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The 2009 Mazda Tribute receives more powerful engines following its freshening for the 2008 model year. This compact SUV shares its basic design with the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. Tribute is a five-passenger, 4-door wagon that has a liftgate with opening glass. Tribute comes in i and s models in Sport, Touring, or Grand Touring trim levels. A gas/electric Hybrid model is offered in California only. All Tributes are available with front-wheel drive or with all-wheel drive. Standard on i models is a 171-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Standard on s models is a 240-hp 3.0-liter V6. Compared to the 2008 Tribute, that’s an increase of 18 hp for the 4-cylinder and 40 hp for the V6.

The Hybrid pairs a 153-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor. It can run on one or both of its power sources, depending on driving demands. It requires no plug-in charging. The 2WD i Sport version is available with manual or automatic transmission. All other conventional Tributes have a 6-speed automatic.

Hybrids use a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Maximum towing capacity is 1500 lb with the 4-cylinder engine and 3500 lb with the V6. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Also available are heated front seats, leather upholstery, and a sunroof.

The 2010 Mazda Tribute sees no major changes. This compact SUV shares its basic design with the Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner. Tribute is a 5-passenger, 4-door wagon that has a liftgate with opening glass. Tribute reprises Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels. A gas/electric Hybrid version is sold in California only. All Tributes are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring come with the “i” prefix and have a 171-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Grand Touring is also offered with the “s” prefix and has a 240-horsepower 3.0-liter V6.

The Hybrid pairs a 153-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas engine with an electric motor. It can run on one or both of its power sources, depending on driving demands and requires no plug-in charging. The 2WD i Sport is available with manual or automatic transmission. All other conventional Tributes have a 6-speed automatic. Hybrids use a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that behaves much like an automatic.

Maximum towing capacity is 1,500 pounds with the 4-cylinder engine and 3,500 pounds with the V6. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, and a sunroof are Grand Touring-exclusive standard features. Remote engine start is available on all conventional models equipped with the automatic transmission.

The 2009 Mazda RX-8 receives freshened interior and exterior styling and a new R3 model. This four-passenger sporty coupe is unique for using a rotary engine, which replaces pistons pumping in cylinders with triangular rotors spinning in oval chambers. It also has rear access doors that don’t open independently of the fronts.

RX-8 comes in Sport, Touring, Grand Touring, and R3. RX-8 has either a 232-hp 1.3-liter rotary engine with a 6-speed manual transmission, or a 212-hp 1.3-liter rotary engine with a 6-speed automatic. The automatic allows manual shifting via floor lever or steering-wheel paddles. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front side airbags, and curtain side airbags.

A limited-slip differential is standard for all but automatic-transmission Sport. The R3 is aimed at enthusiast drivers. It includes different front and rear fascias, 19-inch wheels, Recaro sport seats, and a stiffer, sport-tuned suspension. Exclusive to the Grand Touring model are leather upholstery, heated front seats, power driver seat.

The 2010 Mazda RX-8 lineup is slightly revised. This 4-passenger sporty coupe is unique for using a rotary engine, which replaces pistons pumping in cylinders with triangular rotors spinning in oval chambers. It also has rear access doors that don’t open independently of the fronts. RX-8 comes in Sport, Grand Touring, and R3 trim levels.

The Touring has been discontinued. RX-8 has either a 232-horsepower 1.3-liter rotary engine with a 6-speed manual transmission, or a 212-horsepower 1.3-liter rotary engine with a 6-speed automatic. The automatic allows manual shifting via floor lever or steering-wheel paddles. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, front-side airbags, and curtain-side airbags.

The R3 model is aimed at enthusiast drivers. It includes different front and rear fascias, 19-inch wheels, Recaro sport seats, and a stiffer, sport-tuned suspension. Exclusive to the Grand Touring model are leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power driver seat, and an optional navigation system. Keyless access and engine start are standard on the Grand Touring and R3.

The 2009 Mazda MX-5, which is also known as the Mazda Miata, receives slightly freshened styling. Miata offers the choice of a manually-folding soft top with a heated-glass rear window, or a power-folding hardtop. The lineup begins with the soft-top only SV model, and ascends through Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring, which are available with either top.

All use a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine rated at 167 hp with manual transmission, 158 with automatic. SV and Sport use a 5-speed manual while the Touring and Grand Touring get a 6-speed. Optional on all but the SV is a 6-speed automatic.

Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, and side airbags that provide head and torso protection. A sport suspension is available on manual-transmission Tourings and Grand Tourings. The hardtop opens or closes in 12 seconds, steals no luggage space, and adds 77 lb to the car’s weight.

The 2009 Mazda CX-9 is largely unchanged. This crossover SUV seats up to seven and shares some of its basic design with the Ford Edge. CX-9 comes in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels. All are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The sole powertrain teams a 273-hp 3.7-liter V6 engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Maximum towing capacity is 3500 lb. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Seating includes folding benches; the 2nd row splits 60/40, the 3rd row 50/50. The 2nd-row seat reclines and slides fore and aft to favor passenger or cargo space. Tri-zone climate control and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel are standard on all models, as is a wireless cell-phone link.

Tourings add leather upholstery and heated power front seats. Grand Tourings include blind-spot alert, xenon headlights, and 20-inch wheels vs 18s. A sunroof and DVD entertainment are optional. A navigation system is optional on Touring and Grand Touring.

The 2010 Mazda CX-9 receives slightly freshened exterior and interior styling. This crossover SUV seats up to 7 and shares some of its basic design with the Ford Edge. CX-9 continues to come in Sport, Touring, and Grand Touring trim levels, each available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The sole powertrain is a 273-horsepower 3.7-liter V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission.

Maximum towing capacity is 3,500 pounds. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Seating includes folding benches; the 2nd row splits 60/40, the 3rd row 50/50. The 2nd-row seat reclines and slides fore and aft to favor passenger or cargo space. Tri-zone climate control and a tilt and telescopic steering wheel are standard on all models, along with a wireless cell-phone link.

Tourings have leather upholstery and heated power front seats. Grand Tourings include blind-spot alert, xenon headlights, keyless access and engine start, and 20-inch wheels vs 18s. A sunroof and DVD entertainment remain optional, but they cannot be ordered together. A navigation system is optional on Grand Touring.