Subarus are known to be durable, fun-to-drive, high-quality vehicles. But the company wants its products to be viewed as premium, upscale conveyances as well. The problem with the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca is not its love-it-or-hate-it design, though that ginormous schnoz is certain to limit sales. Rather, the Subaru B9 Tribeca is neither groundbreaking nor progressive in any way other than its boxer engine and symmetrical AWD system, technologies found on every other Subaru. Making matters worse, the B9 Tribeca's interior trim reflects penny-pinching, something luxury buyers dislike. Fake aluminum and leatherette steering wheel materials won't win buyers in the $30,000-plus club.

Traditional Subaru buyers are accustomed to unusual styling and have already been sold on the merits of boxer engines and all-wheel-drive systems. They will love the B9 Tribeca. People intending to buy loaded mainstream SUVs or base-model luxury crossovers need a more obvious value equation to try something new and different, especially when the badge of the back won't impress friends and neighbors.

In it's quest to expand market share and move upscale, Subaru appears at first glance to have an uphill battle on its hands with the 2006 Subaru B9 Tribeca.

Photos courtesy of Subaru of America