‘08 Tribeca gets smart makeover
Just two years into its young life, Subaru’s Tribeca crossover submitted itself to an emergency makeover.
Because it’s a car company and can’t admit a design failure, Subaru expresses the facelift in terms such as “streamlined” and “powerful.”
In fact, it’s a worthy effort to jettison one of the most derided assemblages of sheet metal since the Pontiac Aztek.
How bad was it?
At least two auto writers found their necks on the metaphorical chopping block over the efforts of one to describe the original Tribeca grille in, uh, clinical terms.
To repeat his description here would be to subject my neck to the same fate. So I won’t.
Before proceeding, I should mention that the facelift masks a transplant. The 2008 Tribeca gets a new engine to go along with its refreshed schnoz. This one’s bigger and more powerful than the old one but gets nearly the same mileage.
As mid-cycle makeovers go, this one’s a two-fer.
A Subtle Homage
Subaru said the old three-part grille — think of a rounded rectangle flanked by two flowing triangles — represented the company’s history in aircraft.
You know — a fuselage and two wings.
They seem to have been the only ones who got it. So, for 2008, the Tribeca (notice we haven’t called it the B9 Tribeca? The B9 designation was dropped this year, along with the flying grille) receives a more conventional, one-piece grille that’s wider and taller than the old one.
It is as innocuous as the old one was flamboyant, although the newly enlarged and swept-back headlamps are now said to represent the wings.
Whatever.
The fenders and hood-line are taller this year, to better mimic the SUV look. New rear three-quarter windows improve rearward visibility and give third-row passengers a view of the world outside.
Larger exterior mirrors impart a truck-like feel and help improve visibility.
The Tribeca is 2 inches longer this year, to accommodate the grille. Otherwise, it is structurally unchanged.
Power to the Pavement
Polarizing designs create buzz, which almost always is a good thing for a manufacturer.
But to my way of thinking, the new powerplant is the most important improvement. It still uses the opposing-head, or boxer, architecture that is used these days only by Subaru and Porsche.
The engine has grown from 3.0 liters to 3.6 liters and horsepower is up to 265 from 245. More importantly, torque has increased from 215 to 247 pound-feet.
The engine features variable valve control timing on both intake and exhaust valves to produce a broad power band and, hence, more thrust — especially at low engine speeds. The ‘08 Tribeca is much more responsive in traffic than the original.
A new torque lock-up converter and transmission control unit team up to make faster shifts, too. From a standstill, the torque converter in our tester operated somewhat erratically: Sometimes, the Tribeca bolted forward at the slightest touch of the throttle; other times it reacted so slowly I thought it was still in Park.
However, shifts are swift and sure, as promised. A Sport mode holds a gear longer and a manual shift mode is available. Despite the increase in power, fuel economy remains the same, at 16 city/23 highway, but adding another gear to the five-speed box would improve both acceleration and fuel efficiency.
The Tribeca runs happily on regular fuel.
Interior Intact
Subaru left the cabin virtually untouched. The original, twin-cockpit design still wraps each front-seat occupant in his or her own virtual space.
Shiny, aluminum-look trim brightens the curvilinear dash and instrument panel. It’s all very neat and orderly, although I could have used a little less sparkle. Electroluminescent dials and ambient lighting sources class the place up, but the screen on the optional navigation system glowed too brightly at night. Turning it off, though, meant losing both the clock and the radio dial; turning it down extinguished the gauge lights.
The second-row seats get tilt-and-slide controls on both sides to ease entry into the optional third row. A set of grab handles has been installed on the lower C-pillar to further aid the cause.
The third row is essentially useless for all but the smallest folks and even though it slides fore and aft, the second row is cramped.
The Safety Factor
Subaru’s Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive system is standard on Tribeca, which is available in base (from $30,640, including destination) and Limited, ($33,240).
Variable torque distribution, stability control and cruise control are also standard. The standard anti-lock brake system includes brake assist. A full set of airbags includes curtain-style bags and if the roll sensor detects a likely rollover, the curtain bags deploy automatically.
With its 2008 update, the Tribeca gets more than a new face and more power; it gets a new lease on life. Let Subaru frame the makeover however it likes; the net effect is a much improved rig.