Test Drive Mazda Tribute 2001 - 2007 SUV

Sister

Remember, as it was in childhood: before starting to meet with the girl, find out if she has a brother. If so, at first, they are friends with him, it is necessary to know everything about your sympathy, and then you begin to pour clins to her. Approximately it happened from our Mazda Tribute.

Indeed, before you meet the Mazda Tribute, we tied a strong friendship with her twin brother Ford Maverick, and a girl came to the girl only three months later. If he is serious, then the meeting with Ford occurred only because in Russia he appeared a little faster sister. It turned out, we already had the overall idea of \u200b\u200bthe Japanese car. It remained to sort out the details.

As we thought, nothing unexpected to our eyes appeared essentially the same Maverick. Although not. The profile is very similar, but Bichina has a more flat on Tribute: the wheeled arches are not as developed and there are plastic expansion on them. Later it turned out that they were installed only on modifications with a three-liter engine. Our acquaintance under the hood stood 2.0. And sorry so the car looks worse.

The next difference between Mazda from Ford Ringing. In Tribute, they are pronounced and stretch from the middle rack almost to the fifth door, and Maverick, instead, there are guides on the roof for which the crossbars are moving. What's better? There is no practical difference, but with the aesthetic side, the winnings on the Mazda side in the image more speakers.

In the queue of face control. If we were asked to determine the class affiliation of the car in front of the front, we would say that this is control. It is painfully similar to Tribute on its MPV name name: the same beak of the radiator lattice and the incision of the headlights.

Go to the stern. And then the same thing. In a sense, style. Sharp lights, the broken glass of fifth doors, we have already seen all this.

Tribute salon differs even less from Ford: a little changed the instrument shield, the center console is slightly rebuilt, the steering wheel of a slightly different form. The second time to spray about ergonomics will not. We only note that in this modification there is no front armrest. In addition, inflexible turns on the programs will not understand, or it stuck, or not, and the clutch pedal is released every time with caution.

It is even more worse to switch to neutral, especially at the traffic light, when there are cars ahead. Is it so fuzzy that only you think and suddenly stayed on the gear? One awkward movement, and you, if not a father, then the debtor is exactly. It is necessary to act in detail: first the full clutch disclosure, then an energetic eyebringing by the lever, then the right leg on the brake, and the left slowly lets his pedal very slowly.

Over time, the necessary transmissions begin to rush as nice, but at first the behavior of the box causes a feeling of annoyance. Moreover, the engine power is enough for the car, in the event of an inaccurate circulation with the scene, made an unintentional meter jump for two or three.

Oddly enough, a 124-strong engine is significantly better listened in the cabin than on the street. Watching the start of Tribute from the street, you immediately remember the electric vehicles, as silently departed. Only when feed saves, the ear catches barely to do the production system. In general, if the car grows sharply from the spot, it is unlikely that anyone will turn in his direction.

But sitting inside all this seems to be somewhat different. The operation of the motor in the cabin is permanently. The exception is idling. Especially well the engine is listening at the time of overclocking, but the donkey in his voice is not felt. Even on the contrary, there is a feeling of energy stock.

Along the highway, the car is very confident. Not a goat on the bumps nor the rearrangements in the turns. The illusion of the right passenger car is 100%. Exactly the same feelings were when moving on Maverick. What is surprised! The current SUVs for the time being able to hide their class affiliation until time. Dependent suspension, springs, distributors All this is the remnants of the past. On Tribute, like on Maverick, there are no them in mom. Independent front and semi-independent rear suspension provide a high level of comfort by passengers and excellent car handling. In the car absolutely no speed. You go on 130, and it seems that at 80.

On the off-road almost the same. Naturally, the pace of movement falls, comfortably worsens comfort, but to a completely acceptable level. Often electronics do not even consider it necessary to connect the rear axle. Only on very ravenly sites, when the front wheels begin to buck, it enters work. Through a multi-disc clutch, part of the torque (up to fifty percent) is transmitted to the rear axle. Then Tribute and turns into a real SUV dragging, as an ensign from the warehouse.

The only thing that sometimes is alarming, short moves of the suspension. Even on a minor inflection, the car can get into captivity of diagonal hanging.

It is a pity, a self-locking differential is not installed here. With him, life on off-road from Tribute would be much easier. However, if in advance to engage in the full drive mode in advance, such sites can be attempted to overcome the likelihood of the probability to get stuck significantly.

Of course, neither TRIBUTE nor Maverick to real SUVs do not belong. By purchasing such a car, do not think that you will not be barriers to the sea and on land. First of all, these are highway machines with all the charms owes them and only to the second SUV. And then not by calling, but by coercion. It is worth remembering this, leaning out of the pocket of 26 thousand cracks to pay a dealer for Mazda Tribute.

Text: Oleg Kalaushin

A source: Magazine 5 Wheel [11/2001]