The Mazda Tribute made its triumphant entrance in the 2000 Los Angeles Auto Show and it was immediately considered to be the replacement for the much-loved Mazda Navajo. Ford Motor Company is its manufacturer but it remains that its root is still the Mazda company.

As all have seen, it’s a 5-door compact SUV, which is like the Ford Escape. The two SUVs actually came out in the same year, in 2001. Both offer front and all wheel drive and a choice of 2.0L Ford Zetec 4-cylinder or Ford Duratec 3.0L V6 engine. However similar they may be in those sense, Mazda Tribute still offers much more. The Tribute’s suspension is tuned for a firmer ride than the Escape.

The 2008 model for the Mazda Tribute will be renewed significantly like the Ford Escape, they said. It was initially thought of to be renamed Mazda CX-5 but authorities stuck to the original Mazda Tribute name. The changes visible on the 2008 Mazda Tribute model were the headlights, tailgates, grill, the sides of it were revised and made to be similar to the Ford Escape, lines and rounder wheel arches. Of course, Mazda didn’t forget to add some new features on its interior. But this time, Mazda Tribute reverted to using rear drum brakes.

2008 Mazda Tribute made its first appearance in the 2007 Montreal Auto Show and it went on sale immediately after that in March 2007.