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Road Tests: Long-Term Test
Long-Term Test: 2001 Mazda Tribute ES-V6
April 2002
By editors at Edmunds.com
Date Posted 12-16-2002
Video highlights of this vehicle
Before Consumer Advice Editor Philip Reed passes judgment on the Edmunds.com long-term
Mazda Tribute, he would like to confess a bias. He is not an SUV kinda guy. He
is annoyed by the way hulking SUVs clog the freeways, block visibility at intersections
and change global temperatures.
But if he were to buy an SUV, he might consider the Mazda Tribute (or the Ford
Escape). He drove our Tribute for the month of April and had two main impressions:
- He didn't like the powertrain.
- He liked the handling and the looks (both interior and exterior).
Despite being what many editors have described as quick and powerful, Phil felt
the way the engine's power was delivered made the Mazda unpleasant and, occasionally,
tricky to drive.
Here's an excerpt from Phil's comments on this subject: "I can't help feeling
the Tribute is set up differently from similar vehicles. When you step on the
accelerator, you can hear the revs go up, but there is little immediate forward
motion. Step on the gas a bit more and it suddenly lunges forward. This makes
driving a different experience. I am used to cars 'creeping' more, to make it
easier to slide in and out of parking spaces. But the Tribute feels different.
On an incline it will even roll backwards, like a car with a standard transmission."
Not only does this make the navigation of tight spots more difficult, but it gave
Phil the general feeling that the car is heavy and even sluggish. Yes, if you
stand on it, it goes. But it doesn't have a pleasing feeling of responsiveness.
Last summer, on our Mini
SUV Comparison Test, Phil had an opportunity to drive the 2001 Ford Escape
XLT. He had already had negative impressions of the long-term Tribute and was
expecting the same thing from this sister vehicle. He was pleasantly surprised
to find that, when he goosed it, it took off. The Escape didn't need time to mull
the request before sprinting off the line like the Tribute does. And, it should
be noted, the Escape took first in that comparo, which included the Jeep Liberty,
Nissan Xterra, Toyota RAV4, Hyundai Santa Fe and Suzuki Grand Vitara XL-7.
OK, so enough about the powertrain. What else?
High on Phil's list of positives was the Tribute's looks. Our long-termer is a
handsome Galaxy Blue Metallic that seems to complement the flowing lines of this
small SUV. It looks like it means business, but has class, too. Inside, the Tribute
definitely scores higher than its counterpart, the Ford Escape. The black leather-wrapped
steering wheel, the instrument panel and the dashboard are appealing and well
coordinated. (Yes, as noted so many times before, the shift lever blocks the radio
dials and this led to some confused groping, particularly at night.)
Another definite plus in Phil's estimation was the Tribute's ability to turn a
curving road into a playground. "It's easy to slog back and forth to work and
forget what you're driving," he wrote. "It's only when you begin to push this
SUV that it pulls away from the pack. As it goes into a corner, the firm suspension
minimizes body roll and the comfortable seats hold you securely in place. The
result is an awakening of the senses and an overall sense of pleasure."
During Phil's stint in the Tribute he had a chance to take a brief trip from Los
Angeles to Santa Barbara. Returning home, he watched the gas gauge, hoping to
stretch the tank and get him back without filling up. He thought he had it made
and relaxed, listing to a book on tape on the six-disc CD changer. The small fuel
tank struck again. "When I filled up, the gas warning idiot light was blazing
and I had 295 miles on the trip meter."
As mentioned at the top of this update, Phil disapproves of SUVs because of their
typically poor gas mileage. The Tribute is no exception. A career average of 18.2
miles per gallon, while much better than an Expedition, is poor. And, coupled
with a tiny fuel tank, it means you spend a lot of time in the gas station.
Clearly, Phil has conflicted feelings about the Tribute. Where does this leave
the consumer who is shopping in this segment? Consider this: While his criticisms
could be seen as a matter of taste, his praises will probably be shared by the
general driving public. But before you commit to the Tribute, drive the Ford Escape,
as well.
Current Odometer: 28,680
Best Fuel Economy: 21.3 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 16.4 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 18.2 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None
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