As a starving student (and part-time journalist), each week my budget dictates what I can do (activity-wise) and how much I can afford to drive depending on the vehicle I have been booked into. The same concerns would apply to anyone who is considering purchasing a car, only you have a choice as to where you spend your money. Both fuel consumption and practicality, of course, are important factors in making that decision for most buyers.

The 2005 Mazda Tribute does a good job balancing fuel economy and SUV practicality. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

In this last week I found a sport utility with a nice balance of both attributes. Decent fuel economy and good use of interior room makes the recently upgraded 2005 Mazda Tribute worth a close look.

Recently updated? What makes the 2005 Tribute different from past model years is a new base engine, a modified suspension, a reconfigured shifter and interior and exterior upgrades. My test vehicle was a 2005 Mazda Tribute GX 4WD - yes a base 4-cylinder model - so I didn't feel the grunt of the V6 engine as previously tested in the 2004 Tribute ES when I drove it out of the parking lot on my first test day. But the growl of the new 2.3-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, inline 4-cylinder sounded good. What is now called the i engine replaces what was previously the DX engine, increasing power and torque from 130 horsepower and 135 lb-ft to 153 horsepower and 152 lb-ft of torque. In addition, the engine is approximately 18 kilos (40 pounds) lighter which, in turn, improves fuel economy a smidge and handling a bit more.

A 2.3-liter, 16-valve, DOHC, inline 4-cylinder is the Tribute's new base engine. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

Even better for improving handling on slippery surfaces, is Mazda's new optional full-time four-wheel drive system. The new electronic setup, deemed Active Torque Control Coupling (ATCC), uses an electromagnetic clutch to control the amount of torque sent to the rear wheels. Ultimately, it optimizes traction and wheel-speed differences between the front and rear wheels. Reaction time is said to be quicker in comparison to a hydraulic system because, as Mazda describes it, "there is no lag time waiting for a viscous fluid to heat up before splitting the power between the axles. And because the system is always on, the power transfer is performed seamlessly to the driver."