IF THE CURRENT crop of recently-launched Sport Utility Vehicles is anything to go by, 2006 should mark the year where the distinction between off-roaders and mainstream cars truly began to blur. In other words, the golden age of the Crossover vehicle is upon us.

An example of this burgeoning genre is the Subaru B9 Tribeca. The Japanese automaker calls the car a 'progressive SUV'.

While the company didn't go on to explain what 'progressive' meant in the Tribeca's context, any mention of off-road ability was conspicuously absent in the press release, so presumably 'progressive refers to the carmaker acknowledging the fact that most people drive on tarmac all of the time.

The name itself is another big hint of this car's intent. Instead of tough-guy monikers like Commander or Defender, the Tribeca is named after a trendy district in New York, where creative types live in fabulously-expensive loft apartments housed in former industrial complexes.

What is immediately apparent though, is that the Tribeca looks like no other Subaru, indeed, it doesn't look like anything else on the road. It's also Subaru's first passenger car that's capable of accommodating seven occupants.

Driving it

If it's Subaru's rally-bred, turbocharged, go-faster body kit heritage you're looking for, you won't find it in the Tribeca. Instead, the refined and relaxed nature of this car is better suited for school runs and trips to the golf course.

Power comes from a normally-aspirated 245bhp 3.0-litre flat six that it shares with the range-topping Outback, another crossover model. Auto anoraks can also take pleasure in the fact that Porsche is the only other carmaker that uses horizontally-opposed six-cylinder engines, so in that sense, the Tribeca's in good company.

The similarity however, ends when it comes to driving dynamics. The 297Nm of torque that the Tribeca produces arrives fashionably late at 4,200rpm which means that you'll need a heavy right foot to get it going.

Fortunately, the Tribeca is also fitted with a five-speed automatic gearbox that has a manual override function. This lets you choose the right gear for keeping the revs up, ideal when preparing for overtaking manoeuvres.

Considering its 1,935kg kerb weight, and size, the Tribeca is a decent handler. Chuck it into a corner and this Subaru will faithfully track your inputs, helped in no small way by its all-wheel drive system. There's a hint of understeer as you enter a turn, but power through gently and you can feel the nose tucking back into your intended line. There is some body roll of course, but not so much for your passengers to feel like they're on the movie set of Poseidon.

INSIDE IT

SUV fans won't be disappointed with the Tribeca's seating position. The car has a ground clearance of just over 20cm which means that everyone aboard will get a great vantage point over most other cars.

The dashboard's futuristic design is one of Subaru's best efforts to date, not least because it imparts a convincing sense of quality. It also gives you the distinct impression that you're piloting something from a science-fiction movie.

Those seated in the third row of seats might not be very impressed though, as legroom back there is dismal at best. Even by Subaru's own admission, the Tribeca is more a five-plus-two rather than a genuine seven-seater.

The middle row of seats can help with the rear seat legroom crisis to a certain extent as it does slide forwards, but frustratingly the middle seat backs don't tip far enough for easy access to the last row. Passengers six and seven therefore need to be pretty limber.

The Tribeca makes a better case for itself in five-seat mode with the last row stowed neatly into the boot floor. In this configuration, the Tribeca offers you a copious 1,065 litres of luggage space. With seven seats in place however, cargo capacity drops to just 235 litres, enough space for little more than a briefcase and gym bag.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

Priced at $138,500 with COE, the Tribeca isn't exactly cheap nor should it be as it is refined and comfortable enough to pass for an alternative executive car.

However, there's obviously room for improvement as rivals like the less controversially-styled Nissan Murano are going for less. The Nissan, in 3.5-litre V6 guise, has a price advantage over the Tribeca of at least $15,500. Even if you take the Murano's five-seat only capacity into consideration, the Tribeca still seems pricey.

CONCLUSION

The premium asked for the Tribeca is a lot to pay for a seven-seat party trick but then, it's also reasonably well equipped with niceties such as electrically-adjustable front seats. Plus you also get that 'Star Trek'-inspired interior and the techno-cred of having a six-cylinder 'boxer' engine under the bonnet.

Just like its New York namesake, the Tribeca may be funky and unusual but it sure ain't cheap.

It's an automobile interior Jim, but not as we know it...

Silky smooth3.0-litre flat-six develops 245bhp

Third row of seats are for occasional use only...

NISSAN MURANO 3.5 (A) $119,000 with COE

In terms of price and performance, the Murano gives the Tribeca a good run for its money. The Nissan is more conventionally styled but it's still good-looking. It does lacks the ability to seat seven, though.

VOLVO XC90 3.2 (A) $199,000 with COE

If you want to take the seven-seat theme further up market, there's the Volvo XC90. The Tribeca runs it close in terms of refinement, but the Swedish SUV offers better third row comfort and is altogether more luxurious.