The 2008 Mazda Tribute HEV Touring has none of the cabin tech we like to see--you will have to get the Grand Touring version for those options. But it is a very practical car, with good interior space and low mileage.
In another feat of brand engineering for the automotive industry, the 2008 Mazda Tribute HEV shares body and engine with the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid and the 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid. HEV stands for hybrid electric vehicle.
The engine in the Tribute HEV is exactly the same as that found in the Ford Escape Hybrid, a 2.3-liter four-cylinder Atkinson cycle engine assisted by a hybrid system that lets the car operate as an electric vehicle for short distances.
Mazda lists this Eco badge as standard equipment on the Tribute HEV's sticker, which got us wondering if you could order it as an option on the standard Tribute.
A feature also seen on the Escape and the Mariner, the rear glass on the Tribute can be opened separately from the lift gate, allowing quick access to groceries or other small items.
Although the control configuration is the same as in the Escape and Mariner, Mazda clads the center stack and console with its signature gloss-black paneling.
The Tribute has a tight turning radius, but it's not very stable during high-speed cornering. We also found no mention of electronic stability control in its equipment list.
As a hybrid, the Tribute HEV uses a continuously variable transmission. It accelerates very smoothly without the usual gear shifts felt with standard automatic transmissions.
Cabin electronics are extremely limited in the Touring version of the Tribute HEV, but we did appreciate that the single-CD player reads MP3 discs and displays track information.
We found the audio quality generally poor with the stereo in the Tribute HEV Touring. The Grand Touring model can be upgraded for a better audio system.
As with the Escape Hybrid and Mariner Hybrid, the Tribute HEV has an AC outlet, made possible by an inverter and the high-voltage hybrid system in the car.