Road Tests: Long-Term Test

Video highlights of this vehicle

Technical Editor Miles Cook, who isn't much of an SUV fan, still enjoyed piloting our long-term Mazda Tribute this month. The Trib's lively 3.0-liter V6 engine and responsive automatic transmission contributed to Cook's enjoyment in commuting back and forth to work. Besides the powertrain, the other part of the Mazda's personality that Cook and the majority of other staffers seem to enjoy most are its tight and precise handling manners. Yep, the Tribute is probably one of the best-handling SUVs on the market right now. It's confident enough in curves and on winding roads to make the driver think he's driving a sedan or even a two-door coupe. Taking curves at 10 to 15 mph faster than the posted speed never causes concern for the driver or any passengers.

Despite several recalls — one of which involved the steering wheel coming loose — no problems arose this month with our Galaxy Blue zoom-zoom mobile. In fact, everything on this SUV is staying in place just fine. And we're finding out mighty fast about durability issues with this machine, as we've racked up more than 16,000 miles of seat time in only four months! For staffer Cook, much of his time in the car has been spent on weekend trips from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles to much quieter Santa Barbara, Calif. During those trips, a significant stretch of road traveled is Pacific Coast Highway (also known at Highway 1). Part of Highway 1 has a few 35-mph curves, which Cook says can be easily negotiated in the Tribute at 55 mph or more. Try that in an Excursion, a top-heavy Explorer or some other ham-fisted-handling SUV.

Cook reports that minor ergonomic issues, such as the too-long shifter that gets in the way of the radio controls, are the types of things that he could get used to over time. He did think that the shifter detents were a bit too soft (the same problem found in our long-term Honda Odyssey minivan), and the seemingly flimsy door handles feel as if they could break off if pulled too hard. The main snafu that he'll never be able to really comprehend is the big "tuning" knob on the radio that controls the bass, treble, balance and fader when you push it. But turn it without pushing it first? It does nothing. It's kind of like the "zero function control" (non-factory buttons or knobs that no longer control anything) found on some of the old Corvettes and Mustangs that Cook owned in his younger days. Go figure.

Some editors have carped about the Tribute's noisy cabin and raucous soundtrack emanating from under the hood. None of these issues bothered Cook, especially when the decent-sounding CD player was cranked up. But if you want super-smooth and whisper-quiet to be part of your SUV driving experience, there's certainly others out there that will do better than the Tribute. But how do those big living rooms on wheels handle curvy roads?

Finally, Cook says he was concerned that our Tribute often seems to be a bit of a gas-guzzler. While the EPA ratings are 18 mpg in the city and 24 on the highway, our average of just over 18 mpg seems as if it could be better. It's likely due to our staff's admittedly heavy feet. As mentioned before in previous updates, he also finds it something of a drag that the Tribute can't really go much farther than 300 miles on one tank of fuel. A larger fuel tank would be a good idea for the not-so-stingy Mazda.

Maybe the next few editors who get seat time in the Trib will feather the pedal in an effort to up the fuel-economy average a little bit. But don't bet on it! Mazda's spunky and sprightly mini-SUV entry is simply too fun to drive to worry about that. We'll leave that challenge to the next editor who draws our long-term Honda Insight, instead.

Current Odometer: 16,403
Best Fuel Economy: 20.9 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 14.2 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 18.3 mpg
Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None