The new Mazda Tribute features exterior design details that give it an even stronger sense of passenger-car refinement, while retaining its unmistakable SUV ruggedness and new-generation sportiness. The new front end now features a bumper with smaller parting-line height differences and a smoother surface, smaller diameter fog lights integrated to a greater degree into the bumper design and a body-coloured grille. Add to this new headlamps, each with their own bezel, and you have a front end design intended to convey more SUV toughness and strength.

This theme is carried over to Mazda Tribute's silhouette, which features new 16-inch aluminium wheels with a striking rim shape and a robust five-spoke design. There are also new cladding panels, rocker and wheel-arch mouldings with bolder contours that form smoother extensions of the side body shape, and enhance Mazda Tribute's near car-like sophistication. The rear wheel-arch mouldings are now flush against the rear bumper, creating a greater sense of continuity of form front to back. Completing the facelift exterior are new rear lamps featuring a clear, red lens over the two vertically aligned lights.

Four new body colours enhance Mazda Tribute's new look as well, depending on grade and market availability, while the choice of monotone vehicles — with bumpers and cladding the same colour as the body — has been increased from one to four.