Subaru Tribeca 2005 test drive - 2007 SUV
Big portion
Perhaps Subaru B9 Tribeca is the most unexpected car from the Japanese manufacturer known by its rally ambitions. He is so pro -American that he hardly believed in his driver's abilities. Well, let's see ...I tried my best to avoid words of surprise regarding the appearance of the novelty. Obviously, the new corporate style of Subaru, reflected in the guise of Tribeca, is arguing and ambiguous. Therefore, we will not discuss it here, even if the consumer makes a decision on the competence of such, sorry for a pun, design decisions. We will only say that they came out of the pen of the Italian school designer Andreas Baltinas, which explains some kind of similarity with the drawing of a number of elements ... the last models of Alfa Romeo. As for the front hand, it almost completely repeats the concept of two years ago B11S, which to some extent has become a stylistic prototype Tribeca. It is on it that the solutions that indirectly speak of the airbuilding past Subaru are tested: the air intakes of the engine cooling system A la jet fighter, streamlined shapes of the hood, bumper and wings, complex headlights. Sometimes it seems that with all the dynamism of the appearance of Tribeca, it looks a little heavy due to inexpressive sidewalls and strange wheel arches, but this is until the car is in motion ...
Catching up to the champions
In the World Subaru rally championship, recently, it is somehow not very lucky. At the time of writing these words, the tenth stage ended, and the factory pilot Peter Solberg ranked third with a huge margin from the leader. It is unlikely that this is because Subaru has forgotten how to make dynamic, reliable, hardy and well-controlled rallys. What about civilian cars? What can Subaru Tribeca on the asphalt and lanes? Will the former glory shame the invincible blue lightning? But let's start with the driver's seat. I must admit that I would have bought Subaru for a long time, if not for one small, but unpleasant detail: I did not fit in the driver's place. No, not in width, God forbid, but in distance to the pedals. Even in the latest versions of Outback and Forester, I miss a few centimeters to feel comfortable. So - Tribeca was the first Subaru, in which I was not only comfortable, but even had to move forward a little. The driver's seat is adjusted in three planes, including the slope of the pillows and the lumbar -lumbar. An unusual sensation is created by a very high tunnel and the envelope of the driver and navigator strip. A similar solution of the salon is called Wrap-ARound, which can be approximately translated as envelope or coverage, and it is designed to give a sense of security in the car. Subaru even went too far with this feeling - it seems that you are sitting in the cabin of a small cosmic shuttle or a private jet aircraft of the future, there is only a parachute behind your back and the catapulting buttons.
However, there are enough buttons. The configuration of the secondary governing bodies is very ornate, but not complicated for use. The hilt of the control of the intra -tissue climate is original: they do not rotate, but swing along the axis. I never figured out whether it is convenient enough on the go, especially since they are placed quite low. The impression of the quality of plastic. I am sure that Subaru can be better ...
The standard audio installation looks very good and sounds. As usual among the Japanese, it reproduces CD excellently, but the radio does not shine with selectivity and sensitivity. Several places for storing road little things, whose strength in quantity, will be useful. Boxes, pockets, etc. are available to every passenger. In general, I counted ten (!) Cupamanists for seven standard places. Three extra - this is a record or something ...
However, we were somewhat carried away by the salon! Better look at the Subaru B9 Tribeca under the hood and in the transmission. So far, Tribeca is equipped with only one engine - this is a 3 -liter opposite of 245 liters familiar to us on Outback. With. Looking ahead, I’ll say that this motor is not enough for such a machine, and the Japanese understand this. It is assumed that through a year a 3.5-liter power unit will go into the series, all the characteristics of which are not disclosed, and the power will not be much higher, but the use of a number of new technologies for Subaru will improve elasticity indicators and increase traction in a wider range. In the meantime, the motor pleases us with its military spirit and a cocky sound. He is very quiet and soft with a calm mode of movement. It seems endlessly and confidently to roll evenly and confidently ... Radio Hermitage is heard yet, surprisingly a little, the suspension confidently and meekly swallows all the joints of the asphalt, the transmission does not grumble for rare overtaking St. Petersburg summer residents, the steering with excellent feedback shows moderate obstinacy and passage of another gentle ligament of turns. Well, in comparison with the Impreza WRX Wagon, our Tribeca is like a soft leather sofa - it is moderately elastic and very comfortable. But on the horizon, a ligament of rather sharp turns lied and, as to order, not a single oncoming or passing car within sight. The hilt of the automatic transmission selector in the SPORT position, the gas on the floor, the button for turning on the KIK Dawn - Subaru regime was gently crouched a little, for a moment, no more, thought and, suddenly loudly roaring the engine ... no, did not rush forward, like a distraught rhino, But rather soft, but quite a spore, somehow, in a kosha, stretched leap, exceeded a 120-kilometer mark of a speedometer of seconds for six to seven.
And here is a bunch of turns. Well, the steering wheel is shifted very confidently. The amplifier clearly has a progressive characteristic, because after a speed set, it is noticeably heavier and became more sensitive. In fact, to pass the S-shaped turn in a light sliding, Subaru Tribeca demanded only a light spitting with a steering wheel and tension of the neck muscles. The body of the body as such was not at all, but the head must somehow be kept vertically, this is a fact. Nobody kept the bags and photocophers in the trunk, and they noisily moved from side to board, and then reluctantly returned to the place. Very confident and safe!
Monitoring aggression
With a 3.0-liter engine, the only transmission option is aggregated-a 5-speed automatic with sports and the possibility of pseudo-reward gear shifts. The transition to sports deprives the box of the fifth gear and localizes the moment of switching at the speed corresponding to the segment from the maximum torque to the maximum power and even a little further. On the whole, the process of picking up steps is quite fast, only Kick Dawn is slightly stretched, which, however, does not stop going dynamically too much. Dynamic, as far as the engine allows. After all, even with a half load - three adults and a small baggage - Subaru did not shock our imagination, although according to factory data and should accelerate in less than ten seconds to 100 km/h. So it may be, but in the range of 60 - 120 elasticity the engine is not enough. And, by the way, perhaps I have a Subaru Tribeca from the standpoint of the same Impreza WRX or Forester Turbo, which is fundamentally wrong. Subaru B9 Tribeca is designed, configured and made as a purely family car, for drivers who are versed in driving, but understand the difference between a crossover, SUV and Sportsup. I want a crazy drive? Please, the STI series at your service, I want acceptable patency - look for the corresponding SUV. Subaru Tribeca is located in the middle, offering, among other things, a salon, the capacity of which is compared only with minivans. At the same time, Tribeca does not cease to be Subaru, allowing an experienced driver to feel the way, only you need to learn how to control yourself, learn to be responsible for those who are in the cabin, and those who are next to you on the road.
Closer to the ground
The conditional off -road, which we dared to bring Subaru Tribeca, was limited, as you see in the pictures, sand dunes, lancers and rocky embankment, and diagonal hanging, which I do not advise repeating to the future owners of this car. Tribeca will not pull more! Although Subaru is equipped with a branded symmetrical all -wheel drive, and a rather large road clearance, and an anti -wings system, but even to compact crossovers far from patency. A huge wheelbase, developed overhangs and a small combined suspension stroke do not leave a chance of crossed terrain, and the lack of a lowering transmission and not the best bottom protection do not allow you to feel confident in the rut and mud. Nevertheless, Subaru Tribeca will easily pass where any passenger car, even all -wheel drive, will surely tie it. She is able to climb a rather cool slope, but with the hanging you need to be more careful. If the anti-wings system and allows you to climb into some kind of tubercle with one wheel, then you should definitely not open the doors after that. The stiffness of a long body is not designed for such loads. For example, opening the fifth door, we could not close it until we moved to an even place ... However, we also did not find residual deformations, but nevertheless, I would not advise abuse with bugrous roads!
Another thing is sand. Here Subaru is able to start any driver! Perfectly controls demolition and skid, the steering wheel does not interfere with a quick change of direction, and the ability to throw the backbone in the vijah went to Tribeca clearly from racing ancestors. In a word, even when everything that was needed was shot, I could not resist and allowed myself a few more sweeping turns simply for pleasure. It's worth it!
Market championship
Subaru Tribeca has competitors, this is a fact. Lexus RX300, Acura MDX, Volvo XC90, perhaps even Caddy SRX. The list is impressive not by quantity, but by quality. Subaru is even a little lost against the background of such eminent opponents. However, who else is able to provide seven seats in the cabin, has excellent handling and is equally original? If you add the famous Subarovo quality, reliability and endurance to this, then it can be assumed that official deliveries to Russia will be justified from a commercial point of view. Although, between us, in order to bump out this crossover headlong, you still need to be a little subarist.
Text: magazine 4x4
Source: Magazine 4x4 [October/2005]
