What is it?
2008 Subaru Tribeca
What's special about it?
Subaru introduced the world to a new design direction with the original Tribeca crossover, and the world largely winced in disgust. Now we have the 2008 Subaru Tribeca, a heavily restyled version of this midsize crossover that ditches the original's aeronautical-inspired nose in favor of a design that could be mistaken for anything from a Chrysler to a Toyota. So much for making a statement.
Beyond the obvious chrome grille and reshaped headlights, the Tribeca also gets revised wheel designs and a reshaped C-pillar intended to give the interior a more spacious feel. The rear no longer looks like an afterthought as the large chunks of vertical sheet metal have been replaced by a slightly less random arrangement of taillights and turn signals.
With a shape that no longer offends at first glance, the Tribeca hopes to close the deal with a new, more powerful six-cylinder engine. At 3.6 liters, the Tribeca's flat-6 is the largest displacement engine ever offered in a Subaru. It's not physically bigger than the 3.0-liter engine it replaces and it weighs nearly 10 pounds less, but it ups displacement with asymmetrical connecting rods that pull the pistons deeper into their cylinders.
Other improvements include a new plastic intake manifold and a revised variable valve timing system which adjusts both the exhaust and intake valves. The result is 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 247 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Subaru also claims that not only is this engine more powerful, but it will offer a 10-15 percent increase in real-world mileage. All this and it runs on regular gas, thanks to a new cooling system.
There were few complaints about the original Tribeca's interior so Subaru left most of it alone. The only real problem Subaru addressed is access to the third row. On the original, only one side of the second-row seats folded down. Now either side can be folded with just one hand. Brilliant.
Sales of the 2008 Subaru Tribeca are expected to start later this year. Expect the price to remain roughly the same as the current model.
What's Edmunds' take?
With this more conservative redesign, Subaru has put the Tribeca right up there with the Toyota Highlander on the yawn scale. A solid engine and sharp-looking interior could save it from obscurity, however, so don't count this crossover out just yet. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
2008 Subaru Tribeca
What's special about it?
Subaru introduced the world to a new design direction with the original Tribeca crossover, and the world largely winced in disgust. Now we have the 2008 Subaru Tribeca, a heavily restyled version of this midsize crossover that ditches the original's aeronautical-inspired nose in favor of a design that could be mistaken for anything from a Chrysler to a Toyota. So much for making a statement.
Beyond the obvious chrome grille and reshaped headlights, the Tribeca also gets revised wheel designs and a reshaped C-pillar intended to give the interior a more spacious feel. The rear no longer looks like an afterthought as the large chunks of vertical sheet metal have been replaced by a slightly less random arrangement of taillights and turn signals.
With a shape that no longer offends at first glance, the Tribeca hopes to close the deal with a new, more powerful six-cylinder engine. At 3.6 liters, the Tribeca's flat-6 is the largest displacement engine ever offered in a Subaru. It's not physically bigger than the 3.0-liter engine it replaces and it weighs nearly 10 pounds less, but it ups displacement with asymmetrical connecting rods that pull the pistons deeper into their cylinders.
Other improvements include a new plastic intake manifold and a revised variable valve timing system which adjusts both the exhaust and intake valves. The result is 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 247 pound-feet of torque at 4,400 rpm. Subaru also claims that not only is this engine more powerful, but it will offer a 10-15 percent increase in real-world mileage. All this and it runs on regular gas, thanks to a new cooling system.
There were few complaints about the original Tribeca's interior so Subaru left most of it alone. The only real problem Subaru addressed is access to the third row. On the original, only one side of the second-row seats folded down. Now either side can be folded with just one hand. Brilliant.
Sales of the 2008 Subaru Tribeca are expected to start later this year. Expect the price to remain roughly the same as the current model.
What's Edmunds' take?
With this more conservative redesign, Subaru has put the Tribeca right up there with the Toyota Highlander on the yawn scale. A solid engine and sharp-looking interior could save it from obscurity, however, so don't count this crossover out just yet. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor
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