2009 Mazda Tribute: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

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.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Among utility vehicles, Compact SUVs are typically the least costly and offer the best fuel economy. Most utilize a car-type chassis and are not designed for heavy-duty, off-road use. Nearly all are five-passenger vehicles; some offer seating for seven.

Our Best Buys are the Honda CR-V, Suzuki Grand Vitara, and Volkswagen Tiguan. Our Recommended picks are the Saturn Vue and Toyota RAV4.

New or significantly redesigned models include the GMC Terrain, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan.