Subaru

Tribeca

Test Drive

Subaru B9 Tribeca 3.0 SE5

There is something about the name Subaru that immediately conjures up images of shiny exhausts, big spoilers and bright alloys, but the Tribeca shows there is a whole lot more to the company world-renowned for its rallying success.

For this model is a no-nonsense sports utility vehicle that is packed to bursting with first class specifications and will leave rival manufacturers sending their design teams scurrying back to the drawing boards.

Subaru clearly identified its market and, with the Tribeca, has gone gunning for the far more pricey BMW X5 and Volvo XC90 and when it comes to sheer value for money there can only really be one winner.

That’s because despite the Tribeca being priced at a fraction of the cost of its rivals, no corners have been cut on the creature comforts inside the cabin.

For example, there are leather trimmed, eight-way powered and heated front seats with programmable memory settings, dual-zone air conditioning that is very fast working, a DVD navigation system with reversing camera, an ear-bursting sound system with six-disc CD player and a whole lot more besides.

The Tribeca – which is named after a trendy New York suburb – also boasts strikingly good looks that are guaranteed to turn heads with streamlined curves that truly accentuate its ready-for-business approach.

And as if that was not enough, the Tribeca also delivers a great drive too.

In and around town, the high-seated driving position means excellent all-round visibility and then out on the open road, the 3.0-litre engine bursts into life offering plenty of power and acceleration.

If I had to find fault, I did find the automatic transmission a little laboured at times, but that’s the only gripe I could come up with after a week-long test drive.

The cabin was very comfortable and spacious, with plenty of room for five adults to travel in style, or seven if the two additional seats are utilised.

And the generously-sized boot means there is ample luggage space too along with numerous smaller storage compartments throughout.

So when you add in a whole host of first class safety features including a top mark of five stars in the Euro NCAP safety ratings, the Tribeca has certainly proved it has earned its place in a competitive marketplace.