Decent gas mileage, dependable, low cost, roomier than a car, but not a huge gas drinking SUV

Can be too cramped if you have two or more kids. Can be a little noisy on the highway

My Tirbute has been a fairly decent vehicle. I've only had to do the usual maintenance of a vehicle....brakes,tires,oil change etc. I had to get a new alternator about 4 months ago. Other than that it's been a good vehicle. It rides well, a little noisy. I have the DX model so it's not top of the line, but still decent. We have two kids now (one when we bought it) and we need something bigger now. My Tirbute started the stalling thing that I read on a few other reviews. I got it checked out at Mazda and it seems to be a lack of pressure in the fuel system after the car has been driven and then parked. It can't be fixed according to Mazda, must just be a Tribute glitch. After the Tribute has been driven a few miles and rebuilds pressure in the fuel system it stops stalling

Drives well in most weather conditions, very roomy, nice sound system, good crash test ratings and decent price.

Horrible gas mileage and a bit noisy on the road after its been broken in (35,000 miles). A couple blind spots and not so hot in the snow.

I purchases the Mazda Tribute due to the fact that I was in an accident with a sports car and was crushed. I felt compelled to buy a spacious, safe and affordabel SUV.

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All honda cars prior to the tribute.

Gas milage, manual transmission, styling, easy to change oil (not like honda's where you have to be a contorsionist into S&M). Great price 18,500 tax licence...out the door.

Could use a bit more power but gas milage would suffer. Seat fabric a bit thin, rear window hatch seems to be lossening up. I also wish it had smaller wheels to drop the center of gravity a bit, cause given its gearing at 65 mph is turning about 2400 rpms, if it was geared a bit longer in the tooth this could easily do 30+ mph on the flat highways.

Nice economical SUV, getting 28 hwy and around 22 around town. The 5 speed is crisp plenty of pedal on the clutch, acceleration good for a 2.6 liter 4 banger. Road noise acceptable, AC works great, nice radio/cd and very comfortable driving position for this 6' 4" driver. Over all a very good car with no problems so far at 20,000+ miles. Too bad they didn't make the v6 with a manual tranny cause its the way to go since the tranny is made in Japan and extremely positive shifting(about the only thing made in Japan on the car)

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Also have a 92 Ford Explorer with 145,000 miles (hard to kill it cause it too is 2 wheel drive).

Lots of power.

Transmission and hatch door.

Was fine until the transmission collapsed at 58000 Km. Has been driven tenderly, no off road , all services done and no over loading. Mazda refuses to take any reponsibillity for the obviuosly defective transmissiom.

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No SUV but Mazda MPV.

Good looks, powerfull engine, roomy

Everything except above

I thought the car looked great and Mazda being a Japanese manufacturer would produce quality products.

Guess I didn't do my homework!!! This car has terrible quality. I drove it now for over 100,000km and had all the problems which were mentioned in the other postings.

I would never buy a Mazda/Ford product again!

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none

Color paint

The vehicle design and parts!

This vehicle is horrible! Mazda should apologize to the owners for the quality of parts they used to produce these vehicles. After 6 trips for diagnosis the accelerator cable was replaced. The wheels have been replaced 3 times because they have pits in them. The vehicle has terrible wind noise, an oxygen sensor light that comes on routinely, the moon roof doesn't shut, an the exhaust manifold gasket is shot, the rotors have been replaced twice and the vehicle only has $41,000 miles on it. If you're thinking of purchasing this vehicle-RUN very fast to another manufacturer. This is the worst vehicle that I have ever owned.

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Jeep Cherokee
Chevy Suburban

It is a nice looking car with a good radio. I like the space and I think it handles well.

Rear window defroster really is terrible. Remote car starter has given me a problem from the get-go, but I am hoping that when I pick up my vehicle tomorrow, that will be fixed.

Unfortunately, I did not do much research on Mazdas since I've only heard great things from people that I know who own one. My car is two months, one week old (TODAY) and I am now driving my FIFTH rental. Remote car starter is failing and even though the dealership insists that the rear window defroster is working at 100%, I am finding that I must pull over to the side of the road and wipe it clean to be able to see out of the back window -- real safe!!
When they installed the moonroof deflector, a 'reservoir' was blocked, allowing three hours of torrential downpours into the vehicle. That was 'fixed' but I entered the car again last week to find another leak, which the dealer is saying that cannot be found or fixed.
I am very frustrated and am more than depressed that I did not stick with another Nissan.

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1998 Nissan Altima

Good drive, comfort, price for the type of vehicle, warranty 4/50,000, size for family of 3, holds its value

road noise, road noise, road noise, and the dealership with whom I purchased it from

My first SUV and I was very pleased. The dealership was terrible, promises - don't ever believe the "tires for life" etc... Also, once I paid, they handed me the keys and left, not explaining each detail like Honda did.
The SUV was great for a family of 3. My daughter and I had plenty of room if in the rear seat, cargo area was enough, but would always like more. Radio/CD changer was great, a few problems at the get go but they were fixed. It handled well and even when I wrecked, it kept me safe and did not flip wheh I think other SUV's would had (since I went sideways on a dteep embankment).
Anway, the road noise was terrible! I could not hear my daughter talk when she was in the back seat and that is with windows up and nothing else on (no radio or heat/air). It was extremely loud! Fair gas mileage, but I actually expected better with this small of a SUV, but it was my first SUV.
Now that I have totaled the vehicle, I only lost 2,000.00 over the two years and 30,000 miles I drove it which I think is great! But, I am looking for the third row. If the Tribute came with a third row like Highlander or Pilot, I would buy another due to value. I loved the comfort as compared to the CR-V and Outlander. Fair amount of storage and, like I said, roomy enough for a family of three (even good on vacation with 2 adults and 2 children under ages 8).

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Honda CR-V, now testing Highlander and Pilot only due to third row seating/room

Ride quality. Styling

Gear shift placement. Brakes replaced at 35K. Tires replaced at 35K. Gas mileage. A/C leaks.

Last "Mazda/Ford" product for me! The Tribute looks good and handles well, but that's about it. Please do your homework before selecting this vehicle, there are better small SUV's on the market.

Comfortable ride in the freeway, good sound system, plenty of room

Creaks, ticking sounds, groans from door and door panels

This car seems to drive well, but is extremely noisy. It is called "flex" noise, according to the dealer. It comes from all the doors--creaks, ticks, groans, all the time. The Factory Rep said that is normal for the Tribute--many seem to have it it varying degrees, but it is an obvious manufacturing defect, and I will pursue Mazda until I get some sort of satisfaction. I have read other consumer reviews with this same complaint, so buyer beware. I have a 2005 with 8000 miles and the sounds increase every month--I guess you would have to be deaf to buy this car from me, so the value of this Car is definately affected, contrary to the esteemed factory rep.