2004 Mazda Tribute Review
Fuel Economy
18 - 22 mpg
Summary
What Edmunds.com says
Roomy on the inside, stylish on the outside and fun to drive wherever it goes, the Tribute is one of our favorite small SUVs.
Pros
Roomy and comfortable interior, peppy V6 engine, drives more like a car than a truck.
Cons
Weak base four-cylinder, mediocre fuel economy and driving range on V6 models, cheap-looking interior.
What's New for 2004
New body-colored door edge guards are available as an option, as is Homelink and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with a built-in compass.
Consumer Ratings & Reviews
I LOVE IT
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 3 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2004 Mazda Tribute DX Fwd 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Review
I love this vehicle and we have put lots of mileage on it, lots of room and very comfortable, handles very nicely on highway with little noise. We drive all over on ATV trails in the bush, on the highway and around town and are extremely happy with out Mazda Tribute. When I decide to trade in I am almost certain to get another Tribute. My only complaint with it is the gas mileage considering the size of this SUV.
Favorite Features
I love that there are really no blind spots in this vehicle you can see so well around you parking is no problem at all. Great acceleration on the highway. Comfort for everyone even in the backseat, lots of leg room.
Suggested Improvements
Fuel economy!!!
18/22 mpg???
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 7 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 7 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 8 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 7 | ||
Vehicle
2004 Mazda Tribute DX Fwd 4dr SUV (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
Review
Dunno where they get these fuel ratings. I get 27 on my commute & up to 30 hiway. Have never gotten lower than 25 mpg, even pulling the trailer. Not bad for a 2.0 4 cyl.
Favorite Features
mileage, 5 spd, clearance, front wheel drive, I don't need 4wd for the few miles I go off road. Front wd gets me anywhere I want to go. Don't want to drag all that weight(xfer case, axle, diff, drive shaft, etc) 30k miles for the 200 miles I go off road/yr.
Suggested Improvements
A visor that actually blocks the sun? Lumbar support?
Good for the money
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 9 | Fun-to-Drive: | 8 | Build Quality: | 8 |
| Comfort: | 8 | Interior Design: | 7 | Reliability: | 9 |
| Fuel Economy: | 6 | Exterior Design: | 8 | ||
Vehicle
2004 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
Review
Purchased mine as a used vehicle from our credit union as a lease return. Agree this is an SUV, not a car, so ride is acceptable. Started out with a Suburban, then a Durango, now the Mazda. The short wheelbase is a little rougher, but overall a solid vehicle. The mileage could be better, but after driving two notorious gas guzzlers, I'm happy. The engine is plenty powerful with good pick-up, unlike the Dodge I owned, that seemed to go from 0-60 in about an hour! Handling this year's rough Northern Michigan winter like a charm, even out of 4WD. After a couple of hours, the seats get a little hard, additional cushioning would help.
Favorite Features
Front wheel drive. Sound syatem
Suggested Improvements
Larger fuel tank, better gas mileage, more supportive seats.
1 out 1 people found this review helpful
Very satisfied wuth my Tribute
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 9 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 10 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 9 | Exterior Design: | 9 | ||
Vehicle
2004 Mazda Tribute LX-V6 Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
Review
After 3+ yrs of ownership I remain very satisfied with my Tribute LX. I carefully researched all comparable vehicles vs my reqts. I still believe it is the best value for the money of its kind. After 40K miles, I installed quieter, softer riding tires vs the factory tires; noticeable change in ride and quietness. Easy thing to do. My young adult teens really like the leg room space in the back seat and enjoy driving it. MPG is competitive. I have the premier sound system. Sporty, responsive engine that can be used to tow if you wish (I have not yet).
Favorite Features
Excellent sound system - I have the premier system. Compact - easy parking. Roomy (back seat) - interior fits 3 people. Partial recline of back seat is nice.
Suggested Improvements
Light in glove compartment.
Excellent vehicle for your money
Overall Rating
| Performance: | 10 | Fun-to-Drive: | 10 | Build Quality: | 10 |
| Comfort: | 10 | Interior Design: | 9 | Reliability: | 10 |
| Fuel Economy: | 7 | Exterior Design: | 10 | ||
Vehicle
2004 Mazda Tribute ES-V6 4WD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
Review
Six weeks after purchase, I got into a bad car accident and I tested its safety; this SUV saved my life. My Tribute got fixed and after almost 60K miles it is still running like new. Fuel economy, quality of the leather interior and difficulty to operate the CD are the only minuses in this car. But the rest are just pluses. I have looked at other SUVs but I have not found the comfort, power and nice look my Tribute has. I think I will have this car for a long time! I took it off road also and its performance was awesome, the rest of SUVs just saw my dust left behind!
Favorite Features
The interior is very roomy, the exterior is very stylish, surround sound system, powerful engine and excellent response going up hills even if you have 5 passengers and cargo load.
Suggested Improvements
If you are building an SUV with poor fuel economy, a bigger gas tank would be great. The leather seems cheap and gets stained or damage easily (be careful!). The stick shift is in your way when you want to operate the CD and lighted cruise controls would also be a great idea.
1 out 1 people found this review helpful
View Pricing for Other Years
- 2010 Mazda Tribute
- 2009 Mazda Tribute
- 2008 Mazda Tribute
- 2006 Mazda Tribute
- 2005 Mazda Tribute
- 2004 Mazda Tribute
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