Had one of these for 4 years! Fantastic cheap reliable college car. I packed that thing to the brim with my stuff when moving apartments. The V6 was very reliable but man, there were so many vacuum leaks that I couldn't fix. Every hose had a problem, and it would never idle quite right. The frame was very rusty when I got it in 2018, and became unsafe to drive in 2023. Thankful I got to own one of these before they all dissolve like aspirin and return to the earth
Even though I'm not a fan of the Mazda Tribute / Ford escape, I am very glad that I watched this because I finally got to see what the sound effect is if a car passes the big friggin bottle test!😂
Even though the 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 engines were dubbed as Duratec, they were still Mazda designed engines, since at the time Mazda was partly owned by Ford, FoMoCo would still keep ownership, they are basically MZR engines (I believe the basic design is still used today for Ecoboost 2.0 and 2.3), the Duratec V6 engines were Ford Designed and used by many brands such as Mazda, but also used by Jaguar (heavily modified), there is a rumor that the 6.0 V12 from Aston Martin was based on the design of the Duratec30, basically 2 of them glued together. In the end, as engines go, I believe each took advantage of the development of the other.
They sold both the American built first gen Mazda Tribute & first gen Ford Escape in The United Kingdom & mainland Europe,too,but the Escape was badged as a Ford Maverick here. We only got the 4 cylinder manual & the V6 Automatic here with petrol/gasoline engines,which hurt sales,as diesels are very popular here,about half,or a bit more,of passenger car sales,i think. The Escape/Maverick replaced the 1st gen Ford Maverick here in Europe,which was a rebadged Nissan Terrano,which was also sold here as well. Then the European designed & built Ford Kuga,badged as an Escape in North America, replaced the American built one here in Europe,built in both North America & Europe,which we both still have in the 2nd gen.
Glad i could be of help with the review! I'm kinda sad that this thing will be going into a tough truck event in july. Its a nice example but unfortunately will never see the road again .
Reviewing more Mazdas means you're definitely going to review the Mazda MPV (both generations) at some point in the future. Looking forward to those videos. BTW, i've seen some of these with column shifters, and yet this one has a console shifter. Why is that?
I have these wheels on my lowered first gen Mazda 3 and they look great. Going from 15*6 to 16*7 gave it a perfect stance. Not to aggressive, still looks factory!
I see one of these as a white Ford Tribute parked near a little library. Whomever owns it has had it for years. It stays pristine. I'm just now curiously looking up these vehicles. I rarely see them. I'm so curious about the one I see so often, I want to ask the owner about it. What a super practical vehicle. Doubt it's for sale. I'm just impressed how it stays so clean. It's parked in the sun 🥵 every time I see it. I try my best to park under cover whenever possible. Heck, if I could only drive at night, I would. By day, I zip into my garage like spiders evading light 😅. It's just too crappy hot from June to the middle of September.
My best friend had a white one of these in high school. Had loads of memories and can’t remember-ies as a passenger. I also owned a 2.3L Ranger so that Duratec sounds like home to me!
These used to be everywhere but now they're pretty rare. My grandfather had a pre-facelift one of these in the most boring spec possible. Silver over gray exterior, gray leather interior that I wouldn't be surprised if it was vinyl, V6. The leather seats felt cheap and were always hot, the radio display died one segment at a time, there was nothing interesting in the back seat, and it was just generally a dull car. I learned what badge engineering was when I got in a Ford Escape that had the same interior. It's a good thing Mazda was able to separate from Ford. I like seeing these still on the road but I never want to be in one.
fun fact, mazda tributes also came with a 2L Zetec engine and AWD (sadly with drum brakes on the back) so technically it is possible to take the drivetrain from a tribute and convert a mk1 ford focus to AWD
Ahh I remember now that I see this video @10:53 many ford escape taxis at the time would have little stickers on the tailgate “pull to open”⬇️ to let doormen and passengers know where the tailgate button was so they wouldn’t open the glass lol
You’ve got to drive a v6 there so much quicker. I’ve owned both and the 2.3 is so slow compared to the v6, I’d actually say it’s a fun toss able car to drive. They hide there size really well.
7:19 - It's not a tall Ford Focus at all. This platform is derived from a Mazda design - the 626's GF platform - that Ford later designated as CD2. All the "this is a Ford" talk is kinda lazy in this video. Yes, the Tribute is nearly identical to the Escape, but Mazda deserves more credit than they're given. That's surprising from a self-proclaimed Mazda fan. 7:35 - Mazda had an SUV of its own that was based on the B-Series pickup, the Proceed Marvie. We just didn't get it here. The Escape/Tribute was the first crossover for both Ford and Mazda. The fraternal twins were built much more truck-like than the modern CX-5, as were the standard-setting RAV4, CR-V, and Forester back then. There wasn't a priority on car-like driving characteristics like the CX-5 has, and cargo space was a priority over slick sheetmetal. That's how people viewed SUVs back then, and crossovers emulated SUVs.
1:29 Ford did not own Mazda. Rather, Ford had a controlling interest in Mazda, and even then, they didnt have a controlling interest until the mid-90s.
I've always like the styling of this and the first gen Escape. Is is GOOD looking? Not really. It just has clean, simple, straight lines, nothing more, nothing less.
Dude you gotta drive my Mazda tribute. It’s the same model 2005 BUT V6 AWD 🫨. Let me know bro I would love for you to give a review and maybe teach me something more about it
Wow lol my uncle sold his maybe 6months ago think it was a 2001 tho...i need glasses and no wonder i would think its him wenever a ford escape was coming my way only to find out yea not him
I really am not a fan of Ford and I don't even care if mazda, a company that I significantly prefer was involved in the production of the vehicle I just don't want anything to do with Ford they make garbage machines unless you're driving like a Crown Victoria
Ive always thought these looked better than the Escape. They also can be found at a better deal.
Unfortunately not in my area. This SUV in this Condition is a seven or eight dollar investment. In Canadian dollars.
@@highbrass7563Oh I thought that the Ford was worst 😮
Had one of these for 4 years! Fantastic cheap reliable college car. I packed that thing to the brim with my stuff when moving apartments. The V6 was very reliable but man, there were so many vacuum leaks that I couldn't fix. Every hose had a problem, and it would never idle quite right. The frame was very rusty when I got it in 2018, and became unsafe to drive in 2023. Thankful I got to own one of these before they all dissolve like aspirin and return to the earth
I'm impressed by the reliability of that V6, dad's got a tribute that's got something wrong somewhere and runs so rough but still goes fine
Even though I'm not a fan of the Mazda Tribute / Ford escape, I am very glad that I watched this because I finally got to see what the sound effect is if a car passes the big friggin bottle test!😂
Zach, Kudos to you for not using the obvious ' A Tribute To The Mazda Tribute" as the title for this video.😉
This was the last Mazda that didn't look like every other Mazda.
Even though the 2.0, 2.3 and 2.5 engines were dubbed as Duratec, they were still Mazda designed engines, since at the time Mazda was partly owned by Ford, FoMoCo would still keep ownership, they are basically MZR engines (I believe the basic design is still used today for Ecoboost 2.0 and 2.3), the Duratec V6 engines were Ford Designed and used by many brands such as Mazda, but also used by Jaguar (heavily modified), there is a rumor that the 6.0 V12 from Aston Martin was based on the design of the Duratec30, basically 2 of them glued together. In the end, as engines go, I believe each took advantage of the development of the other.
I drive the ford version of this and it’s a great little car. Decent gas. Very practical. Somewhat reliable.
They sold both the American built first gen Mazda Tribute & first gen Ford Escape in The United Kingdom & mainland Europe,too,but the Escape was badged as a Ford Maverick here. We only got the 4 cylinder manual & the V6 Automatic here with petrol/gasoline engines,which hurt sales,as diesels are very popular here,about half,or a bit more,of passenger car sales,i think. The Escape/Maverick replaced the 1st gen Ford Maverick here in Europe,which was a rebadged Nissan Terrano,which was also sold here as well. Then the European designed & built Ford Kuga,badged as an Escape in North America, replaced the American built one here in Europe,built in both North America & Europe,which we both still have in the 2nd gen.
Glad i could be of help with the review! I'm kinda sad that this thing will be going into a tough truck event in july. Its a nice example but unfortunately will never see the road again .
Reviewing more Mazdas means you're definitely going to review the Mazda MPV (both generations) at some point in the future. Looking forward to those videos. BTW, i've seen some of these with column shifters, and yet this one has a console shifter. Why is that?
I think facelifts have a center console shifter
When Ford owned Mazda, Mazda's quality and reliability were not as good as the other Japanese automakers (Toyota/Honda)
Very unusual! I have never seen a two sided fan speed control,one side for fresh air,one for recirculated,for when you have the a/c on!
I have these wheels on my lowered first gen Mazda 3 and they look great. Going from 15*6 to 16*7 gave it a perfect stance. Not to aggressive, still looks factory!
Looks identical on the interior to a 2007 Escape my mom used to have. I never cared for that car, but I am not the one that brought it 😂
I have been driving my 05 for 4 years 178 thousand miles looks and drives like a champ I love my Tribby
I see one of these as a white Ford Tribute parked near a little library. Whomever owns it has had it for years. It stays pristine. I'm just now curiously looking up these vehicles. I rarely see them. I'm so curious about the one I see so often, I want to ask the owner about it. What a super practical vehicle. Doubt it's for sale. I'm just impressed how it stays so clean. It's parked in the sun 🥵 every time I see it. I try my best to park under cover whenever possible. Heck, if I could only drive at night, I would. By day, I zip into my garage like spiders evading light 😅. It's just too crappy hot from June to the middle of September.
Wonderful, wonderful video! My 2004 Tribute is still a gem.
Hey Zach, Hal here. I love my 2006 MX5. It is such a reliable car!
these are ot tall ford focuses, they had their own escape/tribute platform, its actually a very capable little REAL suv
My best friend had a white one of these in high school. Had loads of memories and can’t remember-ies as a passenger. I also owned a 2.3L Ranger so that Duratec sounds like home to me!
These used to be everywhere but now they're pretty rare. My grandfather had a pre-facelift one of these in the most boring spec possible. Silver over gray exterior, gray leather interior that I wouldn't be surprised if it was vinyl, V6. The leather seats felt cheap and were always hot, the radio display died one segment at a time, there was nothing interesting in the back seat, and it was just generally a dull car. I learned what badge engineering was when I got in a Ford Escape that had the same interior. It's a good thing Mazda was able to separate from Ford. I like seeing these still on the road but I never want to be in one.
3:04 - That's not a Ford radio. The Escape head unit was different and found in various Fords.
I owned a 2005 Tribute. Great in the snow being AWD. Awesome sound system. But got pricey to repair. Traded it in for a 2012 Santa Fe.
My first car was an '05 Tribute, AWD with a V6. The thing was a TANK. I still kinda miss it.
i like when you can open the back window
Love the Mazda tribute planning on buying one with low miles hopefully it’s available when I have the cash
fun fact, mazda tributes also came with a 2L Zetec engine and AWD (sadly with drum brakes on the back) so technically it is possible to take the drivetrain from a tribute and convert a mk1 ford focus to AWD
That was before 2005. You could only get those 2.0 engines with a 5 speed manual though.
@@damilolaakanni even better!
i just got this exact same spec car but in mercury mariner form. good timing!
5:48 cheap fix yor that is a 5 inch lenth of pvc over one of the gas struts. over the thin part with a slit to slide it on , works on my subaru
This reminds me of a really old Land Rover lr2 or something..
Is it a Japanese Ford or an American Mazda, the answer is yes.
Ahh I remember now that I see this video @10:53 many ford escape taxis at the time would have little stickers on the tailgate “pull to open”⬇️ to let doormen and passengers know where the tailgate button was so they wouldn’t open the glass lol
You’ve got to drive a v6 there so much quicker. I’ve owned both and the 2.3 is so slow compared to the v6, I’d actually say it’s a fun toss able car to drive. They hide there size really well.
Loved the first Gen didn't like the styling updates after tho
7:19 - It's not a tall Ford Focus at all. This platform is derived from a Mazda design - the 626's GF platform - that Ford later designated as CD2.
All the "this is a Ford" talk is kinda lazy in this video. Yes, the Tribute is nearly identical to the Escape, but Mazda deserves more credit than they're given. That's surprising from a self-proclaimed Mazda fan.
7:35 - Mazda had an SUV of its own that was based on the B-Series pickup, the Proceed Marvie. We just didn't get it here. The Escape/Tribute was the first crossover for both Ford and Mazda. The fraternal twins were built much more truck-like than the modern CX-5, as were the standard-setting RAV4, CR-V, and Forester back then. There wasn't a priority on car-like driving characteristics like the CX-5 has, and cargo space was a priority over slick sheetmetal. That's how people viewed SUVs back then, and crossovers emulated SUVs.
1:29 Ford did not own Mazda. Rather, Ford had a controlling interest in Mazda, and even then, they didnt have a controlling interest until the mid-90s.
I've always like the styling of this and the first gen Escape. Is is GOOD looking? Not really. It just has clean, simple, straight lines, nothing more, nothing less.
I don't think these aged too well.
Finally .. a big friggin bottle passes the test ! 😃
You didn't mentioned the CX-7 and CX-9, both before the CX-5
Didn't mention, in this case the didn't is already in past tense, no need to past tense the "mention"
Ford didn't actually own (controlling share) in Mazda until 1995 , before then was partnership ford invested money in for importing and exporting
Same concept with Chevy and Toyota you could get a Toyota Cavileer in Japan
@@dilbeckskate Nope. GM had no control over Toyota. That Cavalier arrangement was not because GM flexed its muscle.
Hey socks for Christmas is great LOL
Dude you gotta drive my Mazda tribute. It’s the same model 2005 BUT V6 AWD 🫨. Let me know bro I would love for you to give a review and maybe teach me something more about it
I had a 06 Escape and I never understood what the thing was for next to the gauge dimmer switch.
Nice
I park next to one at college. I was like: Oh look it’s a “Mazda”
I like the look of the Escape better.
Wow lol my uncle sold his maybe 6months ago think it was a 2001 tho...i need glasses and no wonder i would think its him wenever a ford escape was coming my way only to find out yea not him
Cx-5 is nice but fuel economy is a deal breaker
Yeah I sure dont want atall ford focus lmao
5 and 50's father
Clunker city
Just a rebadged Ford since Ford owned Mazda then. Ford was being cheap not putting any amenities in the back seat
NVH is atrocious. The least interesting vehicle of all time. I hate it.
FIRSTTTTTT
I really am not a fan of Ford and I don't even care if mazda, a company that I significantly prefer was involved in the production of the vehicle I just don't want anything to do with Ford they make garbage machines unless you're driving like a Crown Victoria
This is not the greatest or the best SUV in the world…
I am so happy mazda got away From ford I have had 4 cx5's already I would have never brought this piece of Crap Tribute a k a ford escape 🤮