KEY POINTS:
The goggle-eyes have gone. So, too, have the "pinched" rear styling and lacklustre powertrain. So while the facelifted Subaru Tribeca, with its bland new visual style, won't wow the crowds, or possibly even be noticed, it's also now a genuinely driveable and comfortable seven-seat crossover.
The styling changes
over the old car are obvious - Subaru's short-lived corporate "aircraft" inspired three-part grille is gone, replaced by a rectangular slab of chrome that's unlikely to excite or offend. At the rear, the tailgate has been reshaped to include wider tail lights, which helps reduce the visual height of the vehicle.
But the big changes are under the bonnet. Subaru's 3.0-litre boxer six petrol engine, also used in the Legacy and Outback, is a good engine but simply didn't cut it in the two-tonne-plus Tribeca first time around.
Mid-range performance was lacklustre and the five-speed auto gearbox had a tendency to "hunt" around ratios to maintain acceptable performance.
The new model has stepped up to a 3.6-litre powerplant, which retains the same dimensions as the old engine and is no heavier. It's the largest capacity engine developed by Subaru.
The flat six-cylinder motor produces 18 per cent more torque, now 350Nm, and 5.5 per cent more power than the old, with 190kW. The increased torque also results in slightly improved fuel economy despite the extra cubic capacity - 11.6 litres per 100km. The towing capacity has also been enhanced - it now boasts a 2000kg braked rating.
The new engine features DAVCS variable valve timing on the intake and exhaust valves. The old 3.0-litre engine had AVCS on the intake side. While the cabin architecture is unchanged, there are worthwhile detail changes. The unattractive single-colour information display has been dropped in favour of a full-colour system that includes novelties, such as trick graphics for the fuel consumption and a calendar function.
More importantly, the colour screen also now serves as a display for a reversing camera, addressing the poor rearward visibility of the old model.
The interior also includes easier access to the third row seats. The second row chairs now have tilt-and-slide control on the driver's and passenger's side, plus a new assist spring that reduces the effort needed to slide the second row seat. Grab handles on the lower C-pillar also ease entry and exit of the third row seats.
The luxury stuff from the previous model continues - leather upholstery, DVD entertainment system for the rear-seat passengers, power sunroof and 18-inch alloy wheels.
At $67,990 the latest 3.6R luxury model is also $2000 less than the previous 3.0R version was at launch, which means that this is really the car the Tribeca should have been, at a price that makes sense. Still, sales expectations are modest, with only 150 units for the first year on sale. So while the new the Tribeca might not look that special, it'll still be relatively rare.
