Our aperture-snapping friends over at KGP Photography have caught these late-stage Mazda Tribute mules undergoing final shakedown runs. Despite their different styles of camouflage (we’re partial to the brown jellybean getup ourselves), it’s clear that the Mazda looks very similar to its just-announced twin, the Mercury Mariner.
The Mazda appears to have significantly different front clip, with its own distinct headlamps, grille and front fascia. It’s difficult to tell, but it would appear that the crossovers share ‘power dome’ hoods, and the fenders may be identical as well.
The Tribute will apparently continue to occupy the design ‘midground’ between the more common Ford Escape and the aforementioned Mariner, with a slightly crisper design than the former, without the upscale aspirations and visual jewelry of the latter.
Given that the Mariner just debuted, we would expect to see the Mazda roll out sans cladding very soon.
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