New 2009 Mazda Tribute

Not to be outdone by its hybrid brother, the 2009 Mazda Tribute receives two new engines and interior upgrades to go with excellent fuel economy and copious amounts of cargo volume.

The Tribute is available in three trim levels – Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring. A thrifty, 2.5-liter, 171-horsepower 4-cylinder engine is standard in models with the “i” badge, while a 3.0-liter, 240-horsepower V-6 offers much better acceleration and solid towing capacity in “s” models. A five-speed manual transmission is only available with the 4-cylinder engine, while a six-speed automatic transmission offers smooth shifting with either engine. Front-wheel drive is standard, while electronic 4-wheel drive is an available option, offering superior handling and traction in all road and weather conditions.  The Tribute is akin to the Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape and competes with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Saturn Vue.  Fuel economy is nice at 17-22 mpg in the city and 24-28 mpg on the highway.

The Tribute seats five and has 96 cubic feet of passenger space and 27.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat.  If you fold the 60/40 rear seat, expect to get 66.2 cubic feet of cargo volume.  That’s more than the Vue and Escape Hybrids.  Chose between cloth and leather seating and enjoy standard satellite radio, dual-zone automatic climate control and an optional rear DVD entertainment system and navigation system (Grand Touring) with a 6.5-inch color LCD screen for touch-screen simplicity.  An optional in-dash 6-disc CD changer with 190 watts and seven speakers offers acoustic brilliance and a big improvement over the standard unit. Also available is a rear-seat entertainment system, including a folding, flat-screen monitor and two sets of wireless headphones to entertain rear seat passengers.  16-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps and a roof rack are standard, while a power moonroof comes standard on the Grand Touring.

Standard dynamic stability control and roll stability control to improve driver control and confidence during sudden maneuvers. Standard traction control is designed to limit wheelspin during quick takeoffs. A standard anti-lock brake system with electronic brake force distribution offers enhanced stopping ability and prevents wheel lockup. Standard dual front airbags, front side curtain airbags, and side-impact air curtains with rollover protection create a safe environment for both front and rear passengers.***Boasting refined power, sweet styling, tons of safety features, and plenty of cargo space, the 2009 Mazda Tribute improves upon the winning formula of its predecessor.