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2009 Mazda Tribute Full Review
Date Published: 9/30/08
2009 Mazda Tribute Sneak Peek
The 2009 Mazda Tribute receives more powerful engines following its freshening for the 2008 model year. This compact SUV shares its basic design with the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. Tribute is a five-passenger, 4-door wagon that has a liftgate with opening glass. Tribute comes in i and s models in Sport, Touring, or Grand Touring trim levels. A gas/electric Hybrid model is offered in California only. All Tributes are available with front-wheel drive or with all-wheel drive. Standard on i models is a 171-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Standard on s models is a 240-hp 3.0-liter V6. Compared to the 2008 Tribute, that's an increase of 18 hp for the 4-cylinder and 40 hp for the V6.

The Hybrid pairs a 153-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor. It can run on one or both of its power sources, depending on driving demands. It requires no plug-in charging. The 2WD i Sport version is available with manual or automatic transmission. All other conventional Tributes have a 6-speed automatic. Hybrids use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Maximum towing capacity is 1500 lb with the 4-cylinder engine and 3500 lb with the V6. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Also available are heated front seats, leather upholstery, and a sunroof. We have not yet tested the 2009 Mazda Tribute, but its performance and accommodations should mirror those of similarly equipped Ford Escapes and Mercury Mariners.
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2009 Mazda Tribute Road Test
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Fuel Economy

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Ride Quality

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Steering/Handling/Braking

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Quietness

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Controls

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Details

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Room/Comfort (rear)

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Cargo Room

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Value within Class

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A

Coming Soon. Please check back for more information and Consumer Guide's full review.
Total Score

Unknown Class Average
N/A N/A
Scores for all Compact Sport-utility Vehicles

Low Score
42
Average Score
N/A
High Score
70
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2009 Mazda Tribute Prices & Equipment
Model Prices
Prices Updated: 09/08/2008
Trim Name Retail Price Dealer Invoice Destination Charge
2WD i Sport 4-cylinder 4-door wagon, manual $19,730 $18,484 $670
2WD i Sport 4-cylinder 4-door wagon, automatic $21,790 $20,405 $670
AWD i Sport 4-cylinder 4-door wagon, automatic $23,545 $22,042 $670
2WD s Sport V6 4-door wagon, automatic $23,055 $21,585 $670
AWD s Sport V6 4-door wagon, automatic $24,805 $23,216 $670
2WD i Touring 4-cylinder 4-door wagon, automatic $22,935 $21,473 $670
AWD i Touring 4-cylinder 4-door wagon, automatic $24,690 $23,110 $670
2WD s Touring V6 4-door wagon, automatic $24,200 $22,653 $670
AWD s Touring V6 4-door wagon, automatic $25,950 $24,285 $670
2WD i Grand Touring 4-cylinder 4-door wagon, automatic $24,620 $23,044 $670
AWD i Grand Touring 4-cylinder 4-door wagon, automatic $26,375 $24,681 $670
2WD s Grand Touring V6 4-door wagon, automatic $25,885 $24,224 $670
AWD s Grand Touring V6 4-door wagon, automatic $27,635 $25,856 $670
2WD Hybrid Touring 4-door wagon, CVT $28,175 $26,354 $670
AWD Hybrid Touring 4-door wagon, CVT $29,925 $27,985 $670
2WD Hybrid Grand Touring 4-door wagon, CVT $30,695 $28,704 $670
AWD Hybrid Grand Touring 4-door wagon, CVT $32,445 $30,335 $670
Price note: Hybrid available only in California.
Pricing Key: Retail prices listed with each report are set by the vehicle's manufacturer. These figures appear on each car's federally mandated window sticker. Most price lists also include dealer-invoice prices. Dealer-invoice prices are what the dealer pays the manufacturer for the car and its factory-installed options. The destination charge is not included in the suggested-retail or dealer-invoice price and must be added to the cost of the vehicle. Car companies change prices frequently throughout the year. If the prices published do not match those on the vehicle's window sticker, the manufacturer has probably altered the price recently.
NA = price note available, NC = no charge.
Rebates and Incentives
There are no rebates or incentives at this time.
Consumer Guide®'s Rebates and Incentives represent a summary of national manufacturer programs available. Regional restrictions may apply, and offerings may vary by model. For a complete list of Rebate & Incentive programs click here.
Standard Equipment
i/s Sport
Powertrain
2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine (i), 3.0-liter V6 engine (s), 5-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmission (i), 6-speed automatic transmission (s), traction control.
Safety
Dual front airbags, front side airbags, curtain side airbags w/rollover deployment, antilock brakes, brake assist, antiskid system w/rollover sensors, tire-pressure monitor, daytime running lights.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control (automatic), cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, center console, split folding rear seat, power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, remote keyless entry, AM/FM/CD player, digital-media player connection, tachometer, variable-intermittent wipers, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper/washer, automatic headlights, floormats.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Theft-deterrent system, fog lights.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
235/70TR16 tires, alloy wheels, AWD adds: all-wheel drive, 6-speed automatic transmission.
i/s Touring adds to i/s Sport:
Powertrain
6-speed automatic transmission.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Cruise control, 6-way power driver seat w/lumbar adjustment, AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, steering wheel radio controls, cargo cover.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear privacy glass, roof rack.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
AWD adds: all-wheel drive.
i/s Grand Touring adds to i/s Touring:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery, heated front seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated power mirrors, power sunroof, outside-temperature indicator.
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
AWD adds: all-wheel drive.
Hybrid Touring adds to i/s Sport:
Powertrain
2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, electric drive motor, continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT).
Comfort and Convenience Features
Dual-zone automatic climate controls, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel w/radio controls, satellite radio, outside-temperature indicator, 110-volt power outlet, cargo cover.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Rear privacy glass, roof rails, AWD adds: all-wheel drive.
Hybrid Grand Touring adds to Hybrid Touring:
Comfort and Convenience Features
Leather upholstery, heated front seats, 6-way power driver seat, heated power mirrors, AM/FM radio w/in-dash 6-disc CD changer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, compass.
Appearance and Miscellaneous
AWD adds all-wheel drive.
Optional Equipment
Major Packages
Retail Price
Invoice Price
Tow Pkg.
s Touring/Grand Touring
$350
$305
Trailer hitch, Class II trailer-tow prep, trailer sway control, trailer-wiring harness.
Comfort and Convenience Features
Navigation system
Hybrid Grand Touring
$1,995
$1,736
Includes traffic information.
Satellite radio
Sport, i/s Touring
$430
$344
Automatic day/night rearview mirror
i, s
$275
$220
Includes compass, universal garage door opener.
Remote engine start
i automatic, s
$350
$280
Cargo net
Hybrid Grand Touring, Hybrid Touring, i/s Grand Touring, i/s Sport, i/s Touring
$50
$40
Cargo mat
Hybrid Grand Touring, Hybrid Touring, i/s Grand Touring, i/s Sport, i/s Touring
$70
$56
Cargo cover
Sport
$125
$100
All-weather floormats
Hybrid Grand Touring, Hybrid Touring, i/s Grand Touring, i/s Sport, i/s Touring
$78
$62
Appearance and Miscellaneous
Side steps
Hybrid Grand Touring, Hybrid Touring, i/s Grand Touring, i/s Sport, i/s Touring
$350
$280
Roof rails
s Sport
$325
$260
Special Purpose, Wheels and Tires
Trailer hitch
i
$350
$280
Wheel locks
Hybrid Grand Touring, Hybrid Touring, i/s Grand Touring, i/s Sport, i/s Touring
$50
$40
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2009 Mazda Tribute Specs & Safety
Vehicle Dimensions
Specification Mazda Tribute 4-door wagon
Wheelbase, in. 103.1
Overall Length, in. 174.9
Overall Width, in. 81.3
Overall Height, in. 67.7
Curb Weight, lbs. 3300
Cargo Volume, cu. ft. 66.3
Standard Payload, lbs. --
Fuel Capacity, gals. 16.5
Seating Capacity 5
Front Head Room, in. 40.4
Max. Front Leg Room, in. 41.6
Rear Head Room, in. 39.2
Max. Rear Leg Room, in. 35.6
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Engines
  dohc I4 dohc V6 dohc I4/electric
Size, liters/cu. in. 2.5 /153 3.0 /181 2.5 /153
Horsepower @ rpm. 171 @ 6000 240 @ 6550 153 @ 6000
Torque (lb-ft) @ rpm. 171 @ 4500 223 @ 4300 136 @ 4500
Availability Standard Standard Standard
EPA City / highway mpg
     
5-speed manual 22/28 --/-- --/--
6-speed automatic 19/25 17/24 --/--
CVT automatic --/-- --/-- 29/27
Engine Key: l/cu in. = liters/cubic inches; ohv = overhead valve; ohc = overhead camshaft; dohc = dual overhead camshaft; I = inline cylinders; H = horizonally opposed cylinders; V = cylinders in a V configuration; W = cylinders in a W configuration; rpm = revolutions per minute; CVT = continuously variable (automatic) transmission; NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.
Safety Features
Antilock Brakes
Traction Control
Antiskid System
Front Side Airbags
Curtain Side Airbags
Rear Side Airbags
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
Test Mazda Tribute 4-door wagon
4WD Rollover 3
Rollover Resistance 3
Side Impact, Driver 5
Side Impact, Rear Passenger 5
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Manufacturer's Warranty
Class Years/Miles Comments
Powertrain 5/60,000 8-years/100,000-miles on RX-8.
Bumper-to-bumper 3/36,000 --
Corrosion 5/unlimited --
Free roadside assistance 3/36,000 --
Free scheduled maintenance None/-- --
Manufacturers may periodically offer additional coverage as a purchase incentive. There offers are not reflected on this chart. The federal government requires two other warranties. The Exhaust Emission Warranty covers corrosion-related parts for 2 years/24,000 miles, plus 8 years/80,000 miles on the catalytic converter and any on-board diagnostic device. The Passenger Restraint Warranty covers seat belts and airbags for 5 years/50,000 miles.
Built in: USA
Drivewheels: front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive
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