The SUV with a soul of a sportscar. That’s how the Mazda Tribute is marketed the world over. Seen in glossy adverts side-by-side with MX-5s, it proved to be a very bold, almost bordering on blasphemous statement given the legendary status of Mazda sportscars. Yet, here it is, and three years or so since its debut, it’s still pretty much touted as such. So, is it true? Is it the SUV that drives like a MX-5 and can scare the living daylights out of a Lamborghini? If you’re talking about Lamborghini tractors, definitely; otherwise, the answer would be no. However, don’t let that disappoint you. The Tribute is a well-rounded product—just don’t expect it to out corner a Ferrari.
It’s common knowledge that the Tribute is simply a re-bodied Ford Escape. Built during the time when Mazda was strapped for cash, and Ford needed a compact SUV badly; the most economical solution was for these two companies to join R&D know-how. As a result, the Tribute’s overall behavior is smack 50/50 split between Ford and Mazda. Neither is it a true “No Boundaries” SUV nor is it a product oozing with “zoom-zoom”. Disappointed? Yes. Awful? Most definitely not.
From the outside, it’s apparent that the Tribute shares the same steel body as the Ford. Discount the lamps, hood and the minor plastic cladding, and you practically have the same boxy shape. As a result, the Mazda’s styling is utterly forgettable. The Escape, at least, was commendable for having a sort of family resemblance with the rest of the Ford SUVs, but the Tribute is generic Japan. Despite the sweeping lights, puddle lamps and swathes of chrome here and there, it’s B-L-A-N-D.
The Tribute’s character spirals deeper into the murky pits with its plasticky interior. Again, if it were the Ford Escape, it would be excusable to say that it has a family resemblance to the Expedition and F-150s of old, but the Tribute has no excuse. The Japanese engineers and accountants could have signed off using 626 switchgear on the Tribute. Alas, they simply removed all Ford Blue Ovals and replaced them with Mazda’s Mr. Pringles logo. What’s even funnier is the way the Tribute apes all the Escape’s cabin quirks such as the A/C’s lack of a recirculation setting on the lowest blower setting.
However, since the Tribute shares the Escape’s cabin (sans color, where the Mazda gets gray), it shares all its strengths: comfy driving position, supportive seats and excellent visibility. Not to mention, it scores well on passenger space and there’s a variety of cubby holes too. Loading space is versatile thanks to having a separate glass/reach hatch system.
The Hiroshima-based engineers claim that the Tribute has unique suspension and steering settings versus its Dearborn-based brother, but on the open road, you can’t feel any of them. Expect 100 percent Escape when driving the Tribute: cumbersome on the twisty stuff, comfy and compliant in a straight-line. Moderate body roll and understeer are average fare here, but at least the Tribute feels solid and safe. Overall, the Tribute feels larger than their size suggests, but after a few kilometers, the added girth melts away.
Under the hood, there are two engine choices: a 2.3-liter, 157 horsepower inline-4 and a 3.0-liter, 206 horsepower V6. Again, with both engines shared with the Escape, expect similar behavior (non-linear, on/off acceleration) and so-so fuel economy. The throttle effort is ridiculously hard, making the acceleration abrupt, especially during stop-go situations. A 50-kilogram weight advantage, thanks to the removal of the rear drive wheels over the Escape XLT, makes the Tribute V6 livelier. On the flipside though, the Tribute suffers a heavy dose of torque steering, especially when coming from a slow corner.
While speed junkies will cherish the V6’s power, the inline-4 is the most practical given today’s petrol prices. It has a longer range between fill-ups too. In addition, there are not much additional toys in the V6 over the inline-4 to really justify the difference. Both have 6-disc in-dash CD changer and power moon roof as standard. The V6 though gains an additional three speakers (seven versus four), but loses out with a temporary space saver spare tire against a full-sized one on the inline-4.
So, what’s the verdict on the Mazda Tribute? Well, the lesson learned here has nothing to do with the product per se, just don’t believe the marketing blurb. With the exception of the badge, the Tribute has no shred of sportscar DNA. In fact, with it being designed even before Mazda coined “zoom-zoom”, it sticks out against the rest of the model range. As a product, the Tribute excels with good value, solid build-quality and sound mechanicals. As a Mazda though, it fails miserably. Forget SUV with a soul of a sportscar, it’s more like the SUV with a soul of an SUV. Surprised? Perhaps not.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos By Ulysses Ang & Jason K. Ang
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