By
EWAN KENNEDY
3 July 2006
Mazda has given its Tribute all-wheel drive a comprehensive midlife
work over. And not only has the Japanese giant improved the appearance
of the car, it has worked hard to provide additional features with
little or no change in pricing.
The ‘face’ of the Mazda now has a
more open look thanks to stronger grille styling and revised bumper
shape. The bonnet has also been reshaped, not something you see in every
facelift, but Mazda felt this was necessary to tie in with the greatly
revised lines of the grille.
Not immediately obvious are the reduced
gaps between the panels, the result of considerable work on the body
structure by engineers striving to come ever closer to perfection. The
result is greater strength, a quieter ride, and less wind noise at
speed.
This revised body also means the Tribute
has a slightly more solid feel than before, the old model wasn’t bad
in the way it handled lumps and bumps on dirt roads, but revisions to
the new series give it more rigidity. This extra body strength also
provides a more stable platform from which the suspension can operate.
Meaning better road grip and a more precise feel through the steering.
You’re not going to thrash the Tribute
around corners as though it was an MX-5, but it will look after you well
should you make a mistake and enter a corner too fast.
However, the real changes in the latest
Tribute aren't on the outside, but inside the cabin. The never-popular
column-mounted gearshift has gone, replaced by a more conventional floor
shift. This is not only more pleasant to use, but also gives the cabin a
sportier note. The centre of the dash has received a major redesign and
new trim materials give a sportier flavour.
Value for money is the main thrust of the
new Mazda SUV. All models carry significantly more standard equipment.
The range starts at an affordable $31,990 for a 2.3-litre four-cylinder
model with automatic transmission (there is no manual option). This car
now has climate-controlled air conditioning and the stereo is MP3
compatible. Mazda Australia estimates this price is $2500 over that of
the superseded model without the new features.
There are two versions of the Mazda
Tribute V6 3.0-litre; the standard one is priced at $36,900 and the
upmarket Tribute V6 Luxury Pack $40,710. Major items on the latter
include a sunroof, leather trimmed interior and a six-CD audio system.
Changes to both engines see them comply
with Step 3 of European emission controls and the engineers have also
managed to reduce fuel consumption. On the V6 the engine uses almost 1.5
litres less on the combined city/highway cycle. This is an impressive
figure and will help take some of the sting out of the recent jumps in
petrol prices.
As before, the V6 engine gives the
complete vehicle a more refined feel, however there's certainly nothing
wrong with the four-cylinder and many buyers will find it has enough
power and torque for their needs.
