- suv 147,133
- Middletown, OH
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- autoshopper.com
- suv 147,133 red automatic
2006 mazda tribute review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Among the sportiest of the compact suvs. introductionit's a well-worn cliche, but the mazda tribute puts some sport in sport utility. Responsive handling and brisk performance from the available v6 engine make the tribute one of the sportiest of the compact suvs. the 2005 model line was recast to complement the rest of the mazda lineup, and little has changed with the 2006 model. The suspension had also been revised for improved handling. Available side-impact airbags and curtain airbags enhance safety. the mazda tribute delivers an excellent value for drivers who want the versatility of a sport utility, but with the superior refinement and on-road handling of a car-based utility can offer. Seats are upholstered in cloth, the rear seat is a 60/40 split fold-down bench, and there's full carpeting and front and rear floor mats. the s model adds fog lights, upgraded cloth trimmed seats, an upgraded driver's seat with adjustable lumbar, and sundry appearance items. options for both i and s include a cassette player 200), an in-dash six-disc cd changer 500), a dvd entertainment system 1,200), various cargo area accessories, a perimeter alarm 115), side step tubes 400), color-keyed door edge guards 70), all-weather floor mats 40); compass and outside temperature gauge and auto-dimming rearview mirror 230 and $300 with homelink); moonroof deflector 50); rear bumper step plate 50); rear spoiler 300); and wheel locks 40). Some of these options are not available with certain packages. a premium option package 1,610) for tribute i automatic features leather-trimmed seats, a six-way power driver's seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, fog lamps, overhead console with storage bins, illuminated vanity mirrors, maple-look wood-grain center stack and center console, painted bumpers, lower body-side and wheel-arch trim, and body-colored mirrors. The s is available with any one of three option packages: the first 1,480) adds six-way power driver's seat, seven-speaker premium audio with six-disc in-dash cd changer, power moonroof and retractable cargo cover and a single overhead storage bin; the second package 1,745) adds to the first leather-trimmed upholstery, the black-maple-look wood-grain center stack and console and leather-wrapped steering wheel; the third package 2,595) adds heated front seats and outside mirrors to the contents of the other two packages. The s is also available with a class ii trailer tow package 350) consisting of a frame-mounted trailer hitch with 3,500-pound capacity and wiring harness. A preferred equipment group 175) adds a cargo net, cargo tray, rear bumper step plate and wheel locks. safety features that come standard include anti-lock brakes (abs) with electronic brake force distribution (ebd) and brake assist. Side-impact airbags, designed to provide torso protection for driver and front-seat passenger, and curtain airbags 565), designed to offer head protection, are available only on the tribute s models. walkaroundthe mazda tribute has an aggressive look due to its forward-tilted stance, short overhangs and wide track. Thick bumpers, side cladding and wheel lip moldings, all tweaked and massaged for a slightly different look for 2005, carry over for the 2006 model and are smoothly integrated into the bodywork to give the tribute a sense of stability and refined ruggedness. Large multi-reflector headlamps with clear lenses and rear combination lamps with crystal lenses add a sporty dash. in terms of external dimensions, the tribute sits near the middle of its class. Measuring 174 inches in overall length, the tribute isn't as long as the honda cr-v or the new 2006 toyota rav4 (at 181 inches). However, the tribute's wheelbase is only an inch shorter than the rav4's wheelbase (the distance the front and rear wheels). Also, the tribute has a relatively wide track (the distance between the left and right wheels), about the same as the rav4's. The cr-v is 6 inches narrower than the tribute. A longer wheelbase and wider track tends to offer better stability. interiorinside the mazda tribute is a pleasant place to be. The front bucket seats are comfortable and of higher quality than those found in many suvs. All five seating positions have three-point seatbelts and adjustable head restraints. Rear-seat passengers will discover that the tribute's rear windows do not roll down all the way, as with many small sport utilities. the middle ground on exterior size means the tribute fares about the same inside. It trails virtually all the competition in headroom and hiproom and lands about in the middle in legroom. It feels roomier than it is, however, an indication of good packaging and design. The lower dash flows smoothly around the front-seat knee wells. Interior door panels are economically crafted to yield maximum elbowroom. the 60/40 split-fold rear seat allows multiple combinations of people and stuff. Folding the rear seat reveals a flat cargo floor and nearly 67 cubic feet of cargo space. The glass does not have to be closed when opening the rear hatch. up front, the switchgear is straightforward. Radio controls are easy to use, and the heating and air conditioning controls are simple. Cruise controls are mounted on the steering wheel. The instrument panel is straightforward and easy to read. The center panel is matte finish and trimmed in brushed aluminum. visibility in all directions is very good. The shape of the tribute's hood combines with its seating position to allow the driver to clearly see both front corners of the vehicle, an advantage over the honda cr-v and many crossover utility vehicles. Narrow a-pillars (front) and d-pillars (rear) minimize blind spots. The low bottom edge of the rear window maximizes visibility, and there's no spare tire hanging off the liftgate to block the view. driving impressionthe mazda tribute is an agile and powerful little suv and it handles better than most sport-utilities. Its sharp steering allows the driver to guide it precisely. We found the tribute stable at high speeds. Handling response is relatively taut on winding roads, without that mushiness that characterizes suvs with big off-road tires and long-travel suspensions. Tribute handles much better than a jeep liberty, for example, and it's sportier and more fun to drive than a honda cr-v. steering response is direct and accurate without a big dead spot in the center. There's enough feeling in the steering to give the driver a good sense of control. The tires provide respectable grip in paved corners and transient response in lane-change maneuvers is surprisingly good. In other words, it's relatively tight when turning back and forth on a winding road or in an accident-avoidance maneuver. The transmission shifts smoothly up and down, appropriately for the situation. A broad power band means the engine never lugs or strains. Mazda tuned the transmission for slightly more aggressive shifting and mapped it for quicker acceleration than in the ford escape. Properly equipped, the tribute can tow trailers up to 3500 pounds, which cover. AM/FM✔ Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Changer✔ DVD Entertainment System✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
Middletown, OHMiddletown, OH at autoshopper.com