Tribute Hybrid Needs More ‘Zoom-Zoom’ to Make it Memorable

2009 Mazda Tribute Hybrid Grand Touring

model as tested $32,365

Test Drove 12/15/08 – 12/22/08
reviewed by Lori Hindman

If the 2009 Mazda Tribute Hybrid looks familiar, it’s with good reason. You see, it’s basically a Ford Escape with a bit of Mazda-flavored accessorizing. Moms know that accessories can make the outfit.

This hybrid SUV gets the job done quietly and smoothly, and I don’t really have a negative thing to say about it. That’s not to say that my family and I fell in love with it; the Tribute Hybrid lacks that bit of flair or personality that makes a car memorable. I enjoyed my time in the Tribute Hybrid even when Mother Nature made the unthinkable happen: It rained in L.A. The Tribute Hybrid was there for me and mine, so we weathered the storm with no excitement whatsoever.

Even the two-wheel-drive version of the Tribute Hybrid handled the bad weather beautifully. Slick and muddy roads were no problem, and the Tribute Hybrid’s higher ground clearance was helpful in getting the kids to school when the local roads started to flood. The hybrid engine took on hills and freeway merges with surprising speed. I’m a speedy kind of girl, and the Tribute was right there with me. There was less roll in the curves than I expected. The more I drove it, the more confident I felt.

So far, the Tribute Hybrid is a limited production model that’s only available in California. The regular Tribute has the same exterior and interior as the Tribute Hybrid. While the Tribute Hybrid is Mazda’s first gas-electric hybrid vehicle, the company plans to build more hybrids in the near future.

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