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FOR many
a manufacturer, platform sharing between models is an
effective way to reduce operating costs. However, the
different variants produced from a particular platform
may present similar unique selling points; the key is to
turn these brothers from a single mother to exude
respective distinctions.
One
example is the Mazda Tribute. Based on the CD2 platform
shared with the Ford Escape, the Tribute has managed to
hold its own against stiff compact-SUV
competition—including its aforementioned platform
sibling—by presenting itself as a civilized Escape
alternative. But can it still hold its own despite minor
changes?
Not much
has changed with regard to the exterior, save for some
new and pleasing aesthetics such as a larger grille
(with an enlarged Mazda emblem and a honeycomb design),
re-styled headlights and front bumper, and integrated
turn signals within the side mirrors.
 The
black lacquer dashboard finish on the dashboard, center
console and door panels give the interior a touch of
class and a notion that the Tribute is strictly meant
for the urbanite. The audio entertainment has somehow
improved over its precursor, but needs help at the
treble end. The aircon is cold, but the blower and
temperature gauges should change dimensions. Why? The
middle knob (temperature) is big and the blower knob (to
the left of the temperature gauge) is small; most owners
fiddle with the blower knob in tropical countries.
Storage
is a love-or-hate matter. Door storage is narrow and the
glove box is small, but the Tribute totes the front
backrest-mounted folding tray tables and the large
center console from the Escape. The rear hatch has
separate partitions for the glass and the hatch proper.
Unfortunately regular bigger cargo haulers may get teed
off, though, as the rear seats don’t fully fold flat.
The
Tribute has a sluggish bottom end and a weak top end,
with a high powerband entry (3,250 rpm) and the ECU
willing to downshift only at three-fourths throttle. It
doesn’t help, too, that the floor-mounted tranny has
only four forward gears, with a short second gear and a
TALL third gear.
Handling
is just middling for the Tribute, but somewhat decent
safety-wise. There’s little body roll on turns and the
ride is comfortable, but traction breaks at 60 kph
onward (with loud tire squeal). Steering is light in
feel but response is a tad slow. The brakes grip well,
but the handbrake’s rightmost location on the center
console can be intrusive to shotgun travelers. Exterior
lighting is bright, but the foglights are frustrating to
use and the dashboard gauge fonts are small.
The
newest iteration of the Mazda Tribute still retains the
civilized SUV sibling branding of its forebears, boosted
by a much-improved interior and an exterior that visibly
shares visual identity with its Mazda 3 and 6 sedans. |
