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Protege5
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Mazda Protege5 Owner Ratings & Reviews

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4.3
Overall
16 Reviews

2003 Mazda Protege5 - Still my favorite affordable car of all time.

Protege5 Owner
Shreveport, Louisiana
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
4.0
Style
5.0
Comfort
5.0
Fuel Economy
4.0
Reliability
5.0
I cannot express how much I loved my Protege5. It was dark blue metallic, gray interior, a manual with polished wheels. There were some minor negatives to it, but they were easily overshadowed by the pure driving experience the little Mazda gave. It was like having a Miata wagon, just light and nimble, handled like a go-kart but rode much softer. I made 14 trips in total that were 1500 miles along with normal day to day driving. It never left me stranded, it always got great gas mileage (around 35 mpg), and it was just pure joy to drive. It wasn't the fastest thing out there, but the manual gave it a little more pep than its little 140 hp 4 cylinder would suggest.
Story
I once took it onto a cloverleaf intersection at night, the intersection had no traffic at all, and I just went through all four on/off ramps over and over, trying to get the fastest line around them. I eventually got through so quickly that I was exiting on fast enough that all four tires were sliding into the first lane of the new freeway, doing nearly 85 mph. I still haven't had a car match... (more)
Pros
This thing is just driver-centric. There's nothing that isn't perfectly placed for the driver, the gear shift and pedals are naturally positioned, the seats were comfortable for my rather large frame. The steering feels perfect, and at the limit you can feel it gradually start to break away. Extreme limits bring understeer, but any fwd. car will suffer that, and somehow the Protege5 almost didn't have it. You really had to push to get it there. It gripped tenaciously, like it was a slot car. High speed switchbacks and tight turns are where this little car shines. And I say little, but real... (more)
Cons
There were two negatives. One, no cruise control (on mine, but it is an option). If you're going to drive 1500 miles in 20 hours, you kind of want cruise control. But that's very specific to me. The other downside was power. More precisely, the lack of it. It wasn't a boat anchor, but its 0-60 time was somewhere around 8.5 seconds. I topped it out at an indicated 124 mph once. Nothing crazy slow or crazy fast, but it is something to be aware of. Still, when it came to twisty roads, I regularly ate my roommate's 350z's lunch, and that car was no slouch, running low 13 second quarter mile ti... (more)

2003 Mazda Protege5 - Great, reliable car

JM
Laramie, Wyoming
Overall
4.0
Value
4.0
Performance
3.0
Style
4.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
3.0
Reliability
4.0
I've found the Mazda Protege5 to be a reliable vehicle without too many issues. I had this vehicle since I was a college student and even now, with more than 110,000 miles on its odometer, I feel safe driving it all over the country. The engine runs smoothly, and I haven't had to make any major repairs to it. The seats are comfortable, which is perfect for the long drives I frequently have to make for my job. I got it when it had about 40,000 miles on it, and it's been a great investment. I've only had to replace the windshield once since I've had it, and it can easily go thousands of miles without requiring an oil change. Steering is smooth and efficient as well, and the spare tire that the trunk is equipped with has been a lifesaver as well. I would definitely recommend this vehicle ... (more)
Story
I got stuck on an icy bridge at midnight after the state transportation department shut down the interstate. I was worried the car would slide off, but it didn't!
Pros
This is a very durable vehicle. I've lived in very different climates (desert and mountains) and it's adapted fairly well to all of them. There is also a surprising amount of space once you fold the back seats down; I was able to make an entire interstate move in one trip. It's a smooth ride without much vibration.
Cons
The climate control system isn't perfect, and the vehicle fogs up quite frequently. When this happens, it takes a while for the system to kick in and visibility is impaired for several minutes. Additionally, the car struggles when it has to ascend steep roads and I have trouble accelerating to more than 60 mph in the mountains, meaning I have to stay in the slow lane. It also comes with 2003 technology, so I can't plug in an iPod or phone and play music like you could on a modern car.

2001 Mazda Protege5 - Reliable.

Protege5 Owner
Mebane, North Carolina
Overall
4.0
Value
4.0
Performance
4.0
Style
5.0
Comfort
3.0
Fuel Economy
5.0
Reliability
4.0
This vehicle is very reliable. It has great gas mileage. I also has good pickup when on highways. There is enough storage space for my needs. It is easy to park. It looks cute and sporty. The hatchback storage space has a excellent cover to conceal items. It appears solid to those looking into the hatchback but is actually light weight and easy to remove. The maintenance costs are quite low. I like the sunroof versatility of closed, vented, moonroof, or open. I can have full view of the sky, no view, open air or partial. It is a nice feature. The car itself is very low to the ground and can be difficult to get in and out of. The low profile tires are more expensive and harder to find than regular tires. The glass seals on the dash board windows have weak seals and I do not know if that... (more)
Story
It is amazing how much you can fit in this little car. I have put six people in this car loaded it to the rafters for a 500 mile trip. It still got great gas mileage and I had excellent visibility. The travelers did feel a bit cramped upon the end of our journey but it was with mirth and alacrity.
Pros
The good gas mileage, reliability and low maintenance costs are my favorite advantages to owning this car. I also really like the hatchback storage space design because it has a excellent cover to conceal items and provides protection against inviting vandalism.
Cons
The top negative of this vehicle is how low to the ground it is and the cost of the low profile tires. Being so low it is a challenge for some people to get in and out of the car. Specifically, very tall, big, or elderly people have difficulty entering or exiting the vehicle.

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