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STYLING | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Smaller than most other midsize crossover SUVs
Edmunds
the wave-shaped dashboard visually delights
Kelley Blue Book
Subaru should have called it the Chry-beca
Car and Driver
After the major styling overhaul in 2008, the Subaru Tribeca took on a much more conservative look in order to appeal to a wider audience. For the uninitiated, the Tribeca originally launched with a hideous front end that only a mother could love (OK, a few more people, including at least one editor here, did love it). But the 2008 redesign appears to have worked for Subaru, as most of the reviews on the Tribeca speak positively about its styling.
Edmunds calls it "a more conservative face," while Car and Driver thinks "Subaru should have called it the Chry-beca," thanks to its close resemblance to the now-discontinued Chrysler Pacifica.
Unfortunately, the overly futuristic cockpit-like interior of the original model remains, but to be fair, opinions on the design are mixed. Car and Driver comments, "[the] gauge cluster and climate control dials are...handsome." Kelley Blue Book says, "the wave-shaped dashboard visually delights," though "its severe curve places some...controls at odd angles from the driver." MotherProof likes the interior lighting, noting that "the nighttime ambient lighting scheme...is a sight to behold."
One of the most practical changes of the 2009 update were the redesigned rear windows and pillars. MotherProof notes this has the added benefit of better access to the third row: "Now you can get back there from either side of the car instead of just one."
Still, the 2010 Subaru Tribeca can’t escape without some complaints. Take Subaru’s LCD information screen at the top of the center console, for example. Kelley Blue Book points out that in the Subaru, digital readouts "can fade when viewed through polarized sunglass lenses." Other reviewers dislike the text on silver buttons of the controls, which many state are hard to read at a glance.
Conclusion
The Tribeca’s more conservative face may not win many fans for its distinctness or creativity, but the look is clean, pleasant, and ideal for those who don’t want to be noticed.
