Test Drive Mazda Tribute 2001 - 2007 SUV

Mysterious soul

Tribute is an SUV with a soul of a sports car, "the creators are given this way. Not only is Mazda built an SUV, so also with the soul .... the public for the first time saw this car at the beginning of last year, and Fordovtsy and Mazdovtsy managed to distribute the premieres.

At first, the car was shown in the USA as Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape, then in Europe - like Ford Maverick ...

It is no secret that the buyer is often fitted under different badges and brands practically the same products. In the automotive industry, Volkswagen AG plays more than others. The competitors of the Germans are complained, but they themselves do not mind to reduce production costs - to take at least light trucks of various departments General Motors. Or the last example is the Ford and Mazda cooperation in the construction of the Tribute / Escape / Maverick compact SUV. And the latter immediately in two meanings - and the most fresh, and there will be no more. Recent statements by Ford executives indicate that the company is going to refuse from the policy of broad unification of platforms. The more interesting is to get acquainted with this example.

Representing your versions of the car, and Ford, and Mazda pull the blanket on yourself, so it's hard to figure out, whose role in creating a car is more. Perhaps, after all, Mazda - in the Tribute platform, the traces of the sedan 626 are clearly visible. They collect both cars in the United States, at the plant in Kansas City (in Japan, only right-order versions are produced).

From Ford Brothers (report on test drive Ford Maverick We plan to publish in the next room) Mazda Tribute is externally distinguished by headlights, bumpers, hood with folds and grille grille. The company reports that the path from the concept to the conveyor car passed in 10 years! Long according to the current standards, it was time to take into account the experience of rivals. Moreover, they tried to create a global car, all tastes.

The problem oh how difficult. The surveys conducted by the company showed that about a third of the potential buyers first of all worried the appearance of the car, another third - its mechanical stuffing, could not say anything distinct. Everyone constructed that the car should not be a big ...

Tribute appearance made quite calm - nothing is excessively aggressive. But the car looks convincingly and somehow more interesting to its American brothers. Sportswoman, or what?

The first thing you pay attention to, sitting down in Mazda Tribute, is low, almost like a passenger car, floor. The second is a great overview in all directions, which contributes to a large windshield with thin racks, a sloping hood and a relatively low waist line. Yes, and in the back door, the glass is rather big, and its lower edge is lowered more than usual. The reserve is hidden under the floor of the car and the review does not block - another global component of the car.

The main version of Tribute is equipped with a 3 l 200-strong Motor V6 and a 4-speed automaton, such machines are up to 90% of the release. They are mainly intended for the American market, where buyers are accustomed to powerful motors and a kocherge on the steering wheel. In Europe, the more modest version is mainly supplied - it is an option with 2 liters).

Equipment of the cabin standard-modest. Textiles, plastic, but everything is convenient and done qualitatively. Pens, buttons - at hand, normal sizes are equipped with a clear symbolism. The devices are well read. That's just no ashtray, although the cigarette lighter is in stock. Weird...

In the cabin, unexpectedly spacious, rear passengers, including. The backs, as usual, fold, the luggage compartment is quite spacious. The rear door is fixed on the upper loops, it rises high (you can't hurt your head) and opens a wide opening. For loading small items, you can open (raise) only glass.

In the course of Tribute behaves in a passenger - as a wagon, not an SUV. However, according to the design, it is a wagon - carrying the body with increased rigidity on twisting, the front Macpherson suspension, the rear independent multi-dimensional. At the speed in the cabin quietly - neither the noise of the engine nor the wind. The coefficient of aerodynamic resistance (0.396) is lower than other cars of this category - due to the form of bumpers, which better organize the air flow under the bottom.

The suspension is modeled rigid, moderately comfortable. Steering is sharp enough, brakes and box - without comments. The possibilities of 2 liters of the engine quite grabs in most staffing road situations, but it is not particularly outstanding in anything. It works smoothly, the car drags confidently, but call Tribute with this motor SUV with a sports car shower - clearly bust. SUV with a lung car - will be just right ...

Now a little about off-road properties. The car, as already mentioned, is equipped with a all-wheel drive transmission with an inter-axis coupling - the company calls it RBC (Rotary Blade Coupling). Unlike the viscous coupling, which is used by the main competitors, RBC is a multi-disc clutch built into the rear axle differential. In normal road conditions, almost the entire torque flow is fed to the front wheels, the rear is completely slightly. As the front wheel slip increases, the rear is smoothly connected - in the limiting case, it is supplied to half of the torque. If you wish, you can press the Lock button - the electromagnetic clutch mechanism will work, the RBC coupling will be blocked (the green rectangle will turn on the dashboard), and the torque flow will be forcibly distributed between the axes equally. You can do it on the go ...

We did not test the car in a serious off-road, it was not for that. But on the villagers and little bouanes traveled. Here Mazda Tribute feels no less confident than on asphalt, and without blocking the coupling, which may be required, unless to get out of the mud. It seems that the version with the drive only on the front wheels will show itself in such conditions no worse, but it will cost cheaper (the price variation on Tribute C 2 l motor is $ 24.000-28.500). True, winter on the nose ...

In the USA they sell the car, resting mainly on its powerful 3 l motor, thanks to which Mazda Tribute clearly exceeds its main competitors - Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV-4. But these advantages are lost, if the car costs 2 liters, and rivalry becomes more acute. And here the problems of taste - and money begin to play a big role.

Text: Vasily Mikhailov 130-Strong engine and 5-speed manual box. I took it to the test, making sure, is true that it is equipped with a all-wheel drive transmission (in most markets for cars with
 
 

A source: Magazine Motor [№11 / 2001]