Making its debut in 2001, the compact Mazda Tribute SUV was based on the same platform as the Ford Escape (which debuted the same year). It was not the first time Mazdas and Fords had shared components and platforms. In 1979, Ford bought a 25-percent stake in Mazda, and the two automakers have been linked ever since. In fact, Mazda built early Ford Ranger pickup trucks, until Ford took over production of the trucks in the mid-1980s. Mazda did make an effort to distinguish its SUV from Ford's, however, labeling the Tribute as a sport SUV, and backing that up with sporty styling and a series of peppy engines.

Throughout its run, the Tribute was available in both front-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive versions. Power has been provided by a series of four-cylinder and V6 engines. Initially, power was provided by a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine that produced 130 horsepower, or a 3.0-liter double-overhead-cam V6 that pumped out 200 horsepower. In 2005, power for the four-cylinder was boosted to 153 horsepower.

For its first four years, the Tribute was available in three trim packages, including the entry-level DX, the mid-level LX, and the high-end, leather-interior ES. Following a redesign in 2005, trim packages were revised to include entry-level i and higher-end s packages, with leather seats being available only as an option. Standard features for both packages included air conditioning, power windows, power door locks, anti-lock brakes, dual airbags, and a stereo system with a CD player.