Subaru Tribeca safe for now

SUBARU’S slowest-selling standalone model, the seven-seat Tribeca medium SUV, has been given a stay of execution until at least the end of 2013.

Subaru Australia managing director Nick Senior told GoAuto that the 2013 model year Tribeca has just been signed off, meaning it will remain in production “through to the end of 2013”, but could not guarantee whether the model will continue after that date.

He also said the six-seat Liberty Exiga people-mover –Australia being one of only a handful of markets where it is sold alongside the Tribeca – is an “ongoing” model, despite it only selling around 30 units per month.

The MY2013 Tribeca is likely to be a facelift aimed at boosting interest in what is now an ageing model and its arrival – expected to be late this year or early next – will fall within what is shaping up to be a busy product launch schedule for Subaru.

It has already launched the new XV crossover and Impreza small car this year and has the BRZ sportscar due in the third quarter followed by a next-generation version of the popular Forester compact SUV early next year.

Left: Subaru Liberty Exiga.

The Tribeca has averaged around 108 sales per month in Australia since it was launched in November 2006 with polarising front-end styling that led to a comprehensive restyle barely 12 months later.

An enlarged but lighter, torquier and more efficient 3.6-litre flat-six petrol engine was complemented by suspension revisions and improved access to third-row seats as part of the facelift.

Even as the Tribeca entered its third year on sale in Australia in November 2008, the model’s future was not assured as a replacement model had not been signed off.

In November 2009, the Exiga arrived in Australia to bridge the gap between the Liberty/Outback and Tribeca.