Mazda Tribute Model Years and History

The five-passenger Tribute was unveiled in 2001, touting a feature-loaded SUV crossover with plenty of room inside and a stylish appearance. It was powered by a very capable 3.0-liter V6 engine that was rated at 200 horsepower. Changes to different trim levels were the only notable revisions made for 2002 and 2003. In 2004, door edge guards were added as an option, and auto-dimming mirrors and a compass were also added to the options lineup. 2005 marked major changes including a new base engine, a redesigned exterior, a brand new all-wheel-drive system and a new shifter that was floor-mounted. Mazda made all trims come with ABS braking as a standard feature for this model year, too. The Tribute would pass through 2006 and 2007 virtually unchanged. In 2008, the SUV was revamped from top to bottom, offering a new interior and exterior style, and higher quality components. The 2009 Tribute offered a more powerful engine, a new six-speed automatic transmission, redesigned seating and a laundry list of new standard equipment. The 2010 and 2011 model years saw minor tweaks made to standard equipment and options, and were otherwise unchanged.