Source - Budapest Sun'Mazda’s Tribute, which arrived on the Hungarian market this year, is the first sports-utility vehicle (SUV) by the Japanese company since the Navajo was discontinued following the 1994 model year.
Outwardly, it bears many similarities with the more familiar Ford Escape (Ford owns Mazda). The Tribute looks slightly more feminine and fussy around the front end while the Escape adopts a more masculine look with black plastic bumpers and lower body panels (but then, man was created earlier).
The Japanese designers placed an ever greater emphasis on comfort, space and versatility, thus blurring the line between car and truck.
Tribute comes in two types. The base 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has five-speed standard manual transmission and front-wheel drive. This is the quieter, more economic version. The more luxurious 3.0-liter, V6-engine, four-speed automatic and four-wheel-drive is definitely stronger (the stick-shift is unavailable in the V6 or in four-wheel drive).
When I first saw the black metal test Tribute, I admit I felt embarrassed because of its immense size. It is much wider and taller than most of its competitor SUV’s, 145mm longer than a Jeep Cherokee, for example.
Driving such a big monster, with 197 horse power engine, is a challenge for a woman, but believe me you get used to it on the way home from the showroom. I became so addicted that I did not want to return it after a few days.
The tribute’s interior is roomy, I sat fairly high up with good visibility all around. In particular, the large rear window which slopes down towards the center, provides excellent visibility.
You can raise the entire rear door or just the glass panel if you like, which makes packing and unpacking easy. The interior offers enough front and back legroom while its attractive dashboard has easy-to-use controls.
A small glove compartment and a big bin at the bottom of the console help you to keep your vehicle clean and tidy. The built-in AM/FM/CD stereo is also mounted high and has big buttons, making adjustment easier without taking your eyes of the road.
In addition to the music, though, at certain points you can also hear the strong engine quiet clearly.
I tried the SUV first in Budapest, because the Tribute is sold as a vehicle that personifies both urban and off-road characteristics.
"It takes you to a business meeting, then waits for you in the parking lot of the Opera and if you have had enough of the rush in the city, it sweeps you up in the mountains," at least, according to the sales blurb.
On the highway my ride was generally smooth and it accelerated quickly both from a standing start and when passing slower traffic. But the Tribute shows its real strength when its using all four wheels. I took it out of the capital and drove to my family home in Zala county (south west Hungary), famous for its hills and vineyards
Though I did not go into the real depths of mud and bog or the really high mountains, it did prove a faithful, reliable friend against the natural elements and topography I did pitt it against. When the road conditions required, I switched to the four-wheel drive by the electronic traction lock on the dashboard. The button splits available torque 50-50 between the front and rear wheels when the going gets really tough.
The Tribute feels safe not only because it is a giant. It offers side-impact air bags and anti-lock brakes while the EBD system helps when you want to slow down.
Overall, the Tribute is another choice in the market for people attracted to the image and usefulness of a SUV. Others, though, will doubtless remain repelled by the idea of driving a clumsy, wasteful vehicle because, believe me, I paid a fortune for my trip.
It is a thirsty animal, drinking around 13 liters in the city and almost 10 liters on the highway. So, keep it in mind that you need to feed it in the future after the purchase.
Despite its dual features, in Hungary you will encounter more Mazda Tribute owners heading more often to malls than to mountains. But then, that’s true the world over. Farmers use Land Rovers. Urbanites buy SUVs but don’t want to get them dirty!
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06.12.2001