The swoopy dashboard styling carries over from the B9 Tribeca, and while it's different from anything else on the market, it doesn't sacrifice ease of use in the name of fashion; all of the controls you readily need, like the ones for the air conditioning and stereo, are well within reach. The dash styling is a bit heavy on silver-colored trim, but at least it doesn't look cheap.

A few issues with the vents (yes, the lowly vents) cropped up during my test. The vertical vents in the middle of the dashboard can't be turned off individually, and the horizontal one atop the dash seems destined to be used as a spot for a coffee cup, leading to an inevitable spill into the ventilation system.

The optional leather seats are firm but were comfortable for the duration of the long drive. What made for some discomfort, though, was the lack of a telescoping steering column; it only tilts. I'm 6-foot-1, and I usually find myself adjusting the driver seat far backward to achieve a comfortable distance from the pedals. Once in position, I had to extend my arms farther than I'd like to reach the steering wheel, which made for a sore upper back after a few hours on the road. Sliding the seat forward to reduce the distance between myself and the wheel eased the soreness, but doing this reduced leg space. Even though this is a problem some owners won't encounter, it would be easily correctable with a telescoping steering column or adjustable pedals. Over-shoulder visibility is decent, but the Tribeca's large A-pillars can hide pedestrians and even cars when they're on the right-hand side of the SUV.

The second-row seats can slide forward and back, and they recline. The seat cushions are split 60/40, but the backrest is split 40/20/40. This allows long items like skis to be carried inside the SUV without compromising passenger comfort, as two people can sit on either side of the cargo. The second row is spacious, with lots of legroom for tall adults, and the leather seats are firm like the front buckets. An optional 50/50-split third-row seat increases the Tribeca's occupant capacity from five to seven.

Optional features include a power moonroof, remote start, a touch-screen navigation system, a rearview camera and a rear-seat entertainment system with a 9-inch screen that includes two wireless headphones and a remote control.