Subaru Tribeca facelift – what’s it doing at JPJ?

subaru-tribeca-jpj-0013

As if seeing a Hyundai Tucson with a manual gearbox wasn’t enough, Anol Alias has served up a bigger shocker from the JPJ car park. Yes, it’s a facelift-model Subaru Tribeca! Is Motor Image really considering this for the Malaysian market?

It appears that this Satin White Pearl car, having left the factory gates at Lafayette, Indiana in the US, got on a boat at Baltimore, Maryland before arriving in Singapore, as a sheet attached to the rear window reveals. The same sheet says it’s a 2014 car – whether that’s production year or model year is not stated.

Considering production of the unloved SUV was reported to have ended at the beginning of this year (although it’s still on sale in the US), the Tribeca’s appearance here in Malaysia is even more of a mystery. Just look at that colour-coded bodykit and concave-convex interior!

The Subaru Tribeca started life in 2005 as a Legacy-based SUV. The original model had that controversial triangular grille (said to resemble a jet intake) that was also used on the 2005-2007 Impreza, and R1 and R2 kei cars.

The facelift you see here came in 2008, and along with it a 260 PS 3.6 litre flat-six to replace the original model’s 245 PS 3.0 litre flat-six. The engine drives all four wheels through a five-speed auto. A more lux alternative to the Forester, anyone? It won’t be very cheap to begin with, and now that they’re planning to locally assemble the Forester…

Looking to sell your car? Sell it with Carro.

Certified Pre-Owned - 1 Year Warranty

10% discount when you renew your car insurance

Compare prices between different insurer providers and use the promo code 'PAULTAN10' when you make your payment to save the most on your car insurance renewal compared to other competing services.

Car Insurance

Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • sam lol on Apr 24, 2014 at 6:41 pm

    Make in US? boycott!!
    boycott barangan amerika yahudi!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 77
    • Motorhead (Member) on Apr 24, 2014 at 8:18 pm

      Grow up. Not all jews are bad. Some of them are prophets companion. Some of them are moslem in US. Ada blajar kah?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 36 Thumb down 8
    • Moron. If not for the jews, a lot of modern medicines and technology we use today won’t be around.

      The jews don’t go around strapped with bomb or filled with vengeance killing each other in the name of god.

      the only reason the middle east is stable is because of small jewish state there or the other contries would have invaded and destroyed each other.

      the arabic countries and others with similar religious beliefs speak so much about the plight and mistreatment of the palestines but tgey themselves treat the palestines like pariahs. I have been and worked in a few palestine refugee camps.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 13
  • gajen on Apr 24, 2014 at 7:17 pm

    this car looks like a 10 years old car. outdated design

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 15
  • AutoFrenz (the original) on Apr 24, 2014 at 7:26 pm

    This one looks like the previous santa fe…the original styling is waaayyyy better than this bland outlook…no wonder it has ceased production…so the big question is whats its doing here…to ferry obama…bullet proof maybe…or bcoz nobody cares to give a second glance….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 2
  • Semi-Value (Member) on Apr 24, 2014 at 7:34 pm

    leftover throw to us

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 22 Thumb down 1
  • Lookman on Apr 24, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    Subaru’s boxer engine is reliable, but the design is soo outdated. Dont know how to describe…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 0
  • tiadaid (Member) on Apr 24, 2014 at 8:20 pm

    Could it be for private use?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
  • err.. looks uglier than any China design SUV.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 1
  • This model is now in run-out phase in Australia :S

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Josh Ling on Apr 24, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    the previous B9 Tribeca was really acquired taste to say the least, but compare with today’s Subarus, I would say at least those days Subaru still had the guts to try out something new. Now it seems to be plain vanilla and bland like plain water to me, in terms of exterior and interior design.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • heybadigol on Apr 25, 2014 at 8:24 am

    Usually in US cars terminology, a 2014 car means a 2013 car (pls correct me if im wrong). Dont ask why, its the way they call them. So a Subaru sold in 2014, will be called a 2015 Subaru.

    Anyways, back to the car. The interior is so swoopy & sexy and totally unlike any other Subarus which are spartan and more function over form. So thats a nice touch. Exterior is not bad honestly. It is a Subaru after all.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • ericmaxman on Apr 25, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Hmm, can compete against the MY14 Santa Fe, but only segment wise, not price wise :x

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • The real maserati on Apr 25, 2014 at 8:59 am

    Dont bother about this car, aint gonna make a huge difference whether launched or not in Malaysia. Nobody is gonna buy it for goodness sake!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
  • pearjai on Apr 25, 2014 at 10:57 am

    3600cc car with tax is mad price….maybe same price with 5 new honda city….roadtax almost rm2k peryear…these car would sellable with 2000cc or 2500cc….

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • subaru on Apr 25, 2014 at 11:21 am

    bring in 2015 new Legacy, Outback, and Levorg, then you have a game changer.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • They cant sell it in the us they want to sell it here? haha no

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • hmm that front grille reminds me of chrysler 350c…ugly!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • bisakeris (Member) on Apr 26, 2014 at 6:47 pm

    !! design soooo outdated !! can’t believe my eyes.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

Add a comment

required

required