Mazda Tribute (2001 - to 2004)
BY ANDY ENRIGHT
The Mazda Tribute is one of the best of the breed of compact 4x4s, a fact not generally recognised by its sales performance. Here is a vehicle that did practically everything you could reasonably demand of a small 4x4 and did it well, but which has been overlooked by British buyers. That may be down to a lack of promotion on Mazdas part. The Tributes low-key approach may well have some justification.
With Ford now owning a good proportion of Mazda, it will come as little surprise to learn that the Mazda Tribute and Ford Maverick are largely the same vehicle. Neither of these cars has exactly enjoyed a high profile. Why? Well, it could be something to do with the fact that Ford also own Land Rover, a premium product with big margins. If customers buy Tributes or Mavericks instead of Freelanders, the corporations bottom line takes a hit.
| Build |  |
| Comfort |  |
| Depreciation |  |
| Economy | |
| Equipment | |
| Handling | |
| Insurance | |
| Performance | |
| Styling | |
| Value | |
The major market for cars like the Tribute remains the States, and the plastic slab of dashboard betrays the US-bias more than anything else, the column-mounted automatic gearbox on the 3.0-litre car being probably the least happy aspect of the vehicle, hunting between gears and with detents on the shift that make it difficult to just drop straight into Drive. Its also something of a shame that its only possible to lock the Tribute into first, second and top (fourth) gear, as third would be the ideal gear to take advantage of the Tribute surprisingly agility. As weve alluded to, the interior, though well equipped, probably wont impress those with an eye for aesthetics.
Everything works, seems well placed and well thought through, and yet feels drab, cheap and uninspiring. Interior space and luggage space is well up to the mark, the Tribute is longer than many rivals, evidence of which is instantly apparent the moment you throw the tailgate open. The rear seat is something of a shapeless bench, but the space available is excellent. The Tributes exterior styling is a little sharper than Fords Maverick, the beaky grille and shapely headlights making it look a good deal more modern.
Prices start at around £7,775 for a 2001 51 plated 2.0-litre GXi with front-wheel drive. If you feel the need for all-wheel drive, youll need £8,175 for a 2.0 GXi or £8,500 for a 2.
0-litre GSi, again on the 2001 51 plate. A similar vintage 3.0-litre V6 Auto starts at just over £9,000. Insurance is decidedly reasonable; the 2.
0-litre cars rated at Group 9 and the torquey 3.0-litre version at Group 12.
The Tribute is built to last; certainly a good deal more so than many of its compact 4x4 rivals. No mechanical gremlins have been reported, as both the engines are well-respected units. Inspect the underside of the car for off-roading damage to the exhaust, driveshaft and wheelarches if you suspect that the previous owner took their car off the blacktop. The other thing to make certain of is that your compact 4x4 is just that.
Dont let an unscrupulous seller try to pass a 2wd version off as a 4x4.
(approx based on 2001 2.0GXi) A clutch assembly is around £245. Front brake pads are around £60, a rear exhaust about £105, and an alternator around £240. A headlamp is about £165.
Should you want to shave a fair proportion off some of these prices, try at your local Ford dealer. Not strictly by the book, but you may be surprised as to how much you can save.
The deletion of 4x4 hardware from the base Tribute should have helped the economy figures somewhat, the 2.0GXi 2wd returning an average figure of 30mpg, but strangely the 4wd version can manage 31.4mpg. It becomes apparent at this stage that the Tribute is not always what it seems.
Mazda were never going to convince real 4x4 enthusiasts to buy this car. Even the four-wheel drive versions arent full-time 4x4s and dont feature serious off-road hero essentials like a low speed transfer gearbox and a limited slip differential. Instead, theres a front wheel drive set-up for normal motoring, with an electronically operated clutch engaging the rear wheels when things get slippery. Alternatively, theres the option of selecting full four-wheel drive via a switch on the dashboard.
Given this torque split youd probably expect the Tribute to struggle when the need to transmit power switches from front/back to side to side, for example if the drivers side wheels were on tarmac and the passengers side in deep mud? Although it tries manfully to make the best of this, the Tribute isnt in the same league as serious off-roaders. But then why should it be? As a result of the Mazdas more car-oriented chassis dynamics we dont get the lurch, wallow and bounce that makes driving a serious 4x4 on the road such a miserable experience. Along with its Ford Maverick sibling, the Mazda Tribute is quite simply, the best handling car of its kind, an off roader you could conceivably enjoy driving on the road. Its no sports saloon of course, but the excellent ride and general lack of body roll you can expect should make for a painless transition from more conventional family fare.
Theres a choice of two petrol engines diesel is not yet on the menu. Either a 123 bhp four cylinder 2.0 litre unit or a punchy 3.0-litre V6 with 196 bhp more power, incidentally, than the old Range Rover 4.
0 V8. This versions fast, good for rest to sixty in 10.5 seconds on the way to nearly 120 mph, but its not too clever against the pumps (expect to average around 22 mpg) with the figure slipping to 15mpg in town.
The Mazda Tribute represents a real opportunity to bag a quality used compact 4x4 for relatively little. Its weak image and utilitarian interior means that demand is not high for these vehicles, all of which spells big savings for the shrewd used buyer whos in it for the long term. With a superb reliability record and satisfying on-road performance, you shouldnt allow the Tribute to be the compact 4x4 bargain that you let slip.
