2006 Mazda Tribute Reviews

Reviews

---

This is really a well rounded smaller family car for many uses.

I bought mine used with 100k miles as I needed a car that I can tow behind my Motorhome and needed a stick shift transmission as you cant flat tow with a auto transmission. They are rare and hard to find in a stick shift model. Ford makes the Tribute in its Ford Escape factory for Mazda for 2001 through 2011. Just a different interior, rear door and grill same car and great reputation. Its roomy rear seats all fold down for those trips to by big things. The motor is Fords realizable 2.3 DOHC 4 cyl which is in the 2004 focus. I own a 2004 ford Focus with this motor and manual trans and it just went over the 200,000 mark and with regular oil changes using mobile 1 every 5 ,000 miles it still runs strong. Only 1 thing went bad in 10 years for a $60.00 coil pack.
So I feel confident the Tribute will last me for many years even with the mileage it has on it now. Many good reviews along auto 4 wheel drive which can senses front wheel slip then sends power to rear wheels. Roomy nice stereo. Only negative I found is the when driving the road noise is a little loud from tires but that can also be due to a more rigged tire previous owner put on, but tires wear evenly. 26 to 28 mpg on highway with 4 cyl.Also has a hitch on rear for small trailer can only tow like 1000 lbs.for a trip to get sheetrock or items from hardware its great for small trailer. The (I) model I have has plastic scuff molding all around bottom of doors lower part which where I live is great to prevent paint chips from the rock salt and grits they throw in the winter. The more fancy levels of trim have painted scuff molding which can chip as they are painted. I really like the small roomy SUV and think its the best value out there in a used SUV. I find most people and dealers are asking much higher a price for used Tributes and ford Escapes then what Kelly Blue book has as the resale value. I got mine at that correct resale price after looking for weeks on Craig's list and on line but I found when looking most are asking 2k to 3.000 more than what book value is. So you really need to shop. I guess when a SUV this popular is not made anymore they jack up the price. Which also tells you people like them and hold their values up.

---

The Goods And Bads

Pros
-Roomy and comfortable interior
-v6 engine
-drives more like a car than a truck
-long list of standard features
Cons
-Mediocre fuel economy and range on v6 models
-cant get side airbags on 4-cylinder models