At the heart of the 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid is a 2.3-liter, 16-valve, dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine that’s good for 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 124 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,250 rpm. That doesn’t sound like much for an SUV, but the numbers get better when you factor in the hybrid system’s 70-kilowatt battery and the 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery under the rear load floor. It adds up to a combined 155 horsepower, and with that electricity comes instantaneous off-the-line oomph. The Tribute Hybrid is a full hybrid, meaning that it can operate solely on electric power in certain situations (up to 25 mph), and allows the gas engine to shut down while coasting or stopped. A CVT transmission is standard.
