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2006
Mazda Tribute

Starts at:
$20,115
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New 2006 Mazda Tribute
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Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
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Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2.3L Man i
    Starts at
    $20,115
    24 City / 29 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2.3L Auto i
    Starts at
    $20,935
    22 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2.3L Man i 4WD
    Starts at
    $21,815
    22 City / 26 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2.3L Auto i 4WD
    Starts at
    $22,435
    21 City / 24 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 3.0L Auto s
    Starts at
    $23,200
    20 City / 24 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 3.0L Auto s 4WD
    Starts at
    $24,700
    19 City / 23 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas V6
    Engine
    Four Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute 2006 Mazda Tribute

Notable features

Four-cylinder or V-6
Available 4WD
Carlike driving feel
Sporty suspension tuning

The good & the bad

The good

Easy-to-manage size
Maneuverability
V-6 performance
Four-cylinder fuel economy
Side-impact crash-test rating

The bad

Noise
Short seat bottoms
Occasional floatiness
Lack of low-range gearing

Expert 2006 Mazda Tribute review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By Sara Lacey
Full article
our expert's take

Mazda. Mmmmmmmazda. Maz-Daaaaa! What do I think of when someone says Mazda? What does Mazda evoke? I can remember jingles, catch phrases, mottos, logos, and the images the cars project. I like to think this is not indicative of my moldable, mushy brain, but rather my awareness of marketing tactics. In any case, instead of remembering “Zoom-Zoom,” like Mazda currently wants me to, I usually remember that Mazda marketing jingle from my youth. You know the one, don’t you? “Sakes alive, sakes alive, the Mazda something something for just fifty-seven ninety-fiiiiiive!” I want Zoom-Zoom because the song is better, but Sakes Alive just sticks. Anyway, I look to the 2006 Mazda Tribute to get me back on board with Zoom-Zoom, and to plant an image in my head about Mazda in general.

The Tribute is a small, good-looking-yet-not-remarkable SUV. Two Latch connectors, three tethers, airbags, side curtain airbags, cruise control, A/C, 6-CD in-dash changer, fog lamps, and power windows, locks and seats. It has what I need. I can only fit two kids in child car seats back there, though. The black and grey marbled interior trim is a little um … cheap-looking. But the dash and the rest of the compartments are pretty clean and make up for this digression in aesthetics. It’s comfortable, basic, and I start to enjoy my Mazda test-drive.

Why? Well, it’s because I don’t bonk my head or my kids’ heads on the door when I put them in their car seats; because my children can look out the window, and enjoy being “so much up high!” as my son puts it; because the cupholders are good for all sizes of beverages, even though I think they should be relocated in front of the gearshift, rather than behind it so I don’t whack the beverages when using the gearshift. I also like the general overall interior size. It is car-ish inside, allowing me to reach the kids if I need to, or my purse on the passenger seat. I don’t feel like I’m driving the Mazda Gigantor (not a real car), or filling it up at the pump. And the headrests are comfortable even when my hair’s up. It’s such a girl thing, but I’m a mom and my hair is up 97% of the time.

Here’s the hitch. I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want a small SUV but maybe just a little bit bigger than the Tribute. I’d love a place for my purse. I’d love bigger, better storage compartments. There are little ones in the driver and passenger doors, but none in the back. No cup holders in the back. The small glove box has room for the manual but not much else. The cargo space fits my stroller just fine, but it’s a bit daunting to do a big grocery trip because I have to stack all the bags on top of the stroller for them to fit. I hate rebagging my groceries when I get home. I guess I could put the stroller up on its side, but then it falls over and mashes the bananas. Just a little bit more space, just a couple inches to turn my stroller the long way to make room for other stuff, and we’re golden.

And hey, what about visibility? It’s got a big blind spot in the front corners that I have to get used to. There are big handles there that are odd and annoying. One could use them to get in, I suppose. I don’t think the Tribute is big enough to merit the use of these handles. Certainly they’re not there to replace the dry-cleaning hooks that don’t exist in the rest of the car. To the back, I can’t see anything close to the vehicle. With three headrests, the bulky defrost tape on the window, two tethers going up to the roof behind the car seats, and a small window to begin with make the visibility out back like looking through a big spider web.

As for the Zoom-Zoom part, there’s a bit of it in the 6-cylinder engine, a bit that takes a little coaxing to come out. That’s really all I have to say about it. Sakes alive Mazda, make an impression! It’s a good car, could be better, more mom-friendly. But maybe Mazda’s content. There’s a lot to be said for being content. In spite of its shortcomings I guess I too, am content in the Tribute.

*For more information about the Mazda Tribute and its safety features, visit Cars.com.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS

LATCH Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Puny

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

2006 Mazda Tribute review: Our expert's take
By Sara Lacey

Mazda. Mmmmmmmazda. Maz-Daaaaa! What do I think of when someone says Mazda? What does Mazda evoke? I can remember jingles, catch phrases, mottos, logos, and the images the cars project. I like to think this is not indicative of my moldable, mushy brain, but rather my awareness of marketing tactics. In any case, instead of remembering “Zoom-Zoom,” like Mazda currently wants me to, I usually remember that Mazda marketing jingle from my youth. You know the one, don’t you? “Sakes alive, sakes alive, the Mazda something something for just fifty-seven ninety-fiiiiiive!” I want Zoom-Zoom because the song is better, but Sakes Alive just sticks. Anyway, I look to the 2006 Mazda Tribute to get me back on board with Zoom-Zoom, and to plant an image in my head about Mazda in general.

The Tribute is a small, good-looking-yet-not-remarkable SUV. Two Latch connectors, three tethers, airbags, side curtain airbags, cruise control, A/C, 6-CD in-dash changer, fog lamps, and power windows, locks and seats. It has what I need. I can only fit two kids in child car seats back there, though. The black and grey marbled interior trim is a little um … cheap-looking. But the dash and the rest of the compartments are pretty clean and make up for this digression in aesthetics. It’s comfortable, basic, and I start to enjoy my Mazda test-drive.

Why? Well, it’s because I don’t bonk my head or my kids’ heads on the door when I put them in their car seats; because my children can look out the window, and enjoy being “so much up high!” as my son puts it; because the cupholders are good for all sizes of beverages, even though I think they should be relocated in front of the gearshift, rather than behind it so I don’t whack the beverages when using the gearshift. I also like the general overall interior size. It is car-ish inside, allowing me to reach the kids if I need to, or my purse on the passenger seat. I don’t feel like I’m driving the Mazda Gigantor (not a real car), or filling it up at the pump. And the headrests are comfortable even when my hair’s up. It’s such a girl thing, but I’m a mom and my hair is up 97% of the time.

Here’s the hitch. I want to have my cake and eat it too. I want a small SUV but maybe just a little bit bigger than the Tribute. I’d love a place for my purse. I’d love bigger, better storage compartments. There are little ones in the driver and passenger doors, but none in the back. No cup holders in the back. The small glove box has room for the manual but not much else. The cargo space fits my stroller just fine, but it’s a bit daunting to do a big grocery trip because I have to stack all the bags on top of the stroller for them to fit. I hate rebagging my groceries when I get home. I guess I could put the stroller up on its side, but then it falls over and mashes the bananas. Just a little bit more space, just a couple inches to turn my stroller the long way to make room for other stuff, and we’re golden.

And hey, what about visibility? It’s got a big blind spot in the front corners that I have to get used to. There are big handles there that are odd and annoying. One could use them to get in, I suppose. I don’t think the Tribute is big enough to merit the use of these handles. Certainly they’re not there to replace the dry-cleaning hooks that don’t exist in the rest of the car. To the back, I can’t see anything close to the vehicle. With three headrests, the bulky defrost tape on the window, two tethers going up to the roof behind the car seats, and a small window to begin with make the visibility out back like looking through a big spider web.

As for the Zoom-Zoom part, there’s a bit of it in the 6-cylinder engine, a bit that takes a little coaxing to come out. That’s really all I have to say about it. Sakes alive Mazda, make an impression! It’s a good car, could be better, more mom-friendly. But maybe Mazda’s content. There’s a lot to be said for being content. In spite of its shortcomings I guess I too, am content in the Tribute.

*For more information about the Mazda Tribute and its safety features, visit Cars.com.

LET’S TALK NUMBERS

LATCH Connectors: 2

Seating Capacity (includes driver): 5

IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT

Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Puny

Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair

SENSE AND STYLE

Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair

Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): Some

Safety review

Based on the 2006 Mazda Tribute base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
4/5
Frontal passenger
4/5
Side driver
5/5
Side rear passenger
5/5

Factory warranties

Basic
4 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
5 years
Powertrain
4 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
4 years / 50,000 miles

Consumer reviews

4.2 / 5
Based on 30 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.2
Interior 4.2
Performance 4.0
Value 4.4
Exterior 4.3
Reliability 4.5

Most recent

Bought our '06 Tribute used w/ 145k miles.

Bought our '06 Tribute used w/ 145k miles. Purchased it just as a "local errands" car to keep miles off our '22 Mustang's odometer and leave my older Ford F250XL w/V10 parked because it loves fuel. Pleasantly surprised. Plenty of room for the two of us + our pit bull and luggage. Have used it for a few trips to Florida and to Helen GA. No issues, decent gas mileage and overall comfortable to drive. Not as easy on the body as some of the larger SUV'S, (Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator), but still comfortable and easier on the wallet when it comes to fuel, (and insurance), and insurance costs. Normally, we flip our older used vehicles every 6-8 months but the wife wants to keep this one awhile, she feels comfortable operating it. Went so far as to purchase a Thule cargo box for the roof rack to give us even more space. I think Mazda may have made a mistake discontinuing this model in favor of the smaller CX models.
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 4.0
Interior 4.0
Performance 3.0
Value 4.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 5.0
0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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Most versatile car possible

I love the tribute. First I owned an '02 which drove smoothly with no major repairs through 220,000 miles. I'm now on my second, an '06 which I got a week ago and I'm loving even more. These cars will give you what you want in an SUV without compromising agility
  • Purchased a Used car
  • Used for Commuting
  • Does recommend this car
Comfort 4.0
Interior 4.0
Performance 5.0
Value 5.0
Exterior 4.0
Reliability 5.0
9 people out of 9 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2006 Mazda Tribute?

The 2006 Mazda Tribute is available in 2 trim levels:

  • i (4 styles)
  • s (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2006 Mazda Tribute?

The 2006 Mazda Tribute offers up to 24 MPG in city driving and 29 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2006 Mazda Tribute reliable?

The 2006 Mazda Tribute has an average reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2006 Mazda Tribute owners.

Is the 2006 Mazda Tribute a good SUV?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2006 Mazda Tribute. 83.3% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.2 / 5
Based on 30 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.2
  • Interior: 4.2
  • Performance: 4.0
  • Value: 4.4
  • Exterior: 4.3
  • Reliability: 4.5
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