Used 2005 Mazda Tribute Consumer Reviews
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Good Deal, but needs some minor help
Heather, 05/24/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Overall, my 2005 Tribute S has plenty of room, handles decent & good pickup. Ive always driven high-end luxury sedans & SUVs and while this isnt in their class with style, comfort, drive and some of the interior options, bells and whistles, it is a great deal. I get alot of compliments and would recommend this SUV for someone restricted to that price bracket. I transport alot of sporting equipment on the roof. This is the one reason I will not be a repeat Tribute owner. Mazda made a huge mistake making the rook rack extremely short.Unless you replace the entire rack with a custom rack, then this is not the SUV for outdoor enthusiasts needing to carry sport equiptment on the roof.
2005 Mazda Tribute S Fwd
Ken, 06/04/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have worked for Mazda and Ford Motor Company and as everyone knows FMC owns controlling intrest of Mazda. I purchased this Tribute while working for a Ford dealer. It has a better warranty than Ford and costs slightly less. I replaced the tires with Michelins and recommend that to anyone. OEM tires stink! A/C button does have a on/off light issue. Light is not bright enough. Recommend leather w/ heated seats and uprgaded sound system. Very happy with those features. You should be able to buy a couple hundred less than invoice and keep any rebates. 4/50k warranty is great! Traded our 2002 EB 4x4 Explorer and glad! Happy to help anyone with purchasing do's and dont's. 5k on it now. Zoom Zoom
Great!
TER, 06/07/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great car. I purchased mine in February and have had a great time driving it. The sunroof is essential. Fuel economy could be better (I have a 6 Cylinder), but I can deal with that no problem.
2005 Tribute
TLE, 06/17/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Exterior of car is nice. Seals on all doors are inadequate, water enters the door wells when washed or it rains. Passenger door lock mechanism was incorrectly installed. Dashboard accessories are cheap looking. So far the car is running well. Only have 2300 miles. First time owner of a Mazda.
Zoom Zoom Zoom
H. Whitley, 06/21/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Continental tires a little noisy but overall a very good ride. Got 25-26 mpg on long highway trip in April.
tribute
denise, 07/04/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute i AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
this suv is the best. fun to drive.....fantastic car. smooth driving especially on the highway.
my first SUV
big old baby, 07/06/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After 2 months it's all good. I think this is the perfect size SUV for someone who is moving out of a sedan. Quality is top notch. Ride is smooth and quiet. Fold down rear seats allow a ton of stuff to be hauled. I like the style better than the Escape. Combined mileage of 22 MPG is pretty good.
Best in Class, Best in Price
Andrew, 08/01/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute i AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I compared the specs of the Tribute against all competitors. The Tribute had the best specs in most areas in its class but about $2-4k less and a better warranty. I was very impressed. This is a great SUV. Could use some improvements, noted, but most all of them in its class could. The price couldn't be beat. This was a no brainier. Paid $16,750 4WD, auto.
great SUV!
Lissa, 08/01/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Mazda Tribute last October. I love it; I bought it because I thought it looked like a sporty SUV with a lot of room to haul things. I have the v-6 and it has a lot of pep and go. Gas isn't the best (but no SUVs are good on gas) but to me its worth it to pay a little more at the pump and to love and have fun in what I drive! :)
Fantastic Car
Greg, 08/09/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This has been the best car purchase. I wanted to get a 4x4 for Minnesota winters but still have a car that's fun to drive. This definitely lives up to it! The revamped interior with a substantial center console and gear shift make it much more luxurious than past models and it's space and handling create a much more versatile car than ones like Chevy Trailblazer. On road trips I get about 28mpg and all the comfort you could want.
Fun SUV
AJM, 08/20/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Excellent quality for the price. Fun to drive and handles great. Stiff and firm ride, corners great, good acceleration, and good design overall. Gas mileage is average considering it's a 6 cylinder. First Mazda I have owned and will probably buy another.
My Trib
dblduce, 08/22/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just purchased a demo with 8700 miles. This car is like new, I've researched many other small utes but this one tops them all. I was lucky to get an almost fully loaded unit, sunroof, 6 disc changer and subwoofer. It doesn't have the side or curtain airbags but I do like that it has ABS and 4 wheel discs. I live in the Sunbelt so no need for 4WD. This is an excellent vehicle and its carlike ride doesn't give you the feel of an SUV.
2005 Tribute AWD
Hcormier, 09/02/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So far so good, vehicle has proven to be a good towing workhorse for our boat. Only issue has been the installation of a wiring harness for towing (did not purchase with towing pack). Had to wait until March 2005 for harness to be developed by Mazda as any aftermarket harness would void warranty due to compatibility with design issues. Otherwise it has proven to be a very good vehicle in the snow and loose gravel.
Good SUV
CChan, 10/06/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So far this SUV has been an enjoyable experience, except for the incompetence I experienced at the dealership. I have always had full sized SUV's, but I test drove this one due to the rebate and liked the appearance of it and knew it was for me. All is running good so far.
ZOOM ZOOM FOR SURE
JoeK, 12/19/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Daily commute is 70 miles and just have to say that this SUV is a pleasure to drive. Average 20-21 mpg (V-6 AWD) much better than my old SUV. Transmission did have to be replaced at 16,000 miles, work done quickly and competently and no problem since. Would definitely buy this vehicle again.
sports car soul
BigDog, 12/19/2005
2005 Mazda Tribute i Fwd 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This zippy SUV is perfect for the Sierra foothill region. Its on demand 4WD creates the most sure footed vehicle on the road. Interior supports everything we need to do, camp, shop, carry large objects and is a great weekend toy while still being a good looking car for business.
Great Car, Great price
JB, 02/22/2006
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Excellent styling. Price incentives are hard to beat. Excellent car at this price.
Buy it, then buy new tires
pedersen, 04/18/2006
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Love this SUV. Have 20,000 miles on it at the time I'm writing this and already planning to buy another one this spring to replace another vehicle we have. Have had no problems whatsoever other than the subwoofer died. Dealer replaced it in an hour, no questions asked. If you're shopping for one, there are two things to pay attention to. One, the driving position; with the power seat all the way back the steering wheel is a long reach. Two, compare the Tribute and Escape carefully. They package the options very differently. I find the 6-way power seat very necessary for comfort. You can get that feature in lesser priced editions of the Escape compared to the Mazda.
My Zoom-Zoom
jgoldfish, 06/23/2006
2005 Mazda Tribute i Fwd 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Tribute is an excellent SVU. It is perfect to haul the skis, kids, dogs, bikes, etc. with a great sporty look that we were looking for. We tested the Saturn look alike, thought it was too cheap inside. We didn't every let the kids in at the dealership because we were afraid something would fall off in the interior of it. The service at our Mazda dealer was superior to any dealer in the area. Even a year after the purchase our dealer and the Mazda dealership is always there to answer any question we have just as friendly as the date of purchase.
great awd ride for $18,900 dollars
mazdajerry, 06/27/2006
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Most bang for the buck for an awd suv, the Kia Sportage would be close behind. 200 hp and still 18-19mpg in town, and 23-25 on the highway is fine by me. In my opinion it is the best looking suv, with the MDX close.
Bad on mileage and power
biggun52, 07/19/2006
2005 Mazda Tribute i AWD 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I first looked a the Escape and almost bought, but they did not budge for the price. I then went to Mazda and bought the cousin for $2,000 less. Great SUV until the AC is on, then I need someone for a push (No power). ROTTEN GAS MILEAGE, otherwise not bad.
30,000 review
lap, 12/20/2006
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm not sure if I'm just lucky, good with preventative maintenance, etc. - but with 30,000 miles on my Tribute I'm happy to report I haven't had one thing go wrong! I still love my truck after 2 years.
2 year review
bigbaby, 02/12/2007
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
it's been almost 2 years with this car and I have nothing to complain about. Maybe on this one I'm just lucky. It seems to ride and accelerate better with time. No problems at all! When lease is done in 5/08 I may just buy this puppy (although that Ford Edge is looking pretty good).
Nana's Zoom Zoom
Juanita, 04/28/2007
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had my Tribute for 2 years now and have 20,000 miles on it. I love driving it. Has good pick-up when I need it.
4cyl Tribute 29 mpg
golfguyy, 05/24/2007
2005 Mazda Tribute i Fwd 4dr SUV (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
For what this vehicle is, a small suv with a 2.3L 4cyl that you can fill with your stuff, it is PERFECT. It comes loaded w/single CD, AC, alloy wheels, per W/L/M, tilt. The only option I wanted was cruise and that was only about $150 extra. 2.3L w/the 5 spd has plenty of get up and go, AND just checked mileage again to find this 4cyl front wheel drive got 29.1 mpg! For the size of the SUV and what you can haul in it, you can't beat it.
Noisy!!!
bbason, 05/21/2007
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After having the Tribute for less than a year, I couldn't take the creaking noises coming from the doors. I took it into the dealership to be fixed. They say it is the door strikers and they had to be adjusted. That only worked for about a month and then the creaking came back. Although it doesn't look as good, I applied electrical tape around the door catch and have not heard the noises anymore. However, the outside noise is awful. When I'm on my cell phone, callers say it sounds like my windows are open. Outside of the noises, the car is awesome. No maintenance problems after 3 years.
Wonderful car
mia, 06/09/2007
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great vehicle! My favorite part is the height above other cars and despite the gas prices it still makes great miles per gallon!
End of 3 year lease
bigbaby, 12/01/2007
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
3rd review of the Tribute. It's still a great car after 2.5 years. I do want to get something new so I'll be trading this in (lease has positive equity). Absolutely no problems. Just put gas and do oil changes and it runs like a champ. Recently went on I-30 from Dallas to Arkansas. Set the cruise at 65 and wound up getting 29.5 MPG. A 6 cyl SUV with only a 4 speed automatic! Some lucky used car buyer is going to get a winner with this car.
Most reliable car I've ever owned and fun to drive
M Covault, 09/14/2020
updated 01/25/2021
2005 Mazda Tribute s Fwd 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my car new, and I am still driving it 15 years later (127,000 miles so far). It has been the most reliable car I've ever owned. It's still got the original belts and hoses (which I have checked regularly). The ONLY major repair I've had was a water pump a couple of years ago. Otherwise, nothing besides normal maintenance! That said, a major tuneup is very expensive--fortunately, it's only needed every 100,000 or so miles. I have used 100% synthetic oil in it since it was new, and I think that helps also.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Best values/Reliability is your luck
Wayne, 03/20/2006
2005 Mazda Tribute s AWD 4dr SUV (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
After only 600 miles, the transmission is locked up. Dealers replaced it with a rebuilt transmission within two weeks. It should be replaced with a brand new transmission. The car now has 7000 miles on the odometer and it is running fine now. Actually, I am kind of lucky to have the transmission completely lockup. Otherwise, I will only get 8-10 miles a gallon but it will never get fixed.