Still a Serious Competitor

From the minute I first sat in Mazda's Tribute I was impressed. The instrument panel is sharp-looking and angled for optimal legibility, the seats are exceptionally comfortable, and all of the details are finished beautifully. On the outside its styling is attractive and sophisticated, so it didn't take too much convincing for me to fall for this SUV.

While behind the wheel of the exceptionally smooth Mazda Tribute, I didn't feel like I was driving an SUV at all. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

My fondness only increased when out on the road. The Tribute drives exceptionally smoothly despite having a firmer, more sport-tuned suspension than the Honda CR-V or Saturn VUE, for instance. For the most part, I didn't feel like I was driving an SUV at all, even though its fairly tall ground clearance at 214 mm (8.4 inches) should make if feel less car-like.

With that in mind it handles extremely well even on windy roads in wet conditions. I decided to take the Tribute up to a local ski resort to get a feel for its capabilities in the snow, and like its on-dry-pavement performance it trekked through the white stuff admirably. Even with a thick layer of ice coating the inclined driveway I parked on, the Tribute did not lose its grip.

Powering all four wheels of the Tribute is a 3.0-liter, 24-valve, DOHC V6 that produces 200 horsepower and 200 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press)

Perhaps part of its tenacious traction is because Mazda's SUV wears a set of P235/70R16 BSW all season tires. No matter the road conditions, I never felt unsafe.

It wouldn't go very far on ice or deep snow, of course, without the all-wheel drive (AWD) system that comes as standard equipment on the top-line ES model I tested. Powering all four wheels is a 3.0-liter, 24-valve, DOHC V6 that produces 200 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 200 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. The car has more than enough power for its size, and significantly more than the majority of its 4-cylinder competition. I also liked the grunt of the V6 exhaust note. It sounds beefy. Adding to the beef was the standard 4-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. It's a rare case when I appreciate auto gearboxes, preferring the do-it-yourself variety, but the Tribute's worked so well, matching the engine perfectly, that I have to break my rules.