Subaru's Legacy Outback-based SUV, the Tribeca, seems to be going through the same ugly duckling restyling as the outgoing, second-generation Impreza, as it got a 'nose job' after just two model years, along with new panels elsewhere. It also loses the B9 moniker in its name for 2008, and gains new 18-inch wheels. The engine fitted to the Tribeca gains some muscle thanks to more displacement and is the most powerful naturally aspirated powerplant ever fitted by Subaru. It achieves this on regular unleaded gasoline as opposed to premium in last year's model. The sole transmission, a five-speed automatic, is also revised.

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That engine is a 3.6 liter flat-six, good for 256 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 247 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm. EPA estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg in the city, and 21 mpg on the highway. All wheel drive is standard, and features the Japanese company's Variable Torque Distribution system to proportion power between axles as necessary.

Just two trims exist, base and Limited, both available with two or three rows of seats, and respective capacities of five or seven passengers.

Seven-seaters feature a new 2nd-row tip-slide feature on the left side for access to third row, a helper spring to help with said feature and new grab handles.

The base Tribeca is full of the goodies buyers have come to expect, with an AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA sound system, power group, 8-way power driver seat and 4-way power front-passenger seat, four-wheel discs with ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution, traction and stability control and a rollover sensor. Save for the dealer-installed options, there are no options here.

The Limited adds a moonroof to the list of features, roof rails, heated front seats, leather upholstery and a better sound system with a six-disc CD player. It offers a navigation package that includes the obvious, a rear-view camera and XM satellite radio as the sole option, while the 7-seater adds a rear-seat entertainment system to that combo. Apart from these two, just dealer-accessory options, including chromed wheels, exist. The navigation system got a software upgrade for 2008.