| Test Driver Ratings & Comments |
|---|
| Acceleration comments | The Subaru flat-six provides plenty of power in the Outback station wagon, but in this big SUV is lacks bottom-end punch. Once the vehicle gets rolling and it hits 3,500 rpm the engine comes to life, but a big SUV really works best with plenty of torque. Wheelspin is a non-issue with an all-wheel-drive platform, so launches weren't a problem. The transmission feels a bit glitchy, as it intermittently likes to short shift under full throttle acceleration around 5,000 rpm, instead of revving to the 6,600 rpm redline. This may be due to the fact that the vehicle is pre-production. |
| Braking rating | Average |
| Braking comments | Under hard braking the Tribeca tracks straight, with moderate but acceptable nose dive and significant ABS noise and vibration. Fade was not an issue, and the pedal is firm yet easy to modulate. |
| Handling rating | Average |
| Handling comments | This thing feels much more like a minivan than an AWD SUV. Steering feel is very numb, akin to driving a video game. Understeer is prevalent, and the vehicle suffers from significant body roll. A high center of gravity causes a rebound effect in the slalom, where the body roll gets worse and worse with each turn around a cone. The Tribeca also lacks the bottom end power necessary to pull strongly out of the final gate. |
