By Christopher Tan, Senior Correspondent

In a number of ways, Subaru's Tribeca 3.6R is similar to scores of recent new-age SUVs: urbane styling, easy access and loads of modern amenities. And despite its size and heft (nearly 2 tonnes), its appearance is unlikely to rile greenies.

The evolution, however, is not complete. Beneath the soft corners and coiffured curves beats a wild heart. In this case, it is a sizeable heart too. The 3.6- litre horizontally opposed engine offers significantly more torque than the 3.0-litre which the Tribeca debuted three years ago.

The car has permanent all-wheel-drive (then again, so do most Subarus).

The traits that are still very much old-school SUV lie in the ride-and-handling department.

In a family known for its precise WRXes, the Tribeca is a bit of a misfit. It moves like a bull in a china shop and rides like a hippo on springs.

Much of it is due to its dodgy steering. It is lead- heavy at crawling speeds and becomes a tad remote when the car is hurtling down the tarmac.

The steering ratio is not what you would expect of a modern machine, either. You often find yourself turning and twirling like a truck driver.

Its comfort-biased suspension is fine on mirror- smooth surfaces, but can be too reactive when the going gets rough.

At the helm, the Tribeca seems like a far larger vehicle than it really is. But as long as you are not expecting a car-like SUV, this big Subaru will not disappoint.

For one thing, it has what it takes to keep up with smaller, and seemingly swifter, vehicles.

Thanks to its beefy power plant, it is capable of hitting 100kmh in under nine seconds, which is pretty decent for a carriage of its stature and heft.

Its cabin is relatively quiet for a car with its front profile and elephantine wing mirrors. At higher speeds, the solidity of the vehicle comes to the fore.

Onboard, the Tribeca is impressive. Its cockpit is sophisticated and individualistic, with some clever touches you will not see in conventional layouts.

It is a well-equipped car, too: electrically adjustable front seats with memory, dual-zone climate control with very stylish digital dials, cruise control, parking beepers with visual cues, a sizeable front centre storage console with armrests and a slew of airbags (including curtain-type).

It is a roomy car upfront, with more-than-ample headroom despite the inclusion of a sunroof.

Like before, the car seats seven, but the two seats in the last row remain pretty cramped.

An extremely powerful air-conditioner (with rear vents and control), self-folding mirrors and LED illumination beneath the side skirts are some of the other things you can expect.

Practically everything onboard looks good, feels good and works well. The only niggling flaw is the seatbelt buckle, which sticks out too much. When engaged, it jabs at your hip bone.

The Tribeca has received some cosmetic surgery, too. Subaru has shed its "bewinged" grille design and Cayenne-like headlamps for more conservative lines. The latest look (already a year old) is quite smart if a mite unadventurous.

Among mass-market seven-seater SUVs such as the Toyota Fortuner and Chevrolet Captiva, the Tribeca 3.6R clearly packs a lot more muscle and luxury - and its pricing reflects this.

But whether it has superior all-round space is questionable.

In the end, it is best to view this car as a premium five-seater with ample stowage and two extra "emergency" seats. And one that will outrun its peers easily - as long as the road is not too winding.

christan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times.

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