Two giants in the auto making industry, Mazda and Ford Motor Company, joined hands together in creating a compact SUV named Mazda Tribute since 2001

As promised, Mazda has announced the 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show. The all-new Tribute Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) features the ability to run completely on electric power at speeds up to 25 mph.

The Tribute HEV is powered by a 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine using Atkinson-cycle combustion for improved efficiency, which produces 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 124 lb.-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. The 2008 Tribute HEV also includes a A 70-kWatt (equivalent to 94 horsepower) electric traction motor for improved acceleration.

Priced below the Mercury Mariner and Ford Escape in Ford’s CD2 SUV lineup, the Tribute meets California’s Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle requirements by achieving Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II and zero evaporative emissions standards.

The Tribute debuted in 2001, offering front and all wheel drive and a choice of a 2.0 L Ford Zetec 4-cylinder or Ford Duratec 3.0 L V6. This vehicle was also sold as the Ford Maverick in Europe with a Ford 2.0 L I4 Zetec engine with manual transmission, or 3.0 L Duratec coupled to automatic transmission.

The vehicle’s suspension is tuned for a firmer ride than the Escape/Maverick, in order to correspond with Mazda’s sporty image.

A different version of the Tribute was released in the second half of 2006 for Asia Pacific markets. The updated Tribute featured a larger, bolder grille, with an enlarged Mazda emblem, as well as restyled front bumper and headlights. Side mirrors featured integrated indicators.

As for the compact’s inside, changes included a new floor mounted automatic transmission shifter, in place of the old column shifter (Asis-Pacific model only; US-built Tribute gained the floor shifter in 2005). The dash was updated with a brand-new radio and automatic climate control with digital read-out, on certain models.

Although it’s a perfectly agreeable little SUV, the Tribute’s newer competitors, many of them boasting better interior designs, higher refinement and superior driving dynamics, have dulled our enthusiasm for what was once the most enjoyable compact SUV to drive.

With the vehicle’s fresh new look, safety equipment and upgrades in interior ergonomics, and a new lower price, the 2008 Mazda Tribute GT V6 AWD for sure is a good buy in the compact SUV class.