Best Used Mazda Compact SUV - Tribute
Compact SUVs are no longer merely the half-sized brothers of tough, rock-climbing full-size off-road trucks. The compact market has opened up to the degree that these once utilitarian vehicles have evolved into a viable replacement not only for the family car but also the minivan, thanks to great increases in ride comfort, cargo and passenger space and fuel economy. A large part of this improvement in the quality and capability of compact SUVs has been the shift from using the body on frame construction of standard trucks and instead adopting the use of sedan-based platforms which offer a much more compliant driving experience and greatly reduced weight.
Mazda was in somewhat a unique position when it came to capitalizing on the new compact SUV boom that occurred just after the year 2000. By working together with corporate parent Ford, they were able to provide a number of well-engineered small and mid-size car platforms that translated well into producing a refined sport-utility vehicle that was in direct contrast to the more rugged trucks that were more commonly sold by the domestic automaker. Cribbing the platform previously used to underpin the Mazda 626, Ford released the Escape SUV and Mazda cloned it and sold it as the Tribute.
While the Mazda Tribute and the Ford Escape are ostensibly identical vehicles, some important differences remain. In order to comply with their positioning as a company dedicated to providing cars that are fun and interesting to drive, Mazda tweaked the suspension of the Tribute in order to exchange some of the Escape's compliant ride for a stiffer and more responsive one. The Tribute also makes use of a somewhat more aggressive exterior look in order to fire up the hearts of Mazda enthusiasts and convince them that the compact SUV does indeed share some of the same DNA that makes the RX-8 and the Miata such compelling vehicles.
This article focuses on the 2001 - 2006 Mazda Tribute and makes a case for it being the best used compact SUV to have ever been built by the Japanese car company. At the time of its release, the Tribute was a significant step forward in small SUV design when compared to some of the offerings from Toyota and Honda, and much of this functionality and engineering is still relevant in today's market. This has helped to make the Tribute a perennial seller on secondhand car lots across the country.
2001 - 2006 Mazda Tribute
The 2001 - 2006 Mazda Tribute is somewhat of an unsung hero on the used compact SUV market. When it was first released, Mazda was 7 years removed from their last sport-utility vehicle, a re-badged version of the Ford Explorer, and they had faded from the minds of buyers shopping in this segment. However, as word of mouth grew surrounding the quality of both the Tribute and its Escape brother, a larger group of buyers began jumping onto the Mazda SUV bandwagon.
The Tribute makes things fairly simple when it comes to choosing a drivetrain. From 2001 - 2005, the options were either a 130 horsepower 2.0 liter 4-cylinder matched to a 5-speed manual transmission, or a 200 horsepower 3.0 liter V6 featuring a 4-speed automatic. In 2005, along with a subtle exterior re-styling, the Tribute's entry-level power plant was upgraded to a 2.4 liter 4-cylinder making 153 horsepower. An automatic transmission was finally made available. All-wheel drive can be ordered on either edition of the SUV, but despite the Tribute's rugged good looks, the system is designed primarily to provide excellent traction on slippery pavement, not conquer the Rubicon trail.
Of course, this is not an issue for most families, who are interested in the 2001 - 2006 Mazda Tribute as a daily driver that can absorb their children and associated lifestyle accessories with ease. In this respect the Tribute scores high marks, and with a fairly long wheelbase it provides substantial room for 4 passengers and acceptable accommodations for 5. Not only is rear passenger room generous, but overall cargo space also impresses: just under 67 cubic feet with the seats folded forward. The SUV's cabin is furnished with basic but functional controls, gauges and trim, and it never feels as though Mazda cut any cost corners when assembling the vehicle.
The 2001 - 2006 Mazda Tribute is a used compact SUV that will satisfy anyone interested in reliable and capable transportation with a touch of off-road style but none of the rough mannerisms that go with it.