Overview & Reviews

Extensive changes for the Tribute this year include a new base engine, restyled exterior and a new electronic four-wheel-drive system. A floor-mounted shifter replaces the awkward column shifter, and ABS is now standard on all models.

• Roomy and comfortable interior, peppy V6 engine, drives more like a car than a truck, long list of standard features.

• Mediocre fuel economy and driving range on V6 models.

User Reviews:

Showing 151 through 160 of 173.00

• 

  2005 Mazda S AWD 3.0 V6 - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By redeye - August 9 - 9:30 pm

  Didnt like it at first, but it steadily grew on me. Noisy at highway speeds, some interior and dashboard controls are poorly designed and impossible to see at night. Heated seat button is in a truly odd place. Body creaks and groans, wallows over some highway undulations. All this and I still like it....cant put my finger on it...maybe its just that it is reliable, decent on gas (ECU went bad at 80,000 and I put a rebuilt one in that improved mileage to 24 - 25 hwy), tires wear forever and it does go in the snow better than any car i have driven.

• 

  Fun and comfy! - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By pedslpaz - May 26 - 10:00 am

  Ive only had my 2005 Tribute "s" (2wd) for a few days, but so far I love it! I had a 2003 Ford Escape Ltd for a few days, before I bought this Tribute, and now that I can compare the two, I can say that the Escape drove more like a truck and the Tribute drives more like a car.

• 

  Scootin Along - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By LDavisca - April 13 - 10:00 am

  Driving this SUV is more than easy, its downright fun! It handles like a dream and the smooth ride feels like cruising in a pricier, larger vehicle. The spacious cargo area doesnt take away any of the backseat legroom, passengers are comfortable and enjoy the ride. Easy rear access through either the window or whole tailgate is a real treat. This SUV responds well on any road surface and handles like a dream on freeways as well as in city traffic. My choice was made after a lot of research and Im extremely pleased with this happy little vehiicle! Front legroom and headroom are the best in any small SUV!

• 

  2nd Lease - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By G. Long - March 15 - 2:06 am

  This is the 2nd Mazda Tribute we’ve owned; both times we made a purchase we fully explored the possibility of purchasing others. For some reason we just came back to the same model but different color. I, being the husband, wanted to look into something else but my wife would have no part of it, she wanted this same car a 2nd time no matter what.

• 

  Outstanding Compact SUV - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By TGO - March 7 - 10:00 am

  Great compact SUV although it has a ton of room inside for its size. I did a fair amount of research on available compact SUVs prior to buying. The Tribute offered the best of both worlds from great car like handling on the road and good capability in marginal conditions. The Tribute is a joy to drive and its size lets you get in and out of spaces you would never venture in a mid to full size SUV. Very safe vehicle as attested to my insurance cost decreasing $60 a year even though I went from a 2000 model year vehicle to a 2005.

• 

  My Tribute Rocks!!!!! - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Meri24 - February 19 - 1:30 am

  Best SUV in its class for the money. Comfortable ride, smooth like a car. Awesome in 12 inches of snow.

• 

  GREAT BUTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Kimberly Hughes - January 29 - 2:43 am

  Great ride, control and fit...but, the airconditioner vents fell back and broke at 3000 miles....the windshield leaked the first time there was a big rain (1,000 miles on the Tribute) and I was told this was from the windshield shaking during travel...scary thought huh?? Not what I spend $20,000.00 to get! The knobs on the radio fell off at 1500 miles. The CD player skips and continues to each time a bump is hit. It is a nice looking Vehicle but is put together like a hot wheel...I know this because my first Tribute was bought on May 1st and it was such a Lemon that it was replaced by the dealer one month later in June and not much has changed except the windshield does not leak....

• 

  BEWARE - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Chris Wood 2 - January 17 - 10:00 am

  At 200 miles the front crank shaft seal developed a pretty serious oil leak. The headliner is separating, and parts are extremely difficult to attain. The selling dealer has been terrific, but their hands are tied. Mazda North America hasnt returned emails. The vehicle now has 1,200 miles and is only 12 weeks old. It is a fun vehicle to drive, and appears to be a good value. However, this amount of initial problems should concern any possible buyers. I have purchased many new Mazdas, and this experience has definately curbed my Mazda purchasing.

• 

  fun to drive - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By mr.pv - January 12 - 10:00 am

  love it, iam big guy and need a lot of room. the sound will blow you away.a 10 in my book.

• 

  Emileys experience with Tribute - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By rich emiley - January 6 - 6:56 am

  This is our 2nd Tribute, we had a 2002. We never liked the column shift on our 2002, 2005 moved it where it belongs, middle console. Milage has slipped from 22 to 19. The Tribute has lots of room for a smaller SUV. We drive our Tribute in Northern Wisconsin and it handles well in snow, never came close to slowing down in deep snow. The noise at higher speeds seems better than our 2002. The interior looks great and the radio has 190 watts with 7 speakers gives great sound to what ever music you like. Do not feel Mazda had enough colors to pick from and do not like smaller size trailer hitch.