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2009
Subaru Tribeca

Starts at:
$29,995
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New 2009 Subaru Tribeca
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NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 4dr 5-Pass
    Starts at
    $29,995
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 7-Pass
    Starts at
    $30,995
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 5-Pass Special Edition
    Starts at
    $31,295
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 7-Pass Special Edition
    Starts at
    $31,595
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 5-Pass Ltd
    Starts at
    $32,595
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 7-Pass Ltd
    Starts at
    $33,595
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 5-Pass Ltd w/Nav
    Starts at
    $34,995
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 7-Pass Ltd w/Nav
    Starts at
    $35,995
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr 7-Pass Ltd w/DVD/Nav
    Starts at
    $37,795
    16 City / 21 Hwy
    MPG
    7
    Seat capacity
    Gas 6-cyl
    Engine
    All Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Notable features

256-hp flat-six engine
Standard AWD
Standard stability system
Optional remote start

The good & the bad

The good

Smooth, comfy ride
Original yet functional dashboard design
Roomy second row

The bad

Non-telescoping steering wheel
Narrow side mirrors
Side curtain airbags don't cover optional third row
Center dash vents can't be closed
Seat memory doesn't remember side-mirror position

Expert 2009 Subaru Tribeca review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Sara Lacey
Full article
our expert's take


With its 2008 redesign, I had hope for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca. On the outside, it’s a fairly vanilla-looking crossover, but the interior is another story, with its funky center stack. On paper, I thought it’d be a fun car to drive, and I was excited to check it out. In reality, the Tribeca is a lot to handle. It tried to be innovative and clever in an attempt to make me like it, but it was just over the top.

With a price tag on my test car of $36,081, the Tribeca left me feeling like I should get more for the money. It didn’t have a power tailgate, and it only had a single power sunroof and miniscule door storage. This made me wonder why I should consider the Tribeca over its family-mobile competitors.

The all-wheel-drive Tribeca feels a little stiffer on the road than your average crossover, and it seemed more in tune with the road than most crossovers I’ve driven. The six-cylinder engine accelerated just fine, and it never lacked for power. I had no problems merging onto the highway. My friend, however, thought it felt like we were riding in an old truck and didn’t enjoy the ride.

There was a lot of wind and engine noise – more than I expected – in the Tribeca. This wasn’t too bad when I was alone, but when the kids were in the Tribeca, it meant everyone had to whine a lot louder to be heard. My test car seated five, but the Tribeca is available with an optional third row. It costs more, but you’ll be able to seat seven in the crossover.

Exterior

The Tribeca got a vehicular nose job for the 2008 model year, and it certainly made the Tribeca more appealing to a wider audience. In a class with several design standouts, however, I wonder if Subaru didn’t cut off its nose to spite its face.

For folks who don’t want to make a major design statement with their car, the Subaru Tribeca hits the spot. If you still want a little spice, the fun Newport Blue Pearl paint job made up for the crossover’s uninspiring shape. I loved the color and would have no other if the Tribeca were mine. After all, I had to rely on my Tribeca’s lovely color to distinguish it from other crossovers. Again, that’s not a bad thing if vanilla is your favorite flavor.

The Tribeca was easy to drive and maneuver around parking lots. My older kids had no problems getting in and out of the Tribeca, but younger children might have a difficult time. The step-in height was large for wee ones, and some smaller kids might need more assistance to get into the Tribeca than you’re used to giving. They’ll grow into the Tribeca as fast as they grow out of the jeans you bought them last week, so don’t fret too much.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

Interior

First off, I’m annoyed that the Tribeca doesn’t have a telescoping steering wheel. This invention makes a world of difference for us shorter drivers, and I get a little annoyed when crossovers don’t incorporate this fabulous feature.

There were a bunch of little issues with the Tribeca that added up to major annoyances for me. The jet-cockpit-inspired dash looks cool when you’re peeking at it through the window; in reality, its metallic-looking plastic swoosh, which houses the center stack’s buttons, is a problem. I couldn’t read some of the buttons because they faced the passenger side; they’re buttons the driver would use, not just the passenger. Another problem was the buttons were metallic-looking with white lettering on them that made them difficult to read. The metallic-colored plastic of the center stack also reflected sunlight; it wasn’t blinding, but it glowed just enough to remind me it was there. I often found myself wishing for a cloudy day when I was test-driving this car.

The Tribeca’s vents are droopy-looking rectangles that look weird. Their placement is odd, too, because the vents follow the swoopy lines of the center stack. The vent adjusters are also on a funky angle, and they kept getting stuck. You could get over this if you gave yourself some time, but who wants to spend time getting over their new car’s vents?

A feature that I liked in the Tribeca was the cord pass-throughs in the center console. The center console houses two 12-volt outlets and an auxiliary jack for your MP3 player. You plug an MP3 player into the jack and feed the cord through a slot between the console and the lid; this allows the lid to close properly.

In the backseat, my kids’ little hands operated the seat belt buckles just fine. I loved the width of the rear bench. The 40/20/40-split seat allowed for plenty of room between my two kids, and the flat bench easily accommodated their booster seats. Nice! The Latch connectors and the tether anchor were easy to access. In the backseat area, there are a set of cupholders in the center armrest and a bin in the rear of the center console for rear passengers to use. Shorter kids won’t be able to reach this cubby, so you’ll need to get everything squared away in the backseat before you leave your driveway. My kids really didn’t have a lot to say about the Tribeca. They were fine in the back and thought it was … fine.

There’s another reason I’m not happy with the Tribeca: the pesky center hump in the backseat floor. Many cars we test now don’t have this hump, and without it that’s a perfect spot for a purse. I needed a spot to carry a foam-core board illustrating a science project, but I couldn’t store it behind the front seats because of the hump. Hmph. That left me to put the board in the rear cargo area. The cargo area itself was just fine and had no shortcomings. If you put the optional third row in there, however, I’m sure it’d be a serious squeeze. If you’re looking for a three-row crossover and plan on larger folks sitting back there for any length of time, I’d try out that third row during a test drive of the Tribeca to see how it really functions.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Safety

The Tribeca felt sturdy on the road. The brakes were terrific, and as I mentioned, the acceleration was good, so I had no worries about safely stopping or merging onto a fast-moving highway.

The 2009 Tribeca received a larger rearview mirror and rear-quarter windows, but it was still difficult to see out the back. A rear camera is available and might be worth the extra money.

The Tribeca has an electronic stability system and antilock brakes. It also has six airbags – front-, side-impact and side curtain airbags. The side curtain airbags cover the first and second rows, but not the third row, which is another little annoyance. Granted, the third row is optional, but can I get some safety love if I opt for the extra seating? I guess not, and that’s a deal-breaker.

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: There’s plenty of room for rear-facing infant seats in the backseat, as well as lots of cargo space for all the baby gear.

In School: The backseat’s flat bench easily accommodated my kids’ booster seats.

Teens: They’ll have enough legroom in the second row, but they might not enjoy driving such a boring-looking crossover. Oh well, life’s tough.

2009 Subaru Tribeca review: Our expert's take
By Sara Lacey


With its 2008 redesign, I had hope for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca. On the outside, it’s a fairly vanilla-looking crossover, but the interior is another story, with its funky center stack. On paper, I thought it’d be a fun car to drive, and I was excited to check it out. In reality, the Tribeca is a lot to handle. It tried to be innovative and clever in an attempt to make me like it, but it was just over the top.

With a price tag on my test car of $36,081, the Tribeca left me feeling like I should get more for the money. It didn’t have a power tailgate, and it only had a single power sunroof and miniscule door storage. This made me wonder why I should consider the Tribeca over its family-mobile competitors.

The all-wheel-drive Tribeca feels a little stiffer on the road than your average crossover, and it seemed more in tune with the road than most crossovers I’ve driven. The six-cylinder engine accelerated just fine, and it never lacked for power. I had no problems merging onto the highway. My friend, however, thought it felt like we were riding in an old truck and didn’t enjoy the ride.

There was a lot of wind and engine noise – more than I expected – in the Tribeca. This wasn’t too bad when I was alone, but when the kids were in the Tribeca, it meant everyone had to whine a lot louder to be heard. My test car seated five, but the Tribeca is available with an optional third row. It costs more, but you’ll be able to seat seven in the crossover.

Exterior

The Tribeca got a vehicular nose job for the 2008 model year, and it certainly made the Tribeca more appealing to a wider audience. In a class with several design standouts, however, I wonder if Subaru didn’t cut off its nose to spite its face.

For folks who don’t want to make a major design statement with their car, the Subaru Tribeca hits the spot. If you still want a little spice, the fun Newport Blue Pearl paint job made up for the crossover’s uninspiring shape. I loved the color and would have no other if the Tribeca were mine. After all, I had to rely on my Tribeca’s lovely color to distinguish it from other crossovers. Again, that’s not a bad thing if vanilla is your favorite flavor.

The Tribeca was easy to drive and maneuver around parking lots. My older kids had no problems getting in and out of the Tribeca, but younger children might have a difficult time. The step-in height was large for wee ones, and some smaller kids might need more assistance to get into the Tribeca than you’re used to giving. They’ll grow into the Tribeca as fast as they grow out of the jeans you bought them last week, so don’t fret too much.

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

Interior

First off, I’m annoyed that the Tribeca doesn’t have a telescoping steering wheel. This invention makes a world of difference for us shorter drivers, and I get a little annoyed when crossovers don’t incorporate this fabulous feature.

There were a bunch of little issues with the Tribeca that added up to major annoyances for me. The jet-cockpit-inspired dash looks cool when you’re peeking at it through the window; in reality, its metallic-looking plastic swoosh, which houses the center stack’s buttons, is a problem. I couldn’t read some of the buttons because they faced the passenger side; they’re buttons the driver would use, not just the passenger. Another problem was the buttons were metallic-looking with white lettering on them that made them difficult to read. The metallic-colored plastic of the center stack also reflected sunlight; it wasn’t blinding, but it glowed just enough to remind me it was there. I often found myself wishing for a cloudy day when I was test-driving this car.

The Tribeca’s vents are droopy-looking rectangles that look weird. Their placement is odd, too, because the vents follow the swoopy lines of the center stack. The vent adjusters are also on a funky angle, and they kept getting stuck. You could get over this if you gave yourself some time, but who wants to spend time getting over their new car’s vents?

A feature that I liked in the Tribeca was the cord pass-throughs in the center console. The center console houses two 12-volt outlets and an auxiliary jack for your MP3 player. You plug an MP3 player into the jack and feed the cord through a slot between the console and the lid; this allows the lid to close properly.

In the backseat, my kids’ little hands operated the seat belt buckles just fine. I loved the width of the rear bench. The 40/20/40-split seat allowed for plenty of room between my two kids, and the flat bench easily accommodated their booster seats. Nice! The Latch connectors and the tether anchor were easy to access. In the backseat area, there are a set of cupholders in the center armrest and a bin in the rear of the center console for rear passengers to use. Shorter kids won’t be able to reach this cubby, so you’ll need to get everything squared away in the backseat before you leave your driveway. My kids really didn’t have a lot to say about the Tribeca. They were fine in the back and thought it was … fine.

There’s another reason I’m not happy with the Tribeca: the pesky center hump in the backseat floor. Many cars we test now don’t have this hump, and without it that’s a perfect spot for a purse. I needed a spot to carry a foam-core board illustrating a science project, but I couldn’t store it behind the front seats because of the hump. Hmph. That left me to put the board in the rear cargo area. The cargo area itself was just fine and had no shortcomings. If you put the optional third row in there, however, I’m sure it’d be a serious squeeze. If you’re looking for a three-row crossover and plan on larger folks sitting back there for any length of time, I’d try out that third row during a test drive of the Tribeca to see how it really functions.

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample

Safety

The Tribeca felt sturdy on the road. The brakes were terrific, and as I mentioned, the acceleration was good, so I had no worries about safely stopping or merging onto a fast-moving highway.

The 2009 Tribeca received a larger rearview mirror and rear-quarter windows, but it was still difficult to see out the back. A rear camera is available and might be worth the extra money.

The Tribeca has an electronic stability system and antilock brakes. It also has six airbags – front-, side-impact and side curtain airbags. The side curtain airbags cover the first and second rows, but not the third row, which is another little annoyance. Granted, the third row is optional, but can I get some safety love if I opt for the extra seating? I guess not, and that’s a deal-breaker.

FAMILY LIFESTAGE

In Diapers: There’s plenty of room for rear-facing infant seats in the backseat, as well as lots of cargo space for all the baby gear.

In School: The backseat’s flat bench easily accommodated my kids’ booster seats.

Teens: They’ll have enough legroom in the second row, but they might not enjoy driving such a boring-looking crossover. Oh well, life’s tough.

Safety review

Based on the 2009 Subaru Tribeca base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
5/5
Frontal passenger
5/5
Nhtsa rollover rating
4/5
Side driver
5/5
Side rear passenger
5/5

Factory warranties

New car program benefits

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
5 years / 60,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Certified Pre-Owned program benefits

Age / mileage
5 years / 80,000 miles
Basic
Coverage available for purchase
Dealer certification
152-point inspection

Consumer reviews

4.5 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.4
Interior 4.5
Performance 4.4
Value 4.6
Exterior 4.4
Reliability 4.6

Most recent

  • I owned my Tribeca for for years and only had wear and

    I owned my Tribeca for for years and only had wear and tear issues. The car always started even on the coldest days engine is quiet and the transmission shifts smoothly. The only problem was the rear differential temp light would come on but that is a common sensor issue. The Tribeca is great for a fist time car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Not very smooth ride quality.

    It's just not my ideal smooth riding car. I hear every bump in the road. Rattling noises. I would say pay close attention to the ride quality if you test drive.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 2.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 3.0
    2 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • the best car I’ve ever driven

    amazing car! It’s drives so smooth! I was afraid to drive by myself at first since I was a new driver but i felt nothing but safe and comfortable! The interior is my favorite part, I love how everything is easy to get to! I will be staying with Subaru’s for a long time!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    3 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Tribeca 2009

    Transmission issues at 70k miles. Oxygen senor. Transmission issue while driving, dashboard Christmas tree light effect, automatic transmission regulation clunking and halting. Fundamental design flaw. $3k+ to fix.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 1.0
    7 people out of 7 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Everything you need!

    Perfect for the Bay Area weekend warrior and/or parents with children. Seats 7 comfortably. AWD. Power everything. Satellite Radio. Reverse Camera. Moon Roof. Rear Storage Cover. The best!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Very Reliable car to own.

    This is just the car I needed. I am happy I chose this car. It has very good ratings on all the websites I vitiated.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 3.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • one of the best cars I've owned

    Great height to get in/out. Love the flexibility of third row seat. Smooth/quiet ride. Boxer engine has awesome pick up.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Very great and comfortable ride. Super fun to driv

    This car is reliable and is just a pleasure to own. The down sides to this car is it did need some fairly pricey valve assembly work done after 150k miles. Also, when it got to higher mileage it started using quite a bit of oil and needs to be checked weekly.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 4.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Adventure on Wheels

    We drove this car across the country with two kids int he back and it was a great companion. We never worried and felt safe and comfortable the whole trip. Performance is great and the ride is smooth and the cargo space is huge. Acceleration is responsive and brakes are smooth. It is great in the snow!! We are skiers and never got stuck or even worried about getting stuck.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Safe and reliable.

    I have developed issues with my back and sometimes it is a bit of a rough ride. I am, however, grateful for the heated seats. They are a great comfort
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Best overall car in driving and handling.

    Subaru is the longest lasting cars I have ever owned. This is my 3rd one! I can drive it off road and on. It is amazing in 2 feet of snow and handles all weather conditions. I give Subaru all star ratings to my friends, family, and associates. My 2006 Tribeca I just traded in was 11 Years old and still in good condition.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • 322,000 miles and still runs well

    My Tribeca has over 320k miles after buying the car at 15k miles and is still driving well on the original engine and transmission. It's always driven with great acceleration and power, and I drive all the time up mountain passes in Colorado.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca?

The 2009 Subaru Tribeca is available in 9 trim levels:

  • 5-Pass (1 style)
  • 5-Pass Ltd (1 style)
  • 5-Pass Ltd w/Nav (1 style)
  • 5-Pass Special Edition (1 style)
  • 7-Pass (1 style)
  • 7-Pass Ltd (1 style)
  • 7-Pass Ltd w/DVD/Nav (1 style)
  • 7-Pass Ltd w/Nav (1 style)
  • 7-Pass Special Edition (1 style)

What is the MPG of the 2009 Subaru Tribeca?

The 2009 Subaru Tribeca offers up to 16 MPG in city driving and 21 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2009 Subaru Tribeca reliable?

The 2009 Subaru Tribeca has an average reliability rating of 4.6 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2009 Subaru Tribeca owners.

Is the 2009 Subaru Tribeca a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2009 Subaru Tribeca. 90.5% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.5 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.4
  • Interior: 4.5
  • Performance: 4.4
  • Value: 4.6
  • Exterior: 4.4
  • Reliability: 4.6
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