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 81 through 90 of 173.00

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  Should get better gas mileage for a 4 cylinder - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By dennis - March 2 - 5:00 pm

  Traded my Camry for this and wish I had kept it mainly for gas mileage. Thought a 4 cylinder would do good but I get only 23 on trips even with just myself in the car. I added a power roof which I like. Passenger door does not accept key so the only way in is the drivers door if you dont have remote. This is sometimes a pain as I try to keep my keychain from being too bulky esp. if carrying remotes for other cars too. There was a recall for the back hatch door lock which was minor. I have about 17000 miles and no real problems so far other than it is sluggish on the highway, esp. hills and has to downshift to climb. It does that a lot on trips. It does ride smooth and is sporty. It is just OK.

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  Good Deal, but needs some minor help - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Heather - February 11 - 11:43 pm

  Overall, my 2005 Tribute S has plenty of room, handles decent & good pickup. I’ve always driven high-end luxury sedans & SUV’s and while this isn’t in their class with style, comfort, drive and some of the interior options, bells and whistles, it is a great deal. I get alot of compliments and would recommend this SUV for someone restricted to that price bracket. I transport alot of sporting equipment on the roof. This is the one reason I will not be a repeat Tribute owner. Mazda made a huge mistake making the rook rack extremely short.Unless you replace the entire rack with a custom rack, then this is not the SUV for outdoor enthusiasts needing to carry sport equiptment on the roof.

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  Love My Tribute - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Petes83 - January 27 - 10:00 am

  The whole experience of buying the Tribute was excellent. The dealership was very fair, working with a female sales rep was nice. The Tributes performance, handling, and capabilities are excellent. Got an 05 Tribute V6 with moonroof for 24K with 0% financing. Quite a deal!

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  2005 Tribute Fwd - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By David - January 11 - 8:03 am

  Ive had the Tribute for 2 months now and I couldnt be happier. I priced out the Escape and the Mariner but ended up with the Tribute for the styling, standard 16" wheels, warranty (4 years/50000 miles), and the aggressive pricing from the dealership. Even if you live in a cold climate, the FWD is more than adequate for getting through snow and the antilock brakes are very effective. I test drove the new 4 cylinder and it was fine but the 6 cylinder is much smoother and the gas mileage is still respectable. Give the Tribute a look and tell the dealer that youre seriously considering an Escape. The price will come down considerably. Hope this helps!

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  Definitely Worth A Look - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By badlands - December 15 - 10:00 am

  After researching/test driving every SUV $40K and under I kept coming back to the Tribute. Overall,the Tribute is a winner. With the V6 it has better pickup and crisper handling then almost anything out there in the small/midsize SUV categories. Rides better on dirt roads than my Laredo did. 6in shorter than my old Jeep but still has reasonable cargo area and good front/back interior room. The sound system/6 cd player is equally as good if not better than the Infinity the Jeep had.If you are looking for an SUV with reasonable gas mileage(for an SUV), something thats fun to drive(the zoom zoom is for real), and a better bumper-to bumper warranty than most(4 yrs/50K mi),check out the Tribute.

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  This is our third Mazda...WOW! - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Terri Zooms - December 3 - 10:33 am

  I purchased the 2005 Tribute with every option except the DVD and running boards. I am 240 pounds and my husband is 64". Both of us fit well as other compacts were too small, doggy and had poor visibility for me (53"). The V8 is powerful -- quick off the start and ZOOMS around vehicles on the highway. The cargo door opens 2 ways unlike other SUVs. As with any compact, not a lot of leg room in the back seat. Mileage: town 18 highway 23. It will improve after its driven more. Heated seats and mirrors are awesome, power adjustable seats are a snap to use, leather is high quality, paint job and appearance is second to none. You get the bang for your buck! Audio system rocks even for old folks.

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  Really Great - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Dan - November 27 - 6:36 pm

  No problems in 21000 miles. Acceleration, conering, turning radius, all really good. A very easy handling vehicle with good vision. Mileage, 20 city, 27 interstate at 70 mph. Other than noisy tires I love it.

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  Very Satisfied - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By LMcGee - November 3 - 10:00 am

  I test drove many kinds of suvs on the market. The Mazda Tribute was the most comfortable suv to ride in. It is spacious and "oh" does it draw attention. I have been asked by many what is it called. I chose the Tribute because I received more options for my money compared to others that are similar.

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  Not a 6 - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By Wayne Ferguson - October 23 - 6:56 am

  Purchased a Mazda 6 11/04. Not a thing gone wrong to date. Tribute had lock problems from factory, engine failure (plugs and computer) at 9K. You can see the Ford connection in this truck. Also no where near the advertised fuel mileage. First and last Mazda SUV.

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  My Zoom-Zoom - 2005 Mazda Tribute
  By jgoldfish - October 6 - 5:30 am

  The Tribute is an excellent SVU. It is perfect to haul the skis, kids, dogs, bikes, etc. with a great sporty look that we were looking for. We tested the Saturn look alike, thought it was too cheap inside. We didnt every let the kids in at the dealership because we were afraid something would fall off in the interior of it. The service at our Mazda dealer was superior to any dealer in the area. Even a year after the purchase our dealer and the Mazda dealership is always there to answer any question we have just as friendly as the date of purchase.