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A sumptuous SUV

The Subaru Tribeca B9 is pricey, but it brings out the driver in your soul

Published on August 1, 2007

The Subaru Tribeca B9 is an SUV that somehow manages to disguise its size under its sleekly curved frame.The front-grille design is very distinctively Subaru.

Luxury spoils you, more than your grandmother's chicken soup and quite a lot more than a Bt99 foot massage.

In fact, when you grow accustomed to luxury, parting with it can be painful. Automotive writing has its perks, but along with them comes the agony of having to give back some of the most technologically and aesthetically moving machinery ever built. There are times, also, when vehicles are disappointing - simply because a touch or two of luxury is missing.

Don't get me wrong, and more importantly do not misunderstand the Subaru Tribeca B9 tested here, for it is a little fantasy for any owner of a sport-utility vehicle (SUV) who also fancies a driver's car. But with such a vehicle you expect certain features, like automatic headlights, electric folding side mirrors, a rain sensor and a parking sensor. It was an expectation heightened by having spent a week in a Honda CR-V, which has less than half the Tribeca's price tag, but comes with all these gadgets.

This aside, the B9 must truly be the epitome of the Subaru brand image being promoted by importer Motor Image. It says Subaru is moving away from being a racer-boy's car to a blend of premium quality and sportiness. Although products like the Legacy have shown hints of the change, it is only in the B9 that the premium quality has succeeded in shining through.

Another more personal reason why the B9 stood out is probably a result of having tested a variety of SUVs in the past month, including the Ford Everest, the Honda CRV and the SsangYong Actyon. All of the others seemed to have their aggravating handling traits and the B9 was a definite departure from the monotony of common-or-garden SUVs.

First, the B9 manages somehow to disguise its size. For a vehicle that can seat seven people, it seems to envelop the driver and its occupants. Then there is the flowing design. Headlights resembling toads' eyes and a three-part gaping grill hardly give the B9 a pleasant appearance, but it's distinctively Subaru. The rear seems to have drawn inspiration from the film "Alien", with the rear lights appearing as sinister eyes. However, the dual exhaust pipes hint at the power and glory within - an attribute far from lost on an astonished BMW driver on the Expressway early one Sunday morning.

The dashboard seems to have more curves than Beyonce and it seems odd how, despite this, the designers have struck a balance between spaciousness, ergonomic efficiency and aesthetic appeal. The climate-control knobs look like they've been plucked out of the Starship Enterprise. A blend of silver plastic and cream leather also complements the interior quite well.

Having a foot-operated parking brake allows for a smooth union between the centre console and the partition between the driver and passenger, which turns into a cubby-hole with two cupholders at the push of a button.

The second and third seats come with their own air-conditioning vents. The third-row seating is best reserved for children, and a six-footer in the second row behind a six footer in the front can be uncomfortable as well. But there is a sense of sophistication in the B9 - like a butler who was once an army sergeant-major. There is a hidden power and performance masquerading beneath the SUV's bonnet.

The 3-litre six-cylinder engine rumbles gently from deep behind the dashboard when you prod the throttle. Subaru has hushed down the vocal cords, but the B9 is not lacking in performance, with the engine delivering 245bhp. As you floor the throttle from standstill you feel the engine's force building for a split second before it unleashes all its stallions. The B9 accelerates impressively for a vehicle that weighs more than 1,900kg and the dedication of the engine is guaranteed when the vehicle is pushed to 180kph. The building momentum can be felt clearly. However, after this speed the B9 seems to hit a wall.

The journey to 180kph makes the B9 experience even more special. The vehicle stays firmly planted and is unaffected by its steadily rising momentum. Most of the credit for this goes to its symmetrical all-wheel-drive system. However, when the B9 performs it delivers a very blunt message: this is an on-road SUV. I believe this aspect is what makes the B9 even more attractive, because it doesn't pretend to be a vehicle that can enjoy both on-road and off-road worlds. But the sadly toned-down engine note makes you wish that Subaru hadn't been so thorough in making the B9 "civilised". It deals with every corner with poise and control. The grip provided by the 255 tyres is impressive, and you wonder how deeply you have to push into your courage reserve to get the wheels screeching.

Slowing down also seems to have been well though out. The brakes create confidence at all speeds and bringing the B9 to a halt from 180kph is not a prospect that makes you cringe. The steering is sharp - although not as crisp as feelsome as that of a BMW X3. Although helpful, the on-steering controls can easily be accidentally activated by a driver with big hands.

You would expect the B9's suspension to send shivers down your spine over low-speed bumps, but the cushioning is commendable and cracks in the road are heard rather than felt, although they do produce a very unsettling sound.

The B9 comes with luxuries like a sun-roof, electrically adjustable seats with memory, cruise control, heated seats, a trip computer with a fuel-consumption metre and a six-CD audio system. Safety features include ABS brakes, ESP and a full set of air bags, front and side.

The B9 may seem like a very attractive option for SUV buyers. The only aspect that puts it out of the reach of many is its rather outrageous price tag of Bt4.59 million. Some might consider this too high a price to pay for just another SUV, considering that the BMW X3 costs Bt3.8 million. But let me assure you that the B9 offers a little more than does that SUV. Even after a dull and mediocre day of hauling your workload back and forth, this SUV will allow you to explore the driver hidden in your character, on the way home.

Somewhere in my feelings for this vehicle, I'm stuck with the belief that the B9 imitates the Porsche Cayenne in terms of poise and balance. Is it a poor man's Cayenne? Yes, I believe it is. And it will make many poor men very happy.

Specifications:

Subaru Tribeca B9

Engine: 3-litre horizontally

opposed six-cylinder

Displacement: 3,000cc

Bore and stroke: 89.2mm x 80mm

Compression ratio: 10.7:1

Maximum power: 245bhp at 6,600rpm

Maximum torque: 297Nm at 4,200rpm

Transmission: Five-speed automatic

Suspension (front/rear): McPherson strut/double wishbone

Steering: Powered rack