2005 Subaru Tribeca Photos, engines & full specs

Subaru was known for its all-wheel drive vehicles and tried its luck with a larger vehicle known as Tribeca, which it launched in 2005 at the North American International Auto Show.

While Subaru vehicles were often praised for their all-wheel drive abilities, only a few of them were appreciated for their look, and the 2005 Tribeca was just the case. Nevertheless, in terms of practicality, it was a great crossover that followed the automaker’s engine/transmission setup guidelines. In addition, adding a three-row seating inside a cabin that was large enough to make everybody feel comfortable was appreciated. But customers needed more than just a great engine/transmission combo. Besides, the fuel efficiency of the 2005 Tribeca was far from being considered economic.

Arguably, the car’s front fascia was the one that made most people raise their eyebrows. Subaru said that the center trapezoidal shape flanked by horizontal grilles resembled the carmaker’s origins in the aviation industry, but that was not exactly what Subaru’s customers expected. In addition, the triangular headlights with three individual lamps inside them made the Tribeca’s front fascia look even more intriguing, but not in a pleasant way.

From its sides, the rounded shapes of the bodywork were pleasant. It featured an ascending beltline and a crease that started on the front doors and ran towards the back of the car, over the rear doors and quarter panels. The blackened B-posts and the up-kick on the rearmost set of windows were appreciated. Furthermore, the roof spoiler placed atop the rear window from the raked-forward tailgate resembled the image of a hot hatch. Underneath the rear bumper, the Tribeca boasted a set of side-mounted exhausts that gave the car an even sportier look.

Inside, Subaru’s designers made a binocular-styled instrument cluster where the tachometer took the left dial, and the speedometer took the right one. The coolant temperature and the fuel level gauges looked like they were added afterward when the designers realized that they had missed them. In addition, depending on the grades, Subaru installed an infotainment screen atop the center stack in the middle of the dashboard. The driver and the side passenger were separated by a wide center console that housed the transmission lever and two cup holders covered by a split-opening cap. On the middle row, two passengers could sit comfortably, while a third middle-seated one should find a way to avoid the tall transmission tunnel. Finally, the rearmost seats were suitable only for children.

Subaru made the Tribeca on the same platform as the Outback, although it was slightly longer than that. The only engine version available was a three-liter flat-six naturally aspirated engine paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. Power went in all corners via a symmetrical all-wheel drive system developed by the automaker.