We've loved this car...

After a lot of research, we took the plunge and purchased a Mazda Protege as our main family car. We've never regretted the decision. After 5 years it is still going strong with no problems, major or minor, with the car itself. We've blown a couple of tires so we know it handles well in adverse conditions. The biggest drawback is the front seats are uncomfortable on long drives. The back seat however, holds 2 full size car seats easily and you can fit 2 booster seats and 1 adult with only a little squishing. Also, a big selling point for us was the size of the trunk. You can fit a lot of shopping bags or luggage in there. It's been great for our cross country moves.