Tributemazdamagazine insights | features | facts and figures 2001 ON THE ROAD WITH Mazda’s New TributeTribute SUVSUV In Design: Mazda Rethinks the SUV Concept The Inside Story: Tribute’s Practical Side Model Lineup: 4Trim Levels WHAT IF AN SUV WERE RAISED ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM BY A FAMILY OF SPORTS CARS? Introducing the 200-hp Mazda Tribute LX-V6. If the company that created the legendary RX-7 and Miata decided to build an SUV, what would you expect? Rapid acceleration? Taut, agile handling? Pure push-you-back-in-your-seat exhilaration? Well, here it is. The Mazda Tribute. A whole new breed of SUV with a powerful 200-horsepower V6 engine. Responsive, fully independent front strut/rear multilink suspension. And unibody construction for a ride so self-assured you won’t believe you’re driving an SUV. Unless, of course, you consider who built it. The Mazda Tribute. The SUV with the soul of a sports car. TABLE OF CONTENTS mazdamagazine insights | features | facts and figures 2001 TRIBUTE EDITION Cover Story On the road with Mazda’s new Tribute SUV. Who’d have thought an SUV would bring a Mazda Miata to mind? The Inside Story Room, comfort and loads of thoughtful features. How many uses can you find for a cup holder? In Design Tribute’s designers draw upon the Miata for inspiration. Not to mention Mazda’s rich heritage of sporty rides. Safety Unibody construction, crumple zones, available ABS, side-impact air bags and 4WD just begin to tell the safety story. Model Lineup We tested a loaded ES-V6, but there are four models, two engine choices...well, you get the idea. More Tribute on the Web When you see this symbol on the Features & Options page, it’s telling you that additional, in-depth information is available for the indicated Tribute features. Just head for our Web site at MazdaUSA.com and look for the same symbol there. ON THE ROAD WITH Mazda’s NewTribute SUV. COVER STORY Tribute’s designers know what I’ve long At a coastal vista, Marcie wanted to shoot ITWAS believed: that most SUV buyers value mastering and I wanted to walk around the Tribute. 07 THE road conditions and weather over serious How can it drive so much like a car? One look perfect excuse off-roading. The Mazda Tribute ES-V6 has a underneath revealed the answer. A wide track, FOR A powerful 200-hp V6 that responds quickly to independent suspension, and rack-and-pinion My photographer your right foot and has the torque you need for steering help Tribute handle more like a sports friend Marcie wanted passing (and cam chains that don’t need sedan than a truck. I also noticed the ground scheduled replacement ). Plus an available clearance that allows heading off-highway. to shoot San Francisco 4-wheel-drive system that uses the front An appealing dirt road peeled off to the right. road triP. wheels for primary traction, and automatically Marcie and I glanced at each other. Why not? for an upcoming exhibition.I had a road test to write on the new, sporty and fully powers the rear wheels as needed. The Tribute ES-V6 is designed for it. equipped 4-wheel-drive Mazda Tribute ES-V6. Now that’s what I call synergy. he morning was crisp and bright as we loaded the Tribute for four days on the road: a laptop computer and cameras, a map book, cooler and several travel bags. We even folded down one side of the rear seat to store a tripod and some prints. Then, listening to favorite CDs on the optional seven-speaker audio system, we plotted a route through farmland and forests to one of America’s most beautiful cities. For an auto writer, there is no more varied place than San Francisco: its steep hills, occasionally choppy pavement, countless turns and even the many nearby dirt roads can take the measure of any vehicle. COVER STORY Tribute’s intelligent size 11 Urban meant it fit nicely along the discovery. tight San Francisco streets. City traffic highlights INTERIOR FEATURES MODELS A height-adjustable driver’s seat T qualities. LX-V6/ES-V6 sporTyqualities. (It’s power on the ES-V6) A driver’s left footrest All A pair of 12-volt power outlets All in the center console A 30-minute timer turns off All the lights if they were left on Power windows work for 10 minutes after key-off All n the afternoon the Tribute’s V6 interesting fact: Tribute has great outward Assist grips for every door opening All powered us up Twin Peaks, a spectacular visibility. Road testers know this is invaluable Coin compartments in the center console All view area overlooking San Francisco. I parked for navigating as well as for improving active Dual map lights for front passengers All A warning light on the dash illuminates and slid out of the 6-way adjustable driver’s safety—the ability to avoid an accident. On All when it’s time to get gas seat. What I saw took my breath away. Below the occasionally wet streets, Marcie discovered Reclining seatbacks for the rear passengers LX-V6/ES-V6 Height-adjustable head restraints us, San Francisco sprawled like a vast coral reef, something else safety-related: the security LX-V6/ES-V6 for the outboard rear passengers shining with the promise of discovery. We of the available ABS and street-oriented all- A 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area All An overhead light and tie-down hooks couldn’t wait to give this great city a once- season tires. From winding rural highways All in the cargo area over. Now it was Marcie’s turn to drive, and to dirt roads to the streets of San Francisco, An available moonroof opens with one touch LX-V6/ES-V6 my turn to enjoy a coffee and pick the music. Tribute had carried us in safety and style. (No need to keep holding the button down) Our descent into the city was far from trucklike, for the Tribute’s intelligent size meant it fit nicely along the tight San Francisco streets. I love sensibly sized SUVs! Marcie first steered us downhill toward the famed ‘60s Haight-Ashbury district (photo op), then up to the wonderfully crooked Lombard Street (more photos), and finally down again to Fisherman’s Wharf (still more photos). Hey, don’t call us tourists—we’re urban discoverers. Above: Large cup holders proved more useful than even the designers intended. I did most of the navigating, and while Above right: With its 6-disc capacity, the optional looking for landmarks, I discovered an in-dash CD changer kept the music coming. Right: ES-V6 model’s power adjustments made it easy to get comfortable in the driver‘s seat. THE INSIDE STORY many handy storage spaces, like seatback I didn’t actually calculate that, but I did get pockets on both front seats, covered console out my tape measure to check out Mazda’s 13 storage and the expected locking glove box. claim that the loading area even accepts Would the rear seating be just as agreeable? a 4x8 sheet of plywood with the liftgate Yes. Many SUVs seem to treat the rear window open. Amazingly, it will. passengers as afterthoughts, but I’m confident When we got to the restaurant, Marcie that if I carried friends in the Tribute, they’d recounted her photography and I shared stay friends. The rear seatback even reclines a possible angle for my article. Later, we SHOWS ITS for comfort. The seatback splits 60/40, so reluctantly parked the Tribute for the night. TributeTribute either side or both can fold forward for even “I get first drive tomorrow,”Marcie said. practical side. more cargo volume—over 74 cubic feet in all. “Sorry,”I answered.“I’ve got a story to write.” ike most photographers, Marcie for dinner that evening, I took a few minutes needed frequent access to her gear to learn more about the Tribute’s interior on our trip. That’s where the Tribute’s low features. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I closed cargo floor and liftgate-window feature my eyes and felt for the door handles, shifter, proved especially handy. So did the tinted seat and window controls, climate controls, glass and retractable cargo cover, which hid and lighting and wiper switches, to find all her gear from view and also helped keep out if they’re intuitively placed. They are. the film cool by shielding it from sunlight. The audio system is just as expertly We’d arrived at our bed-and-breakfast in configured, with controls that are easy to the late afternoon, and before heading out use on the go. We also really liked the Above: A liftgate window that opens independently made storing or retrieving our gear quick and easy. Above right: We appreciated the optional moonroof—and its thoughtful one-touch auto-open feature. Right: Sunglasses get their own handy storage space, and within easy reach. Far right: ES-V6 audio-system upgrade, shown here, proved to be a great-sounding option. THE INSIDE STORY Tribute offers a unique combination of high ‘command seating’and a low step-in height for easy entry and exit. ow do you explain the essence of a vehicle? By defining its personality.