 06:23:37 pm
was there anything you had to change to bring it across the border
I bought it from Joe Spitz at Carter Subaru in Seattle and drove it up to Edmonton.
He has a website: cars101.com and sells plenty of cars to canadians every month.
2008 5 passenger limited with navigation (I wanted the backup camera)
Didn't have to change anything. The RIV inspection took less than 10 minutes. Crossing the border took less than a minute on the US side to export, and about 20-30 minutes on the canadian side filling out a form and paying GST.
I'll see if I can get some pix up...
August 23, 2007, 06:49:05 pm
was there anything you had to change to bring it across the border
I bought it from Joe Spitz at Carter Subaru in Seattle and drove it up to Edmonton.
He has a website: cars101.com and sells plenty of cars to canadians every month.
2008 5 passenger limited with navigation (I wanted the backup camera)
Didn't have to change anything. The RIV inspection took less than 10 minutes. Crossing the border took less than a minute on the US side to export, and about 20-30 minutes on the canadian side filling out a form and paying GST.
I'll see if I can get some pix up...
Thank for the info
August 23, 2007, 08:17:32 pm Congrats on your new Tribeca! And damn!! 15k in savings?!
August 24, 2007, 04:41:14 am
Good for you!
Subaru Canada can kiss my a$$.