AZCentral.com's view

Mazda dealers should be jumping for joy. Here at last is a nicely turned-out sport utility vehicle, a thoroughly up-to-date “crossover” SUV, which should bring in a whole new crop of customers into Mazda dealerships.

The Tribute is the near twin of the compact Ford Escape, which hit the ground running for 2001 and immediately became one of the most popular SUVs in the whole menagerie. Mazda is partially owned by Ford, and they’ve shared chassis and vehicles, mainly trucks, for over a decade. Mazda’s last SUV was the Navajo, actually an Explorer in its less-popular two-door Sport configuration. This was not a big success for Mazda and was dropped after a few years.

Tribute is a whole different story, without compromises or handicaps, and it should do well. Compared with the Escape, Tribute has a different look, a slightly revised interior, and a mildly retuned suspension. But it’s basically the same creature as the Escape.

Crossover, by the way, denotes the latest generation of sport utilities such as Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Lexus RX300 that use automobiles instead of trucks for their basic underpinnings. Tribute/Escape uses the Mazda 626 platform along with its all-wheel-drive system to create SUVs that drive more like cars and get better gas mileage than the bigger, heavier, truck-based SUVs.

Nearly as wide as an Explorer, the Escape/Tribute feels roomier and more substantial than either the Toyota or the Honda. While the Escape looks like a scaled-down Explorer, Tribute has its own style. It’s an OK style, but I always have a problem with major slabs of plastic body cladding glued to the sides of any vehicle.

The major functional difference from the Escape is the Tribute’s slightly stiffened suspension and quicker steering. This is in line with Mazda’s push to reinvent itself as a sporty brand. Mazda touts the Tribute as having “the soul of a sports car,” but I think that’s pushing the hyperbole.

The Tribute is noticeably tighter and better handling than the Escape but at the cost of some ride quality. It’s really a personal preference thing. Some people will appreciate the Tribute’s enhanced maneuverability, while others will find the ride too harsh. I’m in the former camp and thought the Mazda drove better than the softer Escape.

Equipped with Ford’s strong 3-liter V-6 and all-wheel drive, the top-drawer Tribute ES tester performed well, accelerating briskly and turning in decent gas mileage. Highway cruising is relaxed, though there is significant road rumble and wind roar.

The base Tribute comes with a 130-horsepower four-cylinder engine and five-speed transmission in either front-wheel or all-wheel drive. Prices start at about $17,000. The “on-demand” all-wheel-drive system is unobtrusive. It’s basically a front-drive system unless it senses wheel spin, when it automatically transfers power to the rear wheels. This is not to be confused with truck-like four-wheel drive suitable for boulder-hopping and other nasty duty. The lightweight, electronic all-wheel-drive Tribute, like the RAV4 and CR-V, can handle dirt roads and other mildly loose surfaces, including snow. But don’t try using it as a Jeep. You’ll break it.

The interior is pretty roomy for Tribute’s compact dimensions. Rear-seat legroom is tight but not too bad. The dashboard and cabin styling are functional but not terribly interesting, especially in light of the highly styled interiors in some of the competition, notably the RAV4 and new Jeep Liberty.

The Tribute ES-V6 comes nicely equipped with leather trim; power windows, locks, mirrors and driver’s seat; cruise control; 16-inch alloy wheels shod with all-season tires; and floor mats. Options on the tester included a luxury package of upgraded stereo system and power moonroof, $1,090; antilock brakes and side-impact airbags, $495; and towing package, $350.

The price still seems reasonable, about the same as a well-equipped mid-size sedan. The Tribute functions well as a family transport if not a tough off-roader, but without the dodgy handling and poor gas mileage of a truck-based SUV.