2006 marked the year that Subaru introduced their first seven passenger vehicle-the B9 Tribeca crossover SUV to satisfy consumer demand for a larger vehicle with all the typical Subaru attributes and more. As with all Subaru vehicles, the new flagship B9 Tribeca featured standard all wheel drive and an abundance of safety features such as anti-lock brakes, skid control and a full array of airbags throughout the vehicle. The design looked dramatically different from any vehicle manufactured by Subaru in the past, though it was based upon the Outback platform, but fans who craved more space and functionality from the manufacturer were not disappointed. The exterior and interior were not as attractive as some of the other crossovers on the market due to its lack of any sense of enticing style, yet it was comfortable, filled with luxurious features yet practically and well built enough to overlook the lack of visual appeal.
The B9 Tribeca was equipped with the same 3.0-liter, 6 cylinder engine found in the Outback and delivered 250 horsepower. The transmission was a five speed automatic with SportShift over ride that allowed for manual shifting. Both the base model and the Limited were available in 5 or 7 passenger configurations, with the Limited offering leather seats, a premium stereo system with 6 disc CD changer.
Utility and passenger comfort were more than well accounted for, thanks to a very flexibly designed seating arrangement and high quality materials. The second row 40/20/40 split seats featured folding and sliding ability, with the backrest having 3 different folding and locking positions and both captain style seats having the ability to slide forward or backward approximately 8 inches to increase passenger space in the second or third rows as needed.
The 2007 model was basically a carry over from 2006 with the exception of a new auxiliary jack to accommodate MP3 players and a rear view camera was added to the optional navigation system. As with most crossover vehicles, the Subaru B9 Tribeca is best driven on paved roads as opposed to mountain trails- though the all wheel drive system performs exceptionally well in inclement weather.
