2006-2014 Subaru Tribeca used car review
When brands like Bentley, Jaguar, Porsche and Lamborghini suddenly start making SUVs, you know darn well that such cross-over vehicles are the secret to making money in the car-making business these days. Frankly, if you haven't got an SUV – preferably in a range of sizes and price-points – in your showrooms right now, you're not really in the game.
Subaru had contributed massively to the SUV concept over the years, and had really offered something that other makers hadn't.
Cars like the Forester and Liberty Outback had proved that you could still use a more or less conventional station wagon and build a successful SUV. And in the process, you didn't automatically engineer in the usual SUV compromises of bulk, mass and lacklustre handling.
But in the end, the pressure to build a more mainstream, larger SUV (mainly for the North American market, it should be said) proved too much for even Subaru and, in 2006, the Tribeca was born. And right from the word go, it was clear Subaru had fallen into the usual traps with its new seven-seater.
For a start, the Tribeca wasn't just homely, it was downright ugly - as if Subaru hedged its bets and couldn't decide whether to create a traditional mini van or a four-wheel drive. The tortured front styling earned it many nick names, many of which can't be repeated here.
Performance was also strained and even with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder – using Subaru's trade-mark opposed-piston design – the Tribeca was lethargic. It also guzzled fuel, partly because it was the best part of two tonnes, used constant all-wheel-drive and because it needed to be revved stupid to make decent progress. Throw in a five-speed automatic gearbox that was indecisive and hyperactive and the small, 64-litre fuel tank and you had a most unhappy vehicle.
And that's before we get to the subject of interior space (to keep costs down, the Tribeca was built on a Liberty platform) a subject on which you simply can't flummox North American SUV buyers.
That said, you can't accuse Subaru of not listening to its customers. In just 13 months, it had restyled the front end, developed a bigger engine and even a new transmission for the Tribeca, moves all aimed at fixing its inherent shortfalls.
Ultimately, though, it wasn't enough. The new styling was a knee-jerk return to blandness, and while the new driveline was an improvement with better gear ratios and more torque from the engine, it was too little too late.
If you take a look at the market for used Tribecas right now, you'll see a distinct pricing demarcation between the original 3.0-litre model and the revised 3.6-litre car. Which could, under some circumstances, make the earlier car the bargain buy.
Not in this case; the 3.0-litre version is so compromised, it's better to spend the extra and get the later version. If you must.
The early Tribeca's official combined fuel economy number was a V8-esque 12.4 litre per 100km and, in the real world, it was nothing like as good as that. Throw in the fact that the earlier engine demands a minimum of 95RON unleaded, and the running costs get another whack.
The 3.6-litre car's combined figure is a slightly better 11.6 litres per 100km and it's happy on regular ULP. Even so, it can still get through its share of fuel and this still stands as one of the most disappointing aspects of the car.
Why didn't Subaru offer a diesel? A couple of reasons: It didn't really have one, and; the North American market just doesn't recognise diesel as a fuel for passenger vehicles.
Mechanically, the Tribeca is likely to be pretty good provided you (or, more importantly, the previous owner) follow the most important Subaru engine-commandment: Change the oil and filter regularly. Get this aspect of maintenance right and you can expect a long life from the Subaru six-cylinder. But ignore the commandment and you'll kill the thing pronto.
It's worth keeping an eye on the engine's dipstick, too, as we've heard of a few Tribecas that have relatively high oil consumption between services.
There have also been a few reports of transmission failures although, to be fair, most of those reports have come from overseas markets. We'd still be commissioning a full, independent inspection of any second-hand Tribeca, however.
A Japanese company though Subaru may be, and one with an enviable reputation for build quality, but the Tribeca was actually built in the US. As such, there are a few quality glitches that we don't expect from the brand as a whole, and a few things that actually forced a recall.
The first was for 2007 and 2008 Tribecas, some of which could have been fitted with an iffy suspension arm. If that arm broke, the rear wheel could suddenly slew into a weird angle with a loss of control quite on the cards.
2008 cars were also recalled for a sensor that helps control the stability-control actually having been fitted in the wrong place.
Some 2010 examples were checked for a dodgy door latch that could potentially allow the doors to open whenever they liked, where ever they liked.
All 3.6-litre Tribecas were recalled to check that the bonnet catch was operating properly and had not become clogged with lubricant or corrosion, allowing the bonnet to fly open at speed.
And finally, the Tribeca built from 2007 to 2009 was not immune to the rash of air-bag recalls that affected many Japanese brands. A Subaru dealer will be able to identify all affected cars.
Our rating: 2.5/5
Nuts and bolts
Engine/s: 3.0 6-cyl/3.6 6-cyl
Transmissions: 5-auto
Fuel economy (combined): 12.4 litres per 100km (3.0)/11.6 litres (3.6)
Safety rating (courtesy of www.howsafeisyourcar.com.au): 5 stars
Likes:
- Cheap now thanks to market indifference.
- Quite refined overall.
- All-wheel-drive for safety.
- Seven-seat layout became standard for MY2010.
Dislikes:
- Thirsty and lethargic.
- Small inside.
- First version looked ridiculous.
- No turbo-diesel option.
Competitors:
Honda MDX – Another Japanese-made car with North America firmly in its sights. And another car that failed to resonate here. A better drive in some respects, though, and relatively frugal. 3/5
Ford Territory – Early versions were petrol only but you could have two or four-wheel-drive. Brilliant packaging with super-clever interior. Falcon-based mechanicals rugged and durable. Thirsty. 3.5/5
Mazda CX-9 – Big V6 engine gave lots of performance but also drank like a fish. Big inside and well built. Optional 20-inch wheels spoiled ride and replacement tyres were costly. 3/5
What to pay (courtesy of Glass's Guide):
Model Year New Now
3.0 2006 $53,990 $7500
3.0 Premium 2006 $58,990 $8200
3.0 2007 $53,990 $8800
3.0 Premium 2007 $58,990 $9600
3.6 2008 $53,990 $10,100
3.6 Premium 2008 $58,990 $11,200
3.6 2009 $54,490 $12,300
3.6 Premium 2009 $59,490 $13,500
3.6 Premium 2010 $58,990 $14,600
3.6 Premium 2011 $56,990 $17,000
3.6 Premium 2012 $54,990 $22,600
3.6 Premium 2013 $54,990 $26,100
3.6 Premium 2014 $54,990 $29,700