North American markets received the Tribeca in 2005 for the 2006 model year,[2] and it was introduced to Australasia and Europe in late 2006.

The vehicle was initially announced as the B9X on November 5, 2004 at the South Florida Auto Show,[5] and was renamed the B9 Tribeca in December after soliciting current and potential customer feedback.

[6] The Tribeca made its worldwide debut at the North American International Auto Show in January 2005 and was scheduled to go on sale in early summer 2005 for the 2006 model year, with production at the SIA plant in Lafayette, Indiana supplying vehicles for sale in the United States, Canada, Australia and Chile.

As this styling motif proved controversial,[9][10][11][12] all future Subaru redesigns abandoned this design language as well as the "B" naming scheme.

[14] The grille design was reportedly "meant to convey parent-company Fuji Heavy Industries' glorious history in aviation".

The updated model, first shown at the Chicago Auto Show, included a revised grille, struts, stabilizer bars, and spring rates.

[18] Saab revised their plans to replace the 9-7X after a short two-year lifespan, and instead the Oldsmobile Bravada-based body-on-frame SUV continued production until the 2009 model year.

[19] Subaru released the 2008 models at the New York International Auto Show in April 2007 with a facelift and a larger 3.6-liter EZ36 flat-six engine rated at 191 kilowatts (256 hp).

[22] The rear of the vehicle was also mildly redesigned with more rounded taillamps, a restyled hatch, and the rearmost side window reshaped.

[21] North American market Tribecas offered two trim levels— Base and Limited, the latter added a moonroof, leather interior, roof rails for enhanced cargo carrying and a premium audio system with six-disc in-dash CD changer.

[citation needed] The Limited trim level included an in-dash multifunction screen that displayed audio system information, trip computer functions, and outside temperatures.

[citation needed] In the United States, Subaru's initial television ad campaign for the Tribeca prominently featured the Kansas song "Dust in the Wind".

[25] The Tribeca won the Ward's Auto 2006 "Interior of the Year" for premium-priced crossover utility vehicles in voting from automotive industry professionals.

[27] Subaru chose to use an aluminum alloy horizontally-opposed "boxer" engine to minimize powertrain weight and lower the center of gravity so as to reduce body roll.

[3] On October 18, 2013, Autoblog, Jalopnik, and Cars.com all confirmed that Subaru informed its dealers that production on the Tribeca would end in January 2014 due to slow sales.