LOVE the Mazda Tribute 4 cyl, front whell drive model.
Love this little SUV! It has great acceleration and handles well. Is excellent on the highway or around town.
News
A redesigned Tribute is expected for 2008 along with new versions of parent Ford's Escape and Mercury Mariner. The makeover uses a modified version of the Mazda 6 midsize-car platform, but styling is likely to be more differentiated among the three sibling SUVs. Mazda says it wants to add a gas/electric Tribute as soon as possible. Whenever it appears, it would use the same drive system as the hybrid Escape and Mariner.
New For 2006 Mazda Tribute
Mazda's compact SUV shares its car-type design with the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner, though only Escape and Mariner offer a gas/electric hybrid powertrain. Tribute comes in models labeled i and s. Both are available with front-wheel drive or with all-wheel drive that does not include low-range gearing. Standard on i models is a 153-hp 2.3-liter 4-cyl engine. Standard on s models is a 200-hp V6. The i version is available with manual or automatic transmission; s models have an automatic. Antilock brakes are standard on both. Optional for s models are front side airbags and curtain side airbags that cover both seating rows. Both models come with 16-inch alloy wheels, 60/40 split folding rear seatbacks, and a liftgate with opening glass. Available features include heated front seats, leather upholstery, sunroof, and DVD entertainment. Tribute's performance and accommodations mirror those of comparably equipped Escapes.
Interior Design and Special Features
Tribute cabins are roomy and functional with plenty of room for four passengers and a simple control layout. All radio head units are satellite radio-compatible (Mazda dealers can install a Sirius receiver). In general, materials quality is not as impressive as that of other Mazda vehicles, but considering the economical nature of this small SUV, most buyers won't find it lacking. Cargo capacity is generous for a small SUV with 30 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a total of 66 cubic feet when the seats are folded.
Safety
Four-wheel antilock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist are standard on all models. Side curtain airbags are optional on the s model only. The Tribute scored very well in governmental crash testing, earning a perfect five stars for the driver and four stars for the front passenger in the frontal-impact category, and five stars across the board for side impacts. Frontal-offset crash testing conducted by the IIHS told a different story, however, as the Tribute earned a "Marginal" rating (the second lowest of four). The Tribute did earn a "Good" in IIHS side-impact testing when equipped with side airbags.
Powertrains and Performance
Two engines are available in the Mazda Tribute. The i comes with a 153-hp, 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engine matched to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. The s gets a 3.0-liter V6 engine good for 200 hp. A four-speed automatic is standard with the V6. Both Mazda SUV models are available with either front-wheel drive (2WD) or an electronic four-wheel-drive system (4WD). Maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds.
Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options
The four-door Mazda Tribute is available in base i and high-line s trims. The i comes with a decent amount of standard equipment, including 16-inch alloy wheels, a roof rack, air conditioning, a CD player and power windows, mirrors and locks. The s adds privacy glass, a height-adjustable driver seat and cruise control. Key options include leather upholstery, a power driver seat, an upgraded seven-speaker audio system with a CD changer, a moonroof and a class II towing package. A rear-seat DVD entertainment system can be ordered on any Tribute as long as a sunroof isn't involved.
Driving Impressions
The Mazda Tribute is an agile and powerful little SUV and it handles better than most sport-utilities. Its sharp steering allows the driver to guide it precisely. We found the Tribute stable at high speeds. Handling response is relatively taut on winding roads, without that mushiness that characterizes SUVs with big off-road tires and long-travel suspensions. Tribute handles much better than a Jeep Liberty, for example, and it's sportier and more fun to drive than a Honda CR-V.
Steering response is direct and accurate without a big dead spot in the center. There's enough feeling in the steering to give the driver a good sense of control. The tires provide respectable grip in paved corners and transient response in lane-change maneuvers is surprisingly good. In other words, it's relatively tight when turning back and forth on a winding road or in an accident-avoidance maneuver. The suspensions on front-wheel-drive (2WD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) versions are identical, so there's no ride-quality penalty with 4WD.
Noise, vibration and harshness levels are low when underway, so it feels relatively refined though not luxurious.
The Tribute's ride quality is smoother and more sophisticated than that of most other compact sport utilities. It offers firm damping and a good control of body motions. The 2005 Tribute received increased spring rates and a larger front stabilizer bar to general approval, lending it a sportier character when the roads get twisty.
The V6 in the Tribute s is neither the smoothest nor the roughest V6 on the market, but it's smoother and more satisfying than the four-cylinder engines found on most small sport-utilities. It's more powerful than the V6 engines in the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento, but it's about 10 horsepower shy of the heavier Jeep Liberty's new V6 and trails the RAV4's very powerful V6 by 69 horsepower.
The V6 engine and four-speed automatic work well together. The transmission shifts smoothly up and down, appropriately for the situation. A broad power band means the engine never lugs or strains. Mazda tuned the transmission for slightly more aggressive shifting and mapped it for quicker acceleration than in the Ford Escape. Properly equipped, the Tribute can tow trailers up to 3500 pounds, which covers personal watercraft, ATVs, snowmobiles, and small boats.
The four-wheel-drive system improves driver control on wet pavement, ice and snow. The Tribute is capable of negotiating two-tracks, but it isn't designed for true off-road travel. Neither its four-wheel-drive system nor its suspension are up to tackling rugged terrain. There's no traction control system nor is there a set of low-range gears. If rugged terrain is on your itinerary, you might be better served by the Jeep Liberty. Tribute handles well on smooth dirt roads, however, and the four-wheel-drive versions should get to most of the places most of us want to go. The 2WD Tributes may have trouble slogging through silt or mud without getting stuck.
Tribute's four-wheel-drive system works full time, automatically transferring power between the front and rear wheels as needed. The Active Torque Control Coupling, introduced on the 2005 models, features a computer-controlled electromagnetic clutch. The newly developed system can react faster and more smoothly to changing road conditions and driver input than the old hydraulic system.
Tribute i models come with front disc and rear drum brakes, while the s is upgraded with four-wheel disc brakes. The brakes do a good job of slowing the Tribute down in a hurry and are smooth and responsive around town. ABS, which allows the driver to brake and steer at the same time, is standard, along with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, which balances brake force front to rear for more stable braking, and Brake Assist, which assists the driver in maintaining maximum brake force in an emergency stopping situation.
Favorite Features
Favorite features are the easy to use stick shift, power mirrors, and seat controls.
Overall Review
I would recommend this to anyone looking for a small SUV.It handles well,has lots of interior room,and is not too expensive.
MSRP Price Range $20,115 - $24,700
Invoice Price Range $18,826 - $23,102
