Now in its fourth year of production, the Subaru Tribeca is a solid midsize crossover SUV. About the size of a Toyota Highlander, the Tribeca seats seven. It's loaded with technology, starting with its world-class all-wheel-drive system, and offers a luxurious cabin.

We found the Tribeca a joy to drive, with a roomy, comfortable cabin that has an upscale feel and a modern interior design. From behind the wheel, because of a sloped windshield and short hood, it feels more like a minivan than an SUV. The leather seats in the Limited model could use more bolstering, but it's a practical vehicle with lots of nice features.

The Subaru Tribeca is powered by a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine with horizontally opposed cylinders (called a boxer six) rated at 256 horsepower. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 16/21 mpg City/Highway. All models come with all-wheel drive and a 5-speed SportShift automatic with a manual shiftgate.

Tribeca has good power, and it's smooth and quiet at highway speeds. Subaru is a leader in all-wheel drive technology so the Tribeca boasts one of the best systems in its class, making it a superb choice for foul weather. The handling is sure-footed and agile for a vehicle this size, the all-wheel drive giving it a secure feeling that encourages spirited driving.

Tribeca was launched as a 2006 model. 2008 brought styling revisions, a larger engine and mechanical refinements. For 2010, all Tribecas became seven-seaters, and the Touring luxury model was added. There are no significant changes for 2011.