Mazda makes some of the best sedans on the market; the “Zoom-zoom” corporate philosophy sounds funny but it neatly sums up the spirit of its cars. What about its compact SUV, the Tribute? Can it really fit in with its sporty stable mates?
The Tribute marked Mazda’s resurgence under the auspices of its new parent, the Ford Group. It receives a timely freshening just as its rivals all get a restyle or a total redesign. The Tribute’s outer shell, though not a standout in any single area, is still a pleasant and harmonious design. There’s now a choice of single or two-tone paint scheme (which costs a little extra), in several retina-burning shades, including the Sublime green of our test unit. Headlamps and grille have been reshaped, and side-mirror mounted repeaters are now standard. The large tailgate with separately-opening glass hatch makes loading of the large cargo bay quick and convenient.
The cockpit has also been re-trimmed to fit in with the current Mazda style. The biggest change is the shifter’s repositioning from the steering column to the floor; it’s much easier to use than the old system. The seat fabric is in an appropriate black and silver color scheme, as is the dashboard and center console. The Halloween-orange instrumentation is augmented by black lacquer-like trim. There’s a new control panel for the audio and aircon controls, and the convenient steering-wheel audio controls have been retained.
Under the hood is a 2.3-liter inline-4 engine, good for 157 hp and 203 Nm, mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The 3.0 V6, which gave the Tribute a performance edge and a welcome dose of driver enjoyment, unfortunately bows out, due to lack of demand amid sky-high petrol prices. Tributes are front-wheel drive only. On the road, progress is smooth and unobtrusive.
Brakes have been upgraded to discs at all four corners, with ABS and EBD. The MacPherson strut front / independent strut rear suspension absorbs bumps well and gives reasonable handling. There’s very little of the superbly responsive behavior that make the 3 and the 6 such fun to drive.
The changes to the Tribute align it more closely with its sportier sedan siblings, and pricing of the entry-level SUV remains competitive. But what this SUV really needs to worry about are its rivals, most of which are all-new. The upgrades are enough to hold the fort, but the next Tribute should be well worth waiting for. A Tribute that drives like a Mazda3 can blow everyone else away.
By Jason K. Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang
Originally Published in The Manila Bulletin
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