A Sporty Economy Sedan?

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 for the Protege, which was replaced by the new Mazda 3 for 2004. The last major redesign for the Protege was for the 1999 model year. For 2003, the base sedan was the DX, followed by the mid level LX and top of the line ES. Also available were a 5-door station wagon dubbed the protege5, and a turbocharged, limited edition Mazdaspeed sedan. The Protege LX I drove was well equipped with the basics like cruise control, tilt wheel and the fun stuff – power everything, and a single disc CD player. The only thing missing was one of those spiffy remote entry/alarm systems.

My tester came with Mazda’s FS-DE 2 liter, four-cylinder engine. The FS engine debuted with the 626 in 1993 and in the Protege in 1999. The engine’s reliability record is solid, but not particularly stellar. For the 2003 Protege, the engine is rated as 130 horsepower and 135 pound feet of torque. The all-aluminum, DOHC engine features a long stroke, which contributes to the engines broad torque curve; however, the top end is a little lacking. Mated to the four speed automatic, the Protege feels pretty good off the line, but overall acceleration was only average. While the engine never felt underpowered – even with a full load and the air conditioning on – it did seemed to lack a little bit of spirit.

In contrast, the Protege’s handling does not lack spirit at all. The Protege is easily one of the best handling cars in its class. Unlike most compact sedans, Mazda tuned the Protege’s suspension to give a tight and sporty feel. The result is that body roll is minimal in low and mid speed cornering, unlike most stock sedans. The car will understeer slightly when pushed – exactly the way a front-wheel drive vehicle should. The steering is sharp and firm. Control and feel are excellent. My tester’s four-wheel disc brakes also felt very strong. Feedback from the steering wheel and brake pedal are also much more prominent in the Protege versus other compact sedans.

The sport-tuned suspension does mean that the ride is slightly firmer then most sedans. However, this doesn’t bother me a bit, coming from a 1985 Celica with a live rear axle. While every bump in the road can be felt, the suspension does a good job of subduing the shifts to avoid a jarring ride.

If your one of those kids looking for a car to “hook up,” you might be disappointed with the Protege. There is a wide range of aftermarket suspension parts for the Protege to improve its handling even further, but in the engine department, modifications are restricted mostly to basic bolt-ons. The FS engine is not known to be particularly strong, and word on the street is that the stock engine management system doesn’t handle modifications well. Unlike the Honda crowd, you can’t just drop in one of those JDM “performance engines” into the Protege without expensive custom work. Regardless, in recent years, several drivers have successfully campaigned the Protege in touring car racing – a testament to the cars great handling.

Inside, the quality of materials and the fit and finish of the Protege are superb. In my opinion, the Protege is even better then the Corolla and Civic in this category. The car does not feel like a typical economy level sedan; it feels like a more expensive car. Meanwhile, interior space is typical for its class. Front seat room is good, but rear seat passengers will struggle with a lack of legroom. The Protege does feature a decently sized trunk and the rear seats fold down, which is a big plus. The gauges are simple and easy to read, while the steering wheel has a sporty look and feel. The drivers seat felt comfortable and supportive, although I did not drive the Protege for an extend period of time.

I would describe the Protege's exterior as “nice”. The car has an attractive appearance, but it’s not particularly aggressive. Some may describe it as bland. Overall, I like the Protege’s simple and practical styling, but I have to admit the new Mazda 3 looks a lot better.

Overall, the 1999-2003 Mazda Protege is a great car. However, the Protege is relatively hard to find in the compact car market, and its high resale value means it will cost almost as much as a Civic or Corolla. A local used car superstore had dozens of Corollas, Civics, Sentras, Cavaliers and Foci, but not a single Protege. Our local Mazda dealer had only three 2002-2003 Protege’s and the sticker price was around 12 to 13 grand for each. If you’re looking for a fun to drive compact car, the Mazda Protege is a good pick, but you might have to do a little searching to find a good deal.