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Mazda Tribute

Mazda

Mazda Tribute: The compact crossover twin of the Ford Escape. Practical early SUV.
Photo: IFCAR / Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

The compact crossover twin of the Ford Escape. Practical early SUV.

The Mazda Tribute is a compact crossover SUV developed jointly with Ford, sharing its platform with the Ford Escape. Offered with four-cylinder and V6 engines and available all-wheel drive, the Tribute provided practical, affordable SUV utility during the early crossover boom of the 2000s. The Tribute gave Mazda an entry in the growing compact SUV segment before the CX-7 and CX-5 took over. Its Ford Escape relationship means a known platform and good parts availability. It was a sensible, practical crossover rather than a driver-focused Mazda. On WhipJury, the Tribute appears as a practical early compact crossover.

Tribute specifications

Compact crossover shared with the Ford Escape. Four-cylinder and V6 engines, available all-wheel drive. An early-2000s SUV.

Tribute on WhipJury

A practical early compact crossover.

Frequently asked questions about Mazda Tribute

Is the Tribute the same as the Ford Escape?
Yes, the Tribute shares its platform and much of its hardware with the Ford Escape, developed jointly during the Ford-Mazda partnership.
Is the Tribute reliable?
Generally acceptable, helped by the shared Ford components and good parts availability. Age is the main factor for used examples.
Does the Tribute have all-wheel drive?
Yes, all-wheel drive was available, with front-wheel drive standard.
What replaced the Tribute?
Mazda compact crossover role passed to the CX-7 and later the highly regarded CX-5.
What engines does the Tribute use?
Four-cylinder and V6 engines, shared with the Ford Escape.

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