The Mazda Tribute debuted in the 2001 model year, along with its corporate cousin, the Ford Escape. The Tribute delivers solid gas mileage ratings for a mid-sized SUV, with excellent ratings coming from the Tribute Hybrid variant. For 2008, the Tribute Hybrid will be released only in Southern California, with a limited run of just 350 vehicles. If you’re in SoCal and looking for an exclusive hybrid sans the hype, the Tribute Hybrid just might be the ticket.
The standard 2008 Mazda Tribute can be fitted with either a 2.3 liter DOHC four-cylinder engine that delivers 153 HP and 152 foot pounds of torque or a 3.0 liter DOHC V-6 that produces 200 HP and 193 foot pounds of torque. While a four-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission is standard for either the four or the six cylinder Tributes, the four-banger can also be fitted with a five-speed manual transmission.
The mid-sized Mariner SUV was introduced in 2005 as Mercury’s version of Ford’s Escape. The Mariner Hybrid joins the Escape Hybrid in delivering excellent gas mileage, as it holds a comfortable slot at the top of the SUV fuel efficiency charts. The Mariner shares many components with the Escape, as well as with its other corporate cousin, the Mazda Tribute.
The 2008 Mariner Hybrid is equipped with a 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine producing 133 horsepower (HP) and 124 foot pounds of torque, along with an electric motor that cranks out 94 HP (for a stated 155 HP combined). Non-hybrid Mariners are available with the owner’s choice of a 2.3 liter four-cylinder engine that produces 153 HP and 152 foot pounds of torque or a 3.0 liter V-6 that provides 200 HP and 193 foot pounds of torque.
Need a four wheel drive with the best gas mileage? Get ready to downsize. None of the best gas mileage four wheel drives (4WDs) are jumbo-sized sport utility vehicles (SUVs).
Simply put, the aerodynamics and vehicle weight of the bulkiest SUVs cause gas mileage to suffer, leading to many a painful transaction at the pump. The trick is to get small(er), lighter, and more slippery. Credit Subaru for getting the ball rolling with popularizing economical 4WD drive passenger cars in the early days. Since 1997, every vehicle Subaru’s offered in America has been all wheel drive.
These days, it’s not just Subaru. There are plenty of four wheel drive choices that are neither truck nor SUV. And forget the notion of pint-sized economy cars. You’ll find a generous helping of 4WD luxury from manufacturers including Audi, Volvo, Cadillac, and Lexus … in fact, you’ll find many of their offerings in the 2008 list of best gas mileage four wheel drives.
Purists will gladly share that there’s a difference between four wheel drive and all wheel drive (AWD). And surely there is … but for a great many folks, it comes down to two simple questions: will it go in the snow and will I go broke feeding it?
At the other end of the spectrum, the little Suzuki SX4 delivers plenty of bang for the buck, by combining the best four wheel drive gas mileage with a low sticker price (for those who don’t just think miles per gallon … but miles per dollar.)
Along with its corporate cousins, the Ford Escape Hybrid proves the exception to the rule as the highest all around mile per gallon (MPG) four wheel drive vehicle. If you can’t get a great deal on an Escape Hybrid at your local Ford dealer, take a look at the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. And if you happen to live in Southern California, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid HEV might be an option … as long as you’re able to snag one of the 350 Tribute HEVs built for this test market.)
The Uplander – Chevrolet’s “Family Sport Van” – was introduced in the 2005 model year. While the Uplander’s styling falls somewhere between minivan and crossover SUV, all wheel drive is not an option on the current model. The 2008 Uplander’s gas mileage ratings of 16 city and 23 highway miles per gallon (MPG) are squarely in line with its competition, both inside and outside of GM. (The Uplander shares its platform with the Buick Terraza, Pontiac Montana, and Saturn Relay.)
The 2008 Uplander is fitted with a 3.9 liter V-6 engine that produces 240 horsepower (HP) and 240 foot pounds of torque. E85 FlexFuel capability is optional. The Uplander seats seven with the choice of second-row removable modular bucket seats or removable captain’s chairs. While leather trimmed seats are available for the first and second row, the kids stuck way back in the third row are out of luck.
The highly-popular Toyota Tacoma pickup truck was introduced in 1995 and redesigned for the 2005 model year. Solid gas mileage ratings are a proven factor in the Tacoma’s appeal. Currently the best-selling compact pickup truck in America, the 2WD Tacoma delivers as many as 25 miles per gallon on the highway when equipped with the 4-cylinder engine.
The 2009 Toyota Tacoma is available with two engines: a DOHC 2.7-liter 4-cylinder rated at 159 horsepower (HP) and a DOHC 4.0-liter V-6 rated at 236 HP. A diesel engine is not currently available in the Tacoma here in the States. It’s a different story overseas, where a torque-filled 3.0-liter DOHC turbo-diesel inline four can be found under the hood of the Toyota HiLux pickup. (Outside of the United States, the HiLux fills the Tacoma’s spot in Toyota’s lineup.)
