The Ford Escape and its Mazda clone, the Tribute, are unibody SUVs with a relatively low curb weight, decent fuel economy, and adequate power. Both debuted in 2001 and have changed incrementally since. This year, though, a major upgrade arrives in the form of a hybrid version of the Escape. Ford says the hybrid’s combination gas-electric powertrain delivers the performance of the six-cylinder and the economy of a four. That’s fuel economy only; the hybrid is the priciest Escape, and it takes many years of better mpg to offset the roughly $3000 premium. While the hybrid is not quite as swift as the six, it is much better than the flat-footed four-cylinder, which, even though it has a new-for-2005 Duratec 2.3-liter, is still kind of slow. Otherwise, these are good trucklets with lots of room. The Tribute has a swankier interior but is mechanically identical to the Escape.
Mazda says the 2006 MX-5 is the “first total redesign” of its now-iconic roadster. Also new this year is the 5, a three-row, six-passenger wagonette that comes in two trim levels, Sport and Touring. The company’s hot-rod shop has put the wood to the 6 and come up with the Mazdaspeed 6, which processes 274 horsepower through an all-wheel-drive system and comes with the usual range of go-fast trim and features. The regular 6 line is mildly redesigned and updated, with four-cylinder models getting a five-speed automatic in place of a four-speed. The spunky 3 adds variable valve timing to the 2.0-liter engine and a Grand Touring model.
Unchanged: RX-8, MPV, Tribute, B-series.
Future: CX-7, a car-based SUV on a stretched and widened 6 platform, is expected in 2007. The Mazdaspeed 3, a high-performance version of the five-door 3, in late 2006 or early 2007. And an RX-8 update early next year.
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