2008 Subaru Tribeca Safety Review [ 2007 ]
Based on analysis of 76 Tribeca reviews and test drives.
Safety - What the Auto Press Says
The 2008 Subaru Tribeca gets an excellent safety score for its good performance in government crash tests. "Like other Subarus," reports BusinessWeek, "the '08 Tribeca has stellar safety features and ratings." "Like other Subarus," reports BusinessWeek, "the '08 Tribeca has stellar safety features and ratings."
The Tribeca earns five out of five stars for the driver and passenger in frontal crash tests, and top five-star scores for front and rear seat protection in side crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, meanwhile, awards a rating of "Good," its highest rating, for the Tribeca's performance in frontal offset and side crash tests. Combined with standard electronic stability control, this excellent performance earns the 2008 Tribeca a "Top Safety Pick" designation.
Accident Avoidance
Standard accident avoidance features on the Tribeca include anti-lock brakes, stability control, traction control and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution. Also standard is Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), which, Kelley Blue Book explains, "works in conjunction with the all-wheel drive to help the driver maintain control. VDC senses the direction the driver intends to go and uses selective braking and engine power reduction to help maintain control." After complaints about rearward visibility in the 2007 Tribeca, Subaru added larger side mirrors and reshaped side windows in the rear. Despite this, says USA Today, rearward visibility is "still poor." An optional rear-view camera sends its image to the navigation display panel and indicates distance via colored lines.
Crash Protection
The Tribeca comes standard with occupant-sensing front air bags, seat-mounted side air bags and two-row side curtain air bags.
