Test Drive Mazda Tribute 2001 - 2007 SUV

Cooking a trifle

Starina Noah took with him in swimming every creature in a pair. Ford Motor Co. Launched a pair of cars to the everyday sea - Ford Maverick and Mazda Tribute.
The situation has developed interesting - both SUV leaves from under one roof, since already a long time ago Mazda is owned by Ford. And they are sold in Moscow, too, under one roof, only in different halls. They cost only twenty meters from each other, but everyone is waiting for everybody. At the same time it is well known that it is almost the same car. Principal nodes - Motors and a full drive system are identical to both cars. And what to choose is a question of personal addiction. And the reason to explore those little things in which these two cars differ.
FACIAL FEATURES. Every man to his own taste. But, nevertheless, the photographer with the photographer chose the cars of the same color. And in the taste turned out to be comrades - at first glance, Mazda liked more. Ford is simple as a fork of an American farmer. In the lekalch, according to which individual parts of the body were manufactured, there are no smooth and curved lines. Look at the photographs of the face - Mazda looks elegant. More smooth lines of the hood, grill and front optics make this car more attractive for buyers who are more appreciated the aesthetic start in their car.
 
The internal design of Tribute is also more winning. A trifle, just one line that combines the instrument shield and the central console. But how much does it depends on it! In the showroom, we were told that buyers are waiting for several months to supply Mazda, while Ford in an identical configuration is safely in stock. It turns out that the sales volume may depend on the excess line on the front panel.
 
BACK VIEW. For an urban resident, such a trifle plays an important role as access to the trunk. On the Mazda and Ford, the algorithm for opening the fifth door is the same - under the door overlay two handles: the left opens the door, right - only glass. The handles differ in the texture to not be mistaken on the touch. The first is smooth, the second is ribbed. By the way, I travel to Ford for almost a week, but still regularly mistaken and opened the window instead of the door. And this is despite the fact that the corresponding pictograms are placed on the Ford plastic cover, and Mazda does not have them.
 
The rear window shape is more thought out on Tribute. Due to the fact that the lower edge is made with a surveillance, the overview in the rearview mirror is significantly improved and it is much easier to lay small things like a portfolio type or package package. Another nuance: In the upholstery of the trunk on the Maverick on the right there is a fireproof, covered with a grid on a rubber band. In Tribute, in the same place - the glove box with a plastic lid, which, by the way, is more convenient for the storage of the same small items.
 
Key, lock. A separate song I will sing about gas station gas station. More precisely, about ritual dances, which is accompanied by this process in the cold. In principle, this is a trifle, but very annoying for the Ford owner. Maverick has huge gaps between the luch of the gas tank and the body. And the cover is locked up on the lock open by the keyboard from the mailbox. After washing, and just under the influence of precipitation, the castle larva freezes. Save can only a thick layer of lubricant, but then the keys then put in his pocket! Song spots on trousers are not to face the owner of the car for $ 36 thousand. Therefore, every time I had to pour a splash carter into the lock, but wipe the key.
In Tribute, this flaw is fixed. First, the hatcher himself is more carefully fitted to the body. Secondly, the castle, mocking with a slight movement of the hand from the salon, was equipped with a hatch, and not a gas tank cover.
 
Rich, poor man. We compare cars of various configurations and do it intentionally. Because we are lucky, of course, the engine, and here you can not get anywhere. But by and large, our attitude to the car is determined by the little things.
So, in Maverick - complete mince. Automatic gearbox, leather interior, electric car. In Tribute - only an electric car, and very unsuccessful. The problem is that the entire block, including windows, locking door locks and windows, is blind. In the sense that the backlight is provided only for one key controlling the driver glass. On the rest of the white paint, the corresponding pictograms are simply applied. At dusk - and in our country half a year twilight - they are simply not read. Trifle, but very annoying.
Leather interior is good. But only if he heated. It is not in Maverick. And to sit on the seats who worked on the night frost are not only unpleasant, but also harmful. So in this sense, Mazda with velor seats is healthier.
 
The box is more convenient in the city. Moreover, the handle of the mechanical gearbox on Tribute is too low and it is not very convenient. However, the Maverick machine has problems related to the driver's ergonomics. The massive knob is almost completely overlaps the central console. In order to configure the radio, the hand has to bend almost like that of the same Kochergu. And the heating indicator of the rear window is simply not visible.
The Ford steering wheel mounted a cruise control unit. In my opinion, this is a completely unnecessary option, especially for those who spend their lives in the city. And if the designers so wanted to mount something on the steering wheel, then why not think about the button controls of the radio? Moreover, Maverick establishes a branded Ford Music, and such an algorithm for it is provided as an additional option.
And one more trifle - a hatch is installed on Ford. Unfortunately, at a temperature - 10 degrees and below it blends greatly, and melts melts only when the stove is turned on at full capacity for several hours. In the meantime, the glass will not get warm, the protective panel is better not to move away - water drips into the salon, and with sharp turns - for a televice to the driver and the front passenger.
 
No longer trifle. Well, and most importantly - the difference in the price of these two cars. It is $ 12 thousand. Of course, this version of Tribute - front-wheel drive, and Maverick - 4x4. And the Maverick engine of 3.0 liters exceeds the Mazda power plant for almost a thousand cubes. And those who will say that in their behavior on the road they differ as Pushkin and MTV languages. But here you have a dry residue: Mazda provides a choice of transmission, and Ford is not; Tribute gives the chance to the owner to forgive its shortcomings for this price, and Maverick is hardly.
In general, little things, you will say. Probably. But the pleasure of possession by the car develops in the end of the trifles after the first euphoria from the purchase passes. And when you start to really evaluate: what, in fact, money was spent?
      
Text Nikolay Kachurin, photo Alexey Ilyin
Cars are provided for the Ford Test Motor CJSC, (095) 745-9700, and Kuntsevo TC - Mazda, (095) 933-4033.
Model / Modification Ford Maverick Mazda Tribute
Manufacturer / Country Ford Motor Co./Ssha Toyo Kogyo Co.Ltd./yaponia
BODY
Universal type Universal
Number of doors / seats 5/5 5/5
ENGINE
Type gasoline with multipoint electronic injection
Location in front, transversely
Working volume (cube. Cm) 2967 1989
Number / Cylinder Location 6 / V-Figure 4 / Angle
Power, kW (hp) with rpm. / Min. 145 (197) at 6000 91 (124) at 5300
Moment (nm at rpm. / Min.) 265 at 4750 175 at 4500
TRANSMISSION
Drive Connected Full Front
Transmission automatic, 4-speed mechanical, 5-speed
SUSPENSION
Front independent spring, on triangular transverse levers, transverse stability stabilizer
Rear independent spring multi-piece, on a subframe, transverse stability stabilizer
STEERING
Type of the launch gear with an integrated type hydraulic
Min. The diameter of the reversal (M) 11.2 10.8
Torkemose
Front / rear disk, ventilated / drum
Sizes / Volume / Weight
Length / Width / Height (mm) 4395/1780/1760 4395/1780/1760
Wheel base (mm) 2620
 
Mass, curved (kg) 1570 1420
Tires 235/70 R16 215/70 R16
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km / h) 190 166
Acceleration up to 100 km / h (sec.) 10.2 13.7
Economy
Fuel consumption (l / 100 km, city / highway) 18.9 / 9.3 12.9 / 7.8
The price in Moscow is $ 36.3 thousand $ 24.3 thousand.
 

A source: "Autopilot"