By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
You cannot fit three 6 foot plus adults like that, though.
33 - 3rd row min/max leg room. Max fits adults. Kids probably need middle setting. Headrests are neat and can fold without removal (*cough* Honda can't *cough*).
34 - Cargo area is 43" or so wide and 40" long. Height is...I forget, but we have pics for that. Floor is only about the same as the Outback, but it's bigger than the Lexus RX by far. Note the boxy shape would be very useful, though.
35 - front seat all the way forward
36 - map pocket
37 - the kids will be happy with these headphones and I don't have to listen to Elmo. Love it.
38 - more preliminary specs, 18/24 mpg is probably not accurate, Dave mentioned
39 - driver seat all the way back and reclined for Shaq to fit in there.
40 - huge window for a nice view :-)
-juice
I haven't been in here in a few weeks.
I've owned four Subarus. My local dealer often calls me for information on them. I've helped them sell a bunch. But I have to tell you... I just bought a 2005 Pilot.
Seems you have a harsh view of the Pilot, but that's okay, everyone is entitled to their opinions.
As an OWNER of a Pilot, and FORMER OWNER of a Subaru, I can say that I am very happy with my new purchase... "cheap interior and all". Like my four kids are going to care that it isn't snooty interior finishes. I like the plastic, it cleans up easier.
And the handling... yeah, it's lacking at the moment. But that would be because Honda for some reason felt it was necessary to put a crappy passenger car tire on an SUV. Gee, how well would a Subaru handle with bubblegum tires?
Unimaginative styling? Okay. I'll give you that. It's not Star Trek. But it also doesn't look like it's puckering up on a too sour lemon. *shrug*
$1200 for the towing package, including the two coolers doesn't seem excessive to me, especially when you consider you get 4,500lbs of capacity with that, out of a car based SUV. No, it isn't standard, but not EVERYONE wants to tow. The Pilot is reasonably priced so that those of us who have a family and need something other than a minivan can buy one and still buy groceries. When I need to tow my motorcycles on vacation, I'll get the towing package.
I'm sure there will be a following for the Tribeca. And I'm sure it has a lot going for it. But Subaru lost my business. In my opinion it's ugly, and it's going to be overpriced.
But that's just MY opinion.
Lexus looks a bit wierd and has some hard edges. Nav screen might be a tad smaller, not sure.
Acura is not bad but overall it just looks dated, definitely a 90s design.
Honda's looks built to budget, boxy and dull. Nav screen and DVD are both smallish.
Subaru has the most modern interior design by a wide margin.
-juice
You can compare style and flash up to a point, but not quality. And quality goes a lot further then just skin deep.
So yes, I'm nit-picking.
A nice set of 18" rims and performance tires will only set you back a couple of grand. But then there goes the value card.
$1200 is a bit steep, I paid $200 for the OE hitch on my Subaru and installed it myself. I want to tow, that's why I mention it.
My personal view is that if I really wanted a Pilot I'd probably end up with an Odyssey. It only lacks the AWD (part-time anyway), but does everything else better. If the Pilot had SH-AWD that might be a different story.
-juice
It's also a brand new design - it better be modern.
The MDX is on it's 5th model year and the Pilot on it's 4th. I'm sure the refreshes will bring things up to date.
Ridgeline was lacking here, I felt the interior was a bit tacky and even cheap in some places. It's totally different than the Pilot.
-juice
-juice
Speaking of which: If you go to the Detroit show, the cars will be locked up tight. The reason being is that SOA has only a very few of these cars at the moment, and they don't want to get them trashed at car shows. if you want to sit in it (at Detroit) bring your Subaru car key (to show that you're a Subaru owner), and come either early in the day, or late in the day, when it is less crowded. The SOA reps should have been instructed to let you see the car.
After the Detroit show, this should not be a problem, as their will have more models in their inventory. For example, at the Chicago show the cars should unlocked; same with Philly.
Bob
Personally, I'm trying my hardest to avoid anything over 16". Here in Boston, those 18" are going to get wrecked very quickly.
$1200 is a bit steep, I paid $200 for the OE hitch on my Subaru and installed it myself.
This is a weak spot on Hondas as the OEM hitch and coolers msrp for over $800. But do we know what the towing capacity is on the Tribeca and what a tow package will run?
It also functions as a partition if you have 2 kids that fight a lot.
42 - grab handle to close the trunk.
43 - Dave sits behind me in 3rd row. There is the seat belt anchor someone asked about.
44 - storage bins and rear climate control (dual A/C std on 7 seater)
45 - check out the two blisters on the headlights, very 3D shape. Sienna's is just flat, so in person they don't really look alike. Twin projector lights look pretty cool, too.
46 - center console storage is lined. Again they are matching the luxury brands doing little stuff like this. 2 outlets for power. 3rd in rear.
47 - engine is covered, but all serviceable points are yellow, something else the competitor I'm nit-picking about did not have
-juice
The Soob has more tow capacity standard, sans towing package, but the Honda has more capacity when you equip both with the tow package.
Prices, who knows? But Subaru adds just one tranny cooler, so it should cost less.
-juice
49 - that's my house on the Nav, impressed the heck out of me. It had a type-ahead feature, too, the keys dimmed that could not follow the letters I entered. So I enter Demo and it knew it was Democracy, then I chose Lane from a menu. Brilliant. No zip code or even state needed!
50 - same
51 - spare is a donut. :-(
Dual exhaust tho.
52 - right stalk for wipers
53 - left stalk for lights, you also see the steering wheel controls
54 - ground clearance is good, underside clean. 8.4".
55 - light stalk again.
56 - Loved this one. Aluminum hood is so light that one single strut lifts it up as soon as you start ligting the hood. It feels feather-weight. Very cool.
-juice
Oh - the modern design is fine, but let's compare apples to apples.
AFA not copying - the Tribeca interior looks quite a bit like the TSX, TL, and RL with the swoopy strip across the dash and falling into the console. I'm not saying they copied it as I know it takes a long time to design a vehicle and that after a while there are very few original desing cues.
So there is only one Democracy Ln in the entire country or the database isn't complete or they passed your photo around before the show and they set it up to impress you!!
Actually juice programed it. He had to put his town in there, but did seem to predict ahead of time what you were going to keyboard in. pretty neat.
Bob
58 - grille is recessed slightly. I'd still love to see a black mesh grille with an STi logo up front. And the rest of the STi package.
59 - rear wheel well. My hand is there for scale. There looks to be a tad of room for bigger tires. Sorry paisan, no 35" super swampers. ;-)
60 - power window swithces are all lit, but only the driver has auto down.
61 - hidden top compartment in center console
62 - Nav menu - anyone recognize the manufacturer?
63 - both brakes are vented discs
64 - plush carpet. scuff plates don't quite go all the way. fuel door release.
65 - grille looks huge from here, but trust me, it's not. 12" x 16" size is puny next to Dodge Ram, 20 plus by 50 plus!
66 - front wheel well, little clearance to spring base, about 2.5 fingers thick.
67 - rear cutaway. Bumper beam is aluminum like Legacy.
68 - width of cargo opening is about 42"
69 - Cutaway shows rear window could probably have been bigger. Beats Murano but not by much.
70 - Rear sway bar is about 18mm if I had to guess. End links are solid, not rubber like on my Forester. Should mean nice handling.
71 - 40" is cargo length, no better than Outback, but it still beats the Lexus RX. Honda is the champ here, Pilot is both wider and longer.
See, I'm being fair. ;-)
-juice
The whole process went so fast, it took something like 15 seconds for the house to pop up on the map.
-juice
Bob
Exterior - There's just no hope for it. I like some of the pictures because they are nicely taken photographs. But I know that in the real world, without perfect lighting and dramatic angles, this thing will frighten small children. I've got a feeling the FCC may fine SOA for it.
Too bad, really. There are some nice details and interesting uses for lines and shapes. For example, the cut-out section of the rear bumper and liftgate is a nice detail. Generally speaking, I like having high-mounted headlights on the facade. This sort of thing looks good on vehicles like the Cayenne and MDX. Unfortunately, the rest of the nose can't support it. And while I like projector style lamps, the way they stacked these simply emphasizes the poor design of its beak. Need I mention the grill? There are good bits and pieces in several areas, but they add up to a mutant.
Interior - I know that exterior analysis was harsh, but the interior almost makes up for it. I really like what they've done inside. Looks like they took a page from Honda and modified the Accord's dash. Too much faux metal for my tastes, but that's a personal thing. Everything looks well-placed, high quality, and the styling is as nice as the exterior is bad. This is a dash that would look good in an Acura or Infiniti.
The seats up front *look* comfortable. They're well-bolstered and all that. I'm not concerned about the space in the third row. It doesn't look like there's much cargo space behind there, but I doubt buyers looking at vehicles this size consider those seats anything more than a bonus. They won't be used, but are nice to have in an emergency. Though, the lack of airbags in the third row seems unfortunate.
Cargo space looks good. That's the reason why I may have to ditch my RDX plans. The folded seats provide a flat floor. There are no big gaps in the seams between the folded seats. That's something I disliked about the Pacifica.
Powertrain - Good, but about 5 years behind the times. In truth, I think this is plenty of power for my purposes. Heck, I drive a 1999 CR-V, how much power could I need? But from a market perspective, it's as weak as the Ford Freestyle.
There's no need to question Subaru's AWD, so all that's left is mpg. I figure 19-25 seems about right. Does anybody have an actual estimate? 19-25 works for my purposes.
A tow rating of 2,000 lbs is fine, since most will not tow. 3,500 lbs with the optional tow hardware seems fine for those who do. I know vehicles like the Pilot will tow 3,500 to 4,500, but others, like the Pacifica, are rated at a mere 1,000 lbs.
Conclusion - I'll admit, the looks of this thing turned me away from the Tribeca before I gave it a good look. Now that I've seen more, I like it well enough. The looks still repulse me, but it has a great interior, a good list of features, decent utility, and (if these estimates of $30-35K are accurate) a nice price. Even so, I figure the looks will force dealers to drop the prices fast.
I see quite a few posts comparing this vehicle with the MDX and RX330. Based on the interior and features only, I think that's fair. But everything else fails to exceed. The MDX is getting overhauled next year. Right now the Tribeca is a generation behind. The RX330 is just plain in another league. No, this rig will compete with the Pacifica, Freestyle, and Rendezvous.
The nav probably has a narrowed area it searches for any street (i.e. Northwest, Southwest, Upper midwest, etc). You can usually enter the city first and then a street also.
Yup, it's pretty neat. But in Japan they have nav with realtime traffic, and the nav will guide you around it. We only just got that in a few cities here in the states. I think we're behind. ;-)
tom
Is AWD with VDC worth the less than perfect exterior, any day yes !
Actually, this SUV looks like no other. That's what i like about this the best.
Oh yes and I just cant wait to compare the prices! Based on price expectations, you cannot compare a value priced Odyssey/Sienna with the overpriced Tribeca.
Based on pricing the new hybrid highlander should make mincemeat out of the Tribeca.
So!! The logic of Tribeca pricing is that it is loaded with gizmos/luxuries compared to Pilot/Highlander. So why not charge more for the Tribeca? If there was a real demand for luxuries in such vehicles as Tribeca, most Pilots/Highlander would be sold with every option and priced equivalently to base MDX/RXs.
Reality is quite different! Most buyers of Pilots/Highlanders will not maximize options---instead they would rather invest their money in a luxury brand like the MDX/RX.
Tribeca and VW Phaeton will be case studies on how not to price and introduce new vehicles. I am sure my son/daughter will be learning about these two business disasters when they are in MBA school(class of 2021 and 2023).
The MDX had excellent exterior styling when it was new, but it's gotten long in the tooth at the end of its run. I think they actually took a step backward with the recent refresh that went to dual exhausts. The front has a speed-boat look to it that was once pretty exciting, but has also gotten old. True to form, I would expect the next MDX to be pretty awesome out of the gate.
Craig
Sienna's interior is a bit strange looking, but I like the Ody's, more so than the Pilot's. In fact the Pilot's biggest threat is the Ody. With it being FWD most of the time, the Ody does just about everything better.
If the 3rd row is really mostly for kids, I'm not sure if side curtains reaching that far would help. I mean, they'll be latched into safety seats. I don't think the air bags curtains would help them.
RDX looked sweet, give it another shot. Right about Forester sized, and ought to be a hoot to drive.
Freestyle's HP is just 200. Pacifica is the one with 250, maybe that's what you were thinking of.
No hard figures from the EPA yet. The product planning guy went as far as saying the estimates posted were wrong.
Compete with the Freestyle? Package and size maybe, but certainly not interior ambience. Pacifica is closer, but still no cigar, and then it gives up too much in packaging.
I'm not sure many Subaru shoppers would even look at those domestic crossovers. It's sort of an inbetweener, if you will. For those that want something a little nicer than mainstream but can't afford a full-blown luxury brand's SUV.
You goin' to Motown?
-juice
More sophisticated AWD: I'm not saying the average car buyer doesn't do a lot of research but for the general public I would say that the research extends to whether it has it or not
What capabilities does the Sub AWD have vover a Pilot when both are in AWD mode- How much value can you place on that?
As far as fun to drive: Realistically how many of us can tell how much better one car is versus another. I'll bet if you talk to a dozen people after test driving each most couldn't tell you one from another and what value they could place on that?
I really can't see this car competing with a pilot. THe obvious ones that stand out- size and maybe price-would go to the pilot
RT
I can tell you never shopped for a Highlander! When we were looking at them in 02, we could not find low or mid level models -- they did not exist on the lots. You would have to special order one and wait about 3 months. The typical Highlander is $32-36K (without Nav or DVD). Add Nav and DVD and it hits $39K.
Now, if the alternative Tribeca is priced the same (or possibly lower) and offers superior handling and more character, to me it would be a compelling alternative to the Highlander.
It might seem surprising that the Highlander gets into the price territory of a base Lexus RX, but then again, you'll rarely see a base RX (if they even exist). The RX is normally sold in the $45-50K range.
Craig
Keep in mind the equipment levels. A "value priced" Sienna can carry an MSRP of up to $42k, so a loaded Tribeca is substantially cheaper.
most Pilots/Highlander would be sold with every option
Surprise, most are. Demand is mostly for high-end ones.
Fitzmall sells Toyotas, and you can get a stripped Sienna for near invoice, but the loaded ones command much bigger margins because that's what consumers want.
Same with Ody, how many LXs do you think actually sell? Most are EX/Leather and higher, I bet.
Heck, even Pilot, one dealer had 100 in stock, 93 were EX or higher! Nobody wants the stripped ones!
So when you look at it that way, Subaru doesn't sell an "LX", that's all. They are going after the 93% or so of customers that wants all the goodies.
If you're in that tiny 7% market segment, sorry, shop elsewhere.
-juice
It's hard to compare prices because we don't even know them, and even the estimates we have are only MSRP. So for now, at least, let's compare MSRP of competitors to the projected prices for the Tribeca (under $40k loaded to the gills).
Edit - I'm pricing Pilots and no, you can't get Nav and DVD, it's either or. That's a big negative to folks that want a loaded one.
-juice
It's not as cheap as you think. Add the cost of a 5/60 warranty, roadside assistance, Sportshift, 18" rims and performance tires, and the Honda would have to cost as much or more. And the Subie is nicer inside.
-juice
OK, start with the Limited AWD. Add Nav. Add Rear entertainment. Leather costs extra. Heating that leather cost more extra (std even on base Tribeca). More more extra for a moonroof, VV package is cheapest way to get it. Side air bag curtains cost more. You'll pay freight, and all that adds up to...
$38,765
The price advantage basically disappears once it's equipped similarly. And you have a 7" DVD, but does size matter? ;-)
Should I even bother figuring the RX and MDX prices? I mean, we're talking mid to high $40s folks.
The gamble they made is this - do people want them loaded? Or very well equipped, at least?
-juice
While I still think the front end isn't good looking by any means, it's starting to have an identity. It almost has a Cayenne-like awkward distinction about it.
The only thing that I'm not sure about is the power-weight ratio. The interior looks great, the standard features very strong, but I'm holding some reservations about the H6 pulling the extra weight of the B9X.
Ken
I have heard so many times from Subaru salesmen that OBs are being sold back to dealers because the subaru owners need a 7-seater. Tribeca is the answer.
Highlander is close to Outback size & not tribeca size.
Subaru will price Tribeca just between Pilot/High & RX/, MDX which is where it belongs. Above & beyond this, we will get 2-3k off MSRP which will make fully loaded tribeca 8-9k cheaper than MDX/RX WHICH IS A GOOD DEAL !!!! SO TRIBECA WILL WIN & WILL NOT BE A PHAETON
Congrats on TRIBECA ! It will be my 3rd subie.
Tribeca has been a heating debate on Edmunds.com forum. Here is the crux:
1. Some don't like the aircraft face, some feel it is growning on them. Frankly, I love it. Some feel the idea is fine but it should have been more subtle. Some feel it is subtle in person than in picture
2. Everyone is concerned that TRIBECA will become Subaru's Phaeton(failure) due to OVER-pricing. Tribeca should be priced just between highlander/pilot and RX/MDX. IT WILL WIN. If it is priced at par with RX/MDX, SoA is asking for trouble. Don't forget the 4yr/50k mile free maintenance on RX/MDX which Subaru may not provide.
3. Most people are concerned about Tribeca's modest torque. It should not make the performace lackluster as 2000 Ooutback did. Did SoA really do the math on the torque since it will carry 7-people ?
4. SoA should tout the VDC feature in marketing. Differentiate it enough from standard traction control.
5. Did SoA think about overall brand outdoorsy image. Tribeca is an urban vehicle which muddies the overall outdoorsy image. Consider a rugged LL bean version.
6. Quickly, offer better torquey engine choices.
7. Develop more products using the same platform. A proper Baja may be against Ridgeline ? A Full size Sedan ? bringing SVX back ?
Look forward to you in Rhode Island
Frankly, i think TRIBECA is very well done if marketed, priced & serviced right.
Sincerely,
Krisshna
Scary thought! I sure hope they don't push this "aircraft heritage" too far...
The B9 has 219 lbs of torque @4200 RPM
The Pilot has 250 lbs @ 4500 RPM
Better or worse @ RPM versus a straight number comparison??
Torque versus weight:
Pilot- roughly 17.7 lbs of car per pound of torque
B9: Roughly 19.3
Does this comparison mean anything?
Obviously no engineering background whatsoever
RT
Juice - I'm not a fan of the Ridgeline's styling. I'll let you read the Ridgeline thread for my opinions on it. But I will say that as odd as the Ridgeline is, the Tribeca makes it look pretty.
I like odd styling. The Element, xB, Murano, and others are all interesting to me. I even thought the Aztec concept vehicle had a quirky kind of potential (too bad about the production version). But if this is the final sheetmetal for the Tribeca, it's going to be a tough sell.
"Freestyle's HP is just 200. Pacifica is the one with 250, maybe that's what you were thinking of."
Doesn't really matter. The Pacifica and Freestyle went head to head in a recent comparo. Both had timed runs at about the same speed. The Freestyle's CVT might have something to do with that, but the reviewers didn't like either engine.
I agree that the lack of 3rd row airbags is not a big deal. Just noteworthy given that moms are very safety conscious and compare features with other vehicles. While the third row airbags would probably not help children strapped into carseats, who would want to deal with carseats that far back in the vehicle? You'd have to climb over everything to get at the little-uns. Then you'd have to remove the seats every time you wanted to use the cargo area. So, it's more likely that the few times the rear seats are used, kids will go in their usual second seats and guests will go in the back. Again, not a big deal. Certainly not a deal breaker. Just an observation.
The RDX is still a consideration, but it's more of a second tier choice. With the best AWD system on the market, VSA, and Honda's new ACE body structure, it's likely to be one of the safest vehicles of comparable size. Acura's interiors have taken a turn for the better and the exterior is both handsome and interesting. It's a balanced package.
BUT... the darn thing looks to be too small! I need a mid-sized SUVs cargo hold on the body of a small SUV. Mrs. Varmint and I are thinking about adding a new animal to the menagerie: this time a human. With a baby and the two greyhounds, space is at a premium. If the Highlander had more space behind the second row, it would be perfect. An Outback with a bigger cargo hold would also be a consideration. But they just won't build cars to my specifications.
But Lexus has a much better brand identity as a luxury car than the VW, or Subaru.
Agree the Phaeton was destined to be a failure because of it's astronomical price, even though it's quite a nice car.
If the Tribeca is priced right, it will not be a Phaeton. But if it's too expensive it could be a Passat W8 (did not do well).
You can get fully loaded RXs for a little less than $40K (Nav, rear camera, power hatch, etc), which still offers more than the Tribeca. So the Tribeca is going to have to come in below this to steal any buyers from Lexus. Whatever you may say, the RX330 is a nice SUV, and will be hard competition.
Please don't flame me, I can see quite a heated discussion here, and hopefully SOA is paying some attention. I just want the thing to be successful, and a little criticism and objective assessment is always good for the soul. I think I am a reasonable target buyer for this SUV, but I'm not sure I'd plunk down the $37K for it when there's so much competition, both not as nice but for much less money, and nicer but for not much more.
tom
Also, all of us in the forum are forgetting that Subaru can be bought for 2-3k less MSRP which is already 5-7k cheaper than RX or MDX.
Maybe in your part of the world. But the XC-90 has actually sold very well and Volvo is very happy with it.
Does that mean that you will go from hating the front end to loving it? Maybe not, but my guess is you will hate it less after seeing it, maybe even like it just a bit—and 6 months from now maybe even like it a lot...
I have to admit, I'm constantly amazed at how much importance people put on the front end styling of a vehicle. I'm not just talking about the Tribeca, but for any car. Folks:, the front of a vehicle is only 25% of the car's exterior, yet it gets 90% of all the discussion! What's wrong with that picture? And... when you consider the interior—the place where everyone "lives—" it's an even smaller percentage! For me, the interior is far, FAR, FAR more important than the grille of any vehicle.
So when evaluating the Tribeca (or any vehicle), let's try to keep a little perspective here.
Bob