2010 Subaru Tribeca Review

The Subaru Tribeca represents Subaru's first and only option for a seven passenger vehicle. For 2010, it comes with standard all-wheel drive and a now-standard third row. The Tribeca competes with other midsize SUV/crossover models such as the Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe and Toyota Highlander. Changes for 2010 are minor, but there is a new Touring model which has a moonroof, navigation system and backup camera among its standard features. Also, the five passenger model is no longer offered. The Tribeca earns an EPA rating of 16/21 mpg City/Highway. But for those who need all wheel drive and room for seven passengers, the Tribeca serves well. Subaru's' largest model continues to offer drivers a safe comfortable ride in any kind of road condition or weather. The Tribeca is available in Premium, Limited, and Touring trims. Options include leather upholstery, moonroof, and navigation package. Safety features include dual-stage frontal airbags, seat-mounted side impact airbags, curtain airbags, active head restraints, and a tire pressure monitor.

Powering the Tribeca

There's one engine for the 2010 model, a 3.6-liter boxer six-cylinder with 256 horsepower and 247 pounds-feet of torque. All-wheel drive is standard as it is with all Subaru models. The Tribeca gets a standard independent front and rear suspension. Subaru's 3.6-liter six-cylinder delivers competitive performance in a class filled with excellent V6s. The 3.6-liter H6 offers responsive power. Only slight pressure on the gas pedal brings up sufficient power for passing. Utilizing Symmetrical All-Wheel-Drive the engine is a 256-horsepower, aluminum, 3.6-liter flat-six that drives all four wheels full time through a five-speed automatic transmission featuring manual sequential shift control.

 2010 Tribeca Design

All Tribeca models now have body-colored side cladding, the new Touring model has special silver roof rails, a silver lower front bumper and standard xenon headlights. Along the sides, the body panels are mostly vertical, though not slab-like; their expanse is broken by mild fender blisters circling properly proportioned tires and wheels. Beginning at the trailing edge of the front door and even with the door handles, a soft crease grows as it moves rearward, giving the rear portions substance before ending in the wraparound taillights. The steeply raked windshield and A-pillars pull the eye up and over the tall glasshouse to a spoiler laid atop an acutely angled back window. Overall, the 2010 Tribeca is a nice-looking vehicle. The grille is wider and taller, and the smaller grilles flanking the central grille are gone. The front of the hood line is raised, and the headlights are lowered and more horizontal. Subaru says the new front end visually widens the vehicle.

Tribeca Cabin

 The Tribeca has room inside for seven and by far is Subaru's largest cabin. It features a wraparound cockpit with metallic overlays. The second-row seats have easy-to-use adjusters that slide the seats forward for easier third-row access. The second-row seats are decently comfortable and the seatbacks can be reclined. The second row is one of the most flexible in terms of configurations and range of adjustments.  A tilt-and-slide function eases third row access. That's a good thing, because getting in and out of the third row wasn't easy before this function was added in 2008. The rounded center stack extends into the cockpit for easy access to its controls and features. The primary audio control knob is centered within ready reach of the driver and front-seat passenger. The heating and ventilation controls are really cool, with big knobs that feature digital readouts. The front passenger's air conditioning temperature control knob is thoughtfully positioned facing the passenger. The stereo handles MP3 media, and includes an input jack in the center console. An elaborate information screen and (optional) navigation system display are centered in the upper half of the dash with controls that are accessible to both the driver and front passenger. Outward visibility is slightly compromised by the thick A-pillars (on each side of the windshield). With the 2008 restyle, the rear pillars became thinner; making the view out the rear a bit better than it was before.

Driving the Tribeca

Considering that all-wheel drive comes standard, and Subaru is a leader in this technology, this SUV offers excellent stability in adverse weather conditions. Under normal conditions, it sends 55 percent of the power to the rear, to provide a handling optimized rear-drive bias. The system also serves as an active safety feature, even on dry pavement, helping to reduce skidding in corners and aiding the driver in controlling the vehicle. Subaru revised nearly all the suspension settings for 2007 and tinkered with the rear suspension again for 2008.The result is a smooth-riding vehicle with true crossover traits: SUV functionality with a carlike ride.

Conclusion

Options for the Tribeca include ultrasonic reverse parking assist, a remote starter that allows you to start your Tribeca from up to 800 feet away, and a shade-type retractable rear cargo cover, cargo tray, and cargo organizer. For the latest updates on this model, visit the official Subaru Tribeca site.  Safety features on all models include Subaru's Vehicle Dynamics Control, Variable Torque Distribution all-wheel drive and all-wheel traction control to help the driver maintain control. Brakes are vented discs with antilock (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and Brake Assist. Front seat occupants are protected by dual-stage front airbags, seat-mounted side impact airbags and active head restraints, which automatically push forward and up in rear-impact collisions. Curtain airbags insulate the front and second row seats in side impacts. All seating positions get adjustable head restraints, and outboard seats have height-adjustable anchors for seatbelt shoulder straps. Child safety seat anchors (LATCH) are provided for the rear seats. A tire-pressure monitoring system is standard. With all of the safety technology, the AWD, and the room for seven, this Subaru model is an excellent choice for a wide range of consumers, from a family to someone who need extra cargo room and better traction.