2007 Mazda Tribute

When Mazda Philippines, under the control of Ford Group Philippines, opened its doors several years ago by launching the Tribute along with the Mazda6 several years ago, few people noticed. Not that it was the Tribute’s fault, because with buyers being as Internet-savvy as they are these days, everyone knew that it was a twin to the Ford Escape, which had already been plying our streets for quite some time already. Then, of course, the Tribute’s initial configuration can’t have helped: 200-plus horsepower V6 with front-wheel drive? When the Escape gave you the same motor but added the four-wheel hardware for just a little more cash?

Perhaps seeing the limited appeal of this setup, Mazda released a more sensible version some time later: a 2.3-liter version, minus some features, but more practical for soccer moms everywhere. Still, being a latecomer to the compact SUV party, and a conservatively dressed one at that, the Tribute has always had an uphill battle to fight against such svelte competitors as the Toyota RAV4, the Nissan X-Trail, the Honda CR-V, the upstart Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson, and even its own Escape sibling. So, a mid-life freshening can’t come too soon for the Tribute, several weeks after the same was done to the Escape, and this time giving it a little more chutzpah to take it to the big boys.

Ask a Mazda rep what that strange green color is and you’ll wonder if they’re resisting a smile when they say it is "Sublime". The pun is likely intended, because it is a shade of green mixed with yellow that has a chameleon-like effect under the sun, changing in hue as the day passes. In truth, it is nowhere as elegant as Mazda’s own "Panther Black" or "Infra Red", but for prospective buyers looking for a color worth talking about (as I’m doing right now), it’s evidence that the Tribute is loosening up a little, shedding off that "reliable appliance" persona. As for the truck itself, the basic body shell is unchanged, but several elements have been upgraded for a more contemporary look. The bumper is now a honeycomb design, the side mirrors sport those cool turn indicator lights, the 5-spoke alloy wheels hint of sportiness, and the clear lens headlamps have a new reflector design for a fresher look.

Inside is where the Tribute starts looking much better. The old Tribute’s dash was functional but chunky, too minivan-ish to inspire driving excitement. This time, the cockpit has a more intimate feel. The shifter is now on the floor where God intended instead of sticking awkwardly out of the steering column like the old model, the dashboard center stack has a nicely integrated look to the climate and stereo buttons, and the red instrument lighting gives it a sporty kinship with the Mazda3 and Mazda6. The seats are now wrapped in two-tone black fabric, and you just have to love that "black piano" accent trim on the dash, which adds a touch of class to the truck without bordering on cheesy or trying-too-hard like fake wood usually does.

Mechanically, the Tribute loses the V6 engine in favor of just the 2.3-liter 16-valve twin-cam. It’s still rated at 157 horsepower and 20.3 kg-m of torque, but the additional of electronic throttle control and sequential valve timing make it a more responsive partner, especially in cut-and-thrust traffic. The brakes have also been upgraded to an all-disk system with ABS. Additional safety comes in the form of dual SRS airbags.

As for comfort and convenience features, the Tribute retains the user-friendly cabin it has always had. The rear seats fold and tumble, the rear hatch has a separately opening backlight, the steering wheel has redundant stereo controls, and the single CD stereo has MP3 capability. Gone along with the V6 variant is the zooty power moonroof, which when you think about it isn’t that practical in smoggy Metro Manila but you’d want anyway if it was available. On the other hand, the Tribute is priced at just P1.147M, quite competitive against similarly equipped 4x2 SUVs like the X-Trail, CR-V and RAV4. It’s still not an overwhelming package that’ll blow away the competition, but with the freshened-up looks, the useful improvements, and competitive pricing, Mazda should now be in a better position to attract SUV buyers to its showrooms.