2003 Mazda Protege5 Buyer's Guide

Owner Reviews
5.0
2 Reviews
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
3.0
Style
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
3.0
Reliability
5.0

2003 Mazda Protege5 Owner Ratings & Reviews

Write a Review
5.0
Overall
2 Reviews

2003 Mazda Protege5 -

Keith
Portage, Indiana
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
3.0
Style
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
3.0
Reliability
5.0
I think the Mazda Protege is a great car. The hatchback is really spacious for being a smaller vehicle. The car is great for road trips and has been really reliable for the past eight years I've owned it. Maintenance is inexpensive as well because the tire size are common. It takes unleaded gasoline and regular oil during an oil change. I love that it has a stretched out look more like a wagon than a hatchback. The Mazda5 which came out the following year is too small and compact. The reason I enjoy my vehicle that much more. The seats are adjustable so it can fit someone who's thin or on the bigger side comfortably, which makes it a great all around car.
Story
When I go to concerts in downtown Chicago, I sit in the hatch with friends and enjoy some snacks before we go to the show. A lot of great times with this vehicle.
Pros
My favorite features are the space in the hatch. Also love the subwoofer that comes in the trunk. It's loud and small and fits in the spare tire compartment. The engine is also solid for being 15 years old, and I'm at 120,000 miles. It still drives great.
Cons
The only downfall to the car really is the rust that builds up on the wheel wells. There's really not much that can be done unless you were to cut out the wheel wells and replace them.

2003 Mazda Protege5 - This is by far the best car I've ever owned.

Protege5 Owner
Richmond, Virginia
Overall
5.0
Value
5.0
Performance
3.0
Style
5.0
Comfort
4.0
Fuel Economy
3.0
Reliability
5.0
This started as necessity purchase because my old car just needed too much work. I love Mazdas. This is the fourth Mazda I have bought, and I will be a lifelong customer. It has always performed perfectly, and has never left me on the side of the road. It's fun to drive, everything still works after all these years and the cost of ownership totally beats the fact that it's 15 years old.
Story
I was stuck in my parking garage at work. This car was narrow enough for me to drive through barriers and get out safely!
Pros
I love that it is silver, I love the roof rack. I love that it's a manual transmission, and the clutch is perfect.
Cons
Only one, and that is that the A/C would cut off when the fan was set to the 2 mark.

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