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by drive571  in Cars & Motorsports,  - Top 200
Jan 08 '04 - Updated Nov 07 '05
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: Yes 
Pros: Quick steering, responsive handling, eager engine, comfortable and high-quality interior.
Cons: Stiff and noisy ride is definitely not for everyone, slightly sloppy shifter.
The Bottom Line: In the budget class, the Protege is as close as it gets to a four-door sports car. However, that sportiness results in a significant measure of noise and harshness.
I found the Protege to be the only car in its class that has a tangible bit of sports-car blood coursing through its economy-car veins. It's not the budget road burner the automotive press makes it out to be--it's still an entry-level sedan, ...
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by spongebob_man1 - Top 50
Jul 05 '03
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Decent Price, Fast Ride, Good Sound System, Comfort
Cons: Needs More HP & Torque
The Bottom Line: Great addition to the sport-compact category.
Mazda is beginning to elbow its way to the front of the sport-compact category. The Mazdas ...
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by ra64, - Top 1000
Jul 12 '04 - Updated Jan 05 '06
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: Yes
Pros: Handling, fun factor, interior materials, fit and finish
Cons: Mediocre engine
The Bottom Line: A leader in the used compact car market. Fun to drive and a solid buy for students.
I recently test drove a used 2003 Mazda Protege LX with about 30,000 miles on the clock, in addition to several other compact cars in the same price range. Overall, I found the Protege to be one of the best cars in its class. 2003 was the last year ...
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by lawman67 - Top 200
Nov 09 '04 - Updated Nov 10 '04
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Phenominal handling, outstanding reliability, great looks and roomy interior
Cons: Could use a bit more power, a few rattles, some cheap minor parts
The Bottom Line: Terrific fun on the road or the track, and a reliable family car thrown in as a bonus.
I was planning on updating my review of the 2003 Mazda Protege, but based on this amount of new information after a full year of ownership, I decided that a full rewrite was more in order. Before I get into the Mazda Protege itself, I’d like to ...
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by p_a_y68
Sep 30 '03 - Updated Aug 18 '06
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Value, price, feature content, adequate trunk space, SULEV, fit and finish
Cons: Mileage (~25mpg), low speed acceleration, easy to stain interior, Power Door Lock Problem
The Bottom Line: It is a nice commuter with great handling power and great standard equipments (LX&ES). Few cars at this price range can compare to its value.
My old 89 Camry doesn't seem to run safely on freeway anymore for my commute, so I purchase a 2003 Mazda Protege LX in late August for commute. I know that my old car can't keep going very long so I technically started doing the research since June. ...
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by Uncle_Tippet
Sep 13 '04 - Updated Jun 23 '07
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Excellent handling and most "fun to drive" for the $.
Cons: Fuel efficiency not as high as expected.
The Bottom Line: Great sporty car for the price. Best handling in its class and gets rave reviews from Car and Driver, Edmunds.
If you're looking for a good used car -- check out the 2003 Mazda Protege. You're likely to find good deals on it because the model has been discontinued and dollar for dollar -- it's one of the more fun to drive cars on the market. I bought a 2003 ...
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by lisatoy
Dec 23 '02 - Updated Jan 24 '03
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: reasonably-priced performance
Cons: styling, two colors only (limited edition black, and an awful "spicy orange")
The Bottom Line: Well-tuned performance at a reasonable price, if you like the look.
Okay, I've had an epiphany of sorts. For years I have been a bona fide Volkswagen fan (with a few exceptions along the way). For my money, it's been difficult for American or Japanese manufacturers to come up with any "entry-level" car that can...
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by uksi
Aug 21 '05
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: awesome handling, great brakes, plenty of low-end grunt, plenty of room, good looks
Cons: highway wind noise, mediocre strength A/C, substandard gas mileage for class, develops rattles
The Bottom Line: Not very economical, but very fun to drive, confident braking, reliable operation, great in winter with snow tires. Comfortable, excellent visibility and good room. Great value at used price.
I chose the 2003 Mazda Protege LX automatic over the Toyota Corolla S and the Mitsubishi Lancer because the Protege had the best road feel. It felt the zippiest, and the interior looked great (not as nice as Corolla S, but nice anyway). The three-spoke ...
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by mistsy
Feb 19 '04
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Good acceleration. Quality motor.
Cons: Little things may not work or be of poor quality.
The Bottom Line: A commuter-class car. Far above Hyundai and Kia, better than Nissan and American cars, about comparable to the best Japanese cars.
The 2003 Protege is a tremendous bargain. This was the last year for the model as it is now replaced by the Mazda 3. As such, it's going at a pretty cheap price, supplemented by the fact that the car was produced in huge numbers and then sold to rental ...
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by pmm2422
Jul 22 '03
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: Yes
Pros: Handling, rear seat, controls and displays, reliability.
Cons: Ride, noise, safety equipment.
The Bottom Line: The Mazda Protege beat the Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra, but better choices are the Honda Civic, VW Jetta and Hyundai Elantra. Overall it's a decent car.
DESCRIPTION The Mazda Protégé DX is powered by a decent 2.0 liter, 130 hp engine. It is about the s ...
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by lreger
Aug 17 '03 - Updated Aug 18 '03
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Sporty exterior/interior, loud/clear radio, excellent performance
Cons: Somewhat plain interior, not ideal over 6' tall
The Bottom Line: If your looking for a car that is a good daily driver and will give you a fun time when your looking for it, this is for you.
Intro: I dont personally own the vehicle but it was recently purchased by a friend of mine. When ...
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by maccerz
Nov 11 '03 - Updated Jan 08 '04
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Great handling, Great sound system, all around complete package
Cons: Hesitation from engine at higher revs. Road noise. Could use more zoom-zoom. Subwoofer problems.
The Bottom Line: Definitely a great all around package at a reasonable price.
After having a love-hate relationship with my Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T (review at ht
tp://www.epinions.com/content_
75663838852)
I decided that it was time to get a car that had good build quality. However, I wasn’t ...
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by curt40
Feb 04 '04
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: style, safety ratings, visibility, quality built, interior room, trunk room, reliability
Cons: few minor things (see above) Dunlop Sport5000M tires are great for summer, not winter
The Bottom Line: This is a great car with a GREAT warranty-- 48months/50,000 miles bumper to bumper with a loaner car program. Really fun to drive with a 14.2 gallon tank!
I have had this car for 10 months now, and I have 7400 miles on it. I really like the styling and since 2 members of my family owned a Mazda and were very pleased, I decided to get a Protege instead of a Civic or Corolla. My wife has a Ford Focus so ...
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by jaesarang
Sep 06 '03
Author's Product Rating:  Recommended: No 
Pros: Good handling and design
Cons: rough idle, bad riding, fuel economy, squeaking, bad ignition.
The Bottom Line: Browse other cars or buy this car if you like regretting.
This is probably the best looking car in its class. I bought this car two month ago, for I was impressed by its design and handling, and I wanted something different from Honda and Toyota. HOWEVER, PLEASE BE NOT DECEIVED BY ITS DESIGN!!! This car is the ...
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by f1fan_82
Apr 08 '06 - Updated Apr 09 '06
Author's Product Rating: Recommended: Yes
Pros: Quick, handles great, large community, lots of upgrades available, looks and feels great!
Cons: Bushings, no factory boost gauge, shifter is short but needs shorter throw
The Bottom Line: Get the extended warranty but this car is great, forget the Civics, with mild upgrades you will be very quick and a great everyday driver.
I recently purchased this car from a local dealer and after knowing there is small problems with it I didn't care, the car looked great sitting there at the lot and I couldn't resist. I purchased an extended warranty with it to be sure i'd be covered ...
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