Mazda makes some of the best sedans on the market; the “Zoom-zoom” corporate philosophy sounds funny but it neatly sums up the spirit of its cars. What about its compact SUV, the Tribute? Can it really fit in with its sporty stable mates?

The Tribute marked Mazda’s resurgence under the auspices of its new parent, the Ford Group. It receives a timely freshening just as its rivals all get a restyle or a total redesign. The Tribute’s outer shell, though not a standout in any single area, is still a pleasant and harmonious design. There’s now a choice of single or two-tone paint scheme (which costs a little extra), in several retina-burning shades, including the Sublime green of our test unit. Headlamps and grille have been reshaped, and side-mirror mounted repeaters are now standard. The large tailgate with separately-opening glass hatch makes loading of the large cargo bay quick and convenient.

The cockpit has also been re-trimmed to fit in with the current Mazda style. The biggest change is the shifter’s repositioning from the steering column to the floor; it’s much easier to use than the old system. The seat fabric is in an appropriate black and silver color scheme, as is the dashboard and center console. The Halloween-orange instrumentation is augmented by black lacquer-like trim. There’s a new control panel for the audio and aircon controls, and the convenient steering-wheel audio controls have been retained.

The Mazda Tribute has been re-skinned to reflect a sportier style.