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The new-for-2006, the B9 Tribeca is a mid-size, crossover sport-utility vehicle that resides above the Forester and Legacy Outback in Subaru's lineup, and comes wrapped in much more curvaceous sheetmetal than any of the automaker's vehicles to date. It's also the first model to sport Subaru's new front-grille styling in which a central air intake is accompanied by an oval "wing" on each side. It's also priced excessively - at or near the top of the mid-size crossover range. The vehicle comes powered by the 250-horsepower, "boxer" 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that's otherwise offered in the Legacy. A five-speed automatic transmission that allows manual gear selection is standard and drives all four wheels via Subaru's Variable Torque Distribution all-wheel-drive system. The B9 Tribeca's cornering abilities benefit from a coil spring, front-strut suspension up front and an all-new double wishbone array at the rear, as well as standard 18-inch wheels and tires. Offered in both five- and seven-passenger versions, the vehicles comes with a 60/40 split-fold-away second row seat that features a 40/20/40 folding seatback; this seat can also move fore and aft to accommodate more or less leg room where needed. The available third row offers a 50/50 split. Standard features include front-side and side-curtain airbags, a tire-pressure monitoring system, anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, and Vehicle Dynamic Control. Options include a rear seat DVD entertainment system that includes a large nine-inch screen and wireless headsets.

Subaru's mid-size Baja is a cross between a sedan and a pickup truck, with a short cargo bed residing just behind the back seats for carrying mountain bikes and other active gear. A small cargo bed pass-through opening to the passenger compartment can expand the Baja's cargo-carrying abilities. Base Baja Sport models are powered by a 165-horsepower, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, while the Baja Turbo benefits from a 210-horsepower, supercharged version of the engine. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a four-speed automatic is optional. It has a maximum towing capacity of 2400 pounds. Standard features include four-wheel disc anti-lock brakes, air conditioning, a CD stereo, power driver's seat and moonroof, fog lights, keyless entry, roof rails, leather upholstery, and alloy wheels. Available options include a bed extender, three separate bike carriers, and assorted audio upgrades. Few changes are evident for 2006.