2ND Opinion – BUGLEWICZ
Buyers looking at Ford’s various permutations of the Escape should stop by a Mazda dealership. The Tribute has one advantage over its Ford-badged brother: Silence.
Of course, silence is relative. There’s still wind, road and tire noise permeating the cabin at virtually every speed. However, Mazda has apparently added an extra layer of deadening between the cabin and the engine compartment, quelling the thrashy V-6 engine. It’s still unpleasant, but at least now it sounds like the blender chewing on washers is on the other side of the house, rather than directly in front of you.