Right moves for Tribeca

Subaru Australia says updates for the Tribeca have addressed criticisms of the B9 model. The 2008 model-year Tribeca has significant improvements including more power, revised transmission and a restyle for the exterior.

Pricing for the MY08 Tribeca remains unchanged, starting at $53,990 for the five-seat model. The Tribeca Premium seven-seater (pictured), which is the range's top-seller according to Subaru Australia, starts at $60,990 and includes roof rails standard.

According to the Japanese marque, the Tribeca medium SUV is one of three models in Subaru's five-model line-up Down Under to be "completely changed or substantially updated" by March 2008, when the new Forester is expected to arrive.

Tribeca's hasty update is important as the model is the company's best hope to lure for buyers of competitors including Territory, Murano and locally-built six-cylinder wagons.

"We've sold 1500, $60,000 cars in a very competitive segment," said Subaru Australia's Managing Director Nick Senior at this week's launch.

"It [Tribeca] has been a very worthwhile addition to our range, because [otherwise] that's 1500 customers we wouldn't have been able to reach. Having said that, obviously in terms of feedback there were some issues raised by our customers and the [motoring] press," Senior admitted.

"Each of those issues has well and truly been addressed with this update for the new model year. We've been able to add a significant amount of technical, engineering and specification equipment without changing the vehicle."

Subaru has increased the capacity of the Tribeca's six-cylinder boxer engine by 631cc. Indeed, the new 3.6-litre version of the 'H6' flat-six is its "largest ever" unit, says the maker.

The engine uses Subaru's Active Valve Control System (AVCS) for variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves. Power gain is slight (by 10kW, to 190kW) but torque output is significantly better -- up from 297Nm to 350Nm and arriving earlier at 4000rpm (previously 4200 rpm).

The engine can now run on regular (91 RON) unleaded, unlike the PULP-only 3.0-litre version.

Subaru Australia is also claiming improvements in fuel consumption for the 3.6-litre H6: 11.6L/100km compared to 12.4L/100km, but that is while using Premium unleaded. The company did not have fuel figures for ULP available at the launch but says the difference would be "a small change; around 2 per cent".

Power output is unchanged when using ULP but low-speed torque is degraded by around 3 to 6 per cent, says Subaru Australia.

Tribeca's five-speed 'Sportshift' automatic transmission has closer ratios to "suit the torque characteristics" of the 3.6-litre engine, according to Subaru. This should also address the relatively lacklustre acceleration of the previous model.

Subaru says it has also improved the transmission's gearshift timing through the use of new software for the control unit to "reduce the number of busy up and down shifts" -- a fault identified by our reviewer of the outgoing B9 model (more here).

Subaru says the Tribeca MY08's transmission is also lighter than the old unit, having lost the low coast brake and one-way clutch for a new torque converter slip lock-up control system.

The wagon's rear multilink rear suspension has been revised with new bushes which, according to Subaru, improve ride comfort and control.

Tribeca's braked towing capacity remains at 2000kg but its ball-load capacity has increased from 100 to 160kg for the MY08 version.

The model restyle isn't for looks alone: the rear window is larger by 30 per cent providing better vision. Access to the third row has been "simplified", says Subaru, with an assist spring to help move the second-row seat and additional grab handles fitted to the C-pillar.

The front and rear bumpers have been freshened and the tailgate is no longer so edgy, giving the Tribeca a tidier behind. Tribeca's taillights have been redesigned for "greater visual recognition" of Subaru's biggest model. Otherwise, the Tribeca is actually now less distinct as the restyle has softened the B9's angular and much-criticised 'aero-inspired' front-end.

The MY08 update includes xenon headlights and new 10-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels for the base model Tribecas, up. The space saver spare stays, however.

The launch drive revealed a well-sorted second take on Tribeca. The 3.6-litre engine has decent mid-range torque and the auto is now a good match with prompt shift response.

Visit the Carsales Network again for our upcoming review on the launch of the Tribeca MY08.

 » Get the best price on a new Subaru Tribeca

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