2003 Mazda Protégé5
I don’t think I can even remember when Mazda first started those annoying zoom zoom advertisements, but I do remember that when they started them, it was more or less a lie. The modern image of Mazda is very different than what it was as little as six years ago. As of 2008 Mazda makes the excellent RX-8 and MX-5 sports cars; the 3 and the 6 which drive like they’re sports cars in disguises; and the supposedly very sporty CX-7/CX-9, which I haven’t driven. Right now, the zoom zoom adverts really make sense because Mazda is chasing after those who enjoy a brisk fun drive, and they now have the cars to lure these people.
If we think back to six years ago though, Mazda didn’t really make anything that seemed exciting. They had the MX-5 Miata which was exciting but it looked like it was designed specifically to appeal to women… then there was the Millenia, the 626, the tribute, and the weird B-Series pickups, which definitely weren’t all that exciting. Many people think that in 2003, Mazda really went out of its way to reinvent itself and stun the world with the sporty Mazda6, and that the 6 is what kick started the real zoom zoom movement for the company… but these people are completely wrong.
It was the Mazda Protégé that really kicked off Mazda’s reformation, but no one seems to realize that. I honestly have no idea why, but everyone in the world seems to have forgotten about the fantastic Mazda Protégé. In 1999, Mazda made the Protégé into a proper driver’s car which had all the handling dynamics to shame all of its competitors, but no one noticed. In 2001 the Protégé was face lifted into something rather attractive and sporty looking, and made even better to drive. A limited edition factory tuned Protégé MP3 was even released to showcase the sporting potential of Mazda’s small car. By this time, a select few finally took notice, but it still took Mazda one more push before anyone took the Protégé seriously. In 2002, Mazda released the coveted turbocharged Mazdaspeed Protégé and the Protégé5 sport wagon (really more of a hatchback than a wagon). These two cars in particular caught the eye of car reviewers in the
If you read my Mazda3 s review you may remember me saying that one of my favorite cars of all time is the Protégé and that I was glad to see that the 3 was a proper replacement for it. It has now been many years since I’ve driven a Protégé, and during that time the Mazda3 has been busy blowing my mind as to how good it is. So the question now is: is the Protégé still as magical as I remember it, and can the old car still give the 3 a reminder of who it owes its roots to?
Positives: When you see a Mazda3, the first thing you’ll notice about it is just how well put together these cars are. The interiors look like they belong in a car that’s twice as expensive and the outside looks like a solid structure. The Protégé5 is no different. I simply cannot believe that a small car originally released in 2000 (in
In terms of practicality the Protégé5 is very good indeed. There’s plenty of room in the back for your passengers, and since this is technically a wagon, the trunk has loads of space too. Also, the Protégé5 comes standard with a roof rack, so if you can’t fit everything into the car, you can just tack it onto the roof. So, this car is very easy to justify if you’re a family man/woman.
The exterior in my opinion is gorgeous. The huge fog lamps, the 16 inch alloys with low profile V rated tires, and the body kitting around the Protégé5 genuinely give you the sense that this car means business in the sports department. Also, I think the Protégé5 easily looks better than the rhino looking 3 wagon. In fact many people agree with me when I say that this is easily the best looking “wagon” ever made. The exterior admittedly does look flimsier than the 3 but it still looks fairly solid and well built.
Naturally the Protégé5’s party piece isn’t the styling but the driving experience. The steering wheel in the Protégé is reasonably weighty and it feels connected and analog. The steering ratio is very quick and the car goes wherever you point the wheel, just like any proper sports car does. The steering wheel itself provides loads of feedback about grip levels and really makes you feel involved in the whole driving process. In short, it feels brilliant to drive and it feels like you’re driving a proper sports car. Seriously, go and take one of these cars through a twisty bit of road, and I guarantee you’ll fall in love.
I praise the Mazda3 day in and day out, but there’s something about the Protégé that’s even more fun and magical. Overall, the Protégé5 just feels lighter on its feet, grippier, and more agile, but if you look up the hard numbers, it isn’t… All the figures including skid pad figures, acceleration, lane change speeds, and other mundane things all point to the Mazda3 being the vastly superior car; however, having driven around mountain passes in both cars I almost can’t believe that because genuinely, hand on heart, the Protégé5 just feels more fun… It’s kind of like staying at home and hanging out with your best friends instead of going to an embassy ball. It’s not as classy, and on paper it’s not as socially exciting, but you’ll probably have a lot more fun.
I do have to mention something that sounds rather boring, but I promise you it is relevant. The Protégé5 comes with rear disk brakes! Even the newest 2009 Corolla (non XRS admittedly) doesn’t come with rear disk brakes. What this means is that the Protégé5 stops incredibly well. The brakes feel really strong, simply because they are. What’s more, if you step on the brakes, you’ll find that they provide perfect feel by not biting too hard upon the initial press and by not requiring a lot of travel before they properly kick in. This allows you to modulate the brakes with excellent precision. The Protégé had best in class stopping distances in 2003, and I’d be willing to bet, having not looked up the figures that it can still beat most of the modern competition.
There’s still one more thing I haven’t mentioned about the Protégé5 that adds to the list of good things. The manual transmission in the Protégé has to be one the easiest in the world to use. The clutch is light, and the engagement point is more of a range than a point, so starting off in first gear, or reversing is incredibly easy. You really have to not be paying attention to what you’re doing to stall this car. In fact people who’ve never driven a manual before can fool people into thinking they’ve had plenty of practice… Complementing the easy clutch is the shifter itself; gear changes feel solid and precise, though I will admit that the Civic offers better shifting feel.
Negatives: I’m fairly tempted to just put nothing here because I absolutely love the Protégé5, but that would be childish and irresponsible because there are indeed some issues with the car.
The biggest issue with the Protégé5 is the engine. The Protégé5 is an incredible fun dealing car in the corners, so it really is a shame that the engine is on the weak side. If you drop down a gear and soar over 4000 revs, the engine picks up stride and sings for you up to the 6500 RPM redline, but you will wish for more power because the car doesn’t actually pick up that much speed. The good news though is that the engine feels urgent and lively so if you’re in the right gear at the right revs, you’ll at least feel like you’re going fast; however, if you floor the throttle when you’re at low revs (even if you’re in second gear) there’s almost no power at all. In short there’s no real low to mid-range punch which makes the car even slower. The figures look okay, 130 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque, but it’s not a very sophisticated engine so it doesn’t do much with that power. The 2003 Corolla puts out slightly weaker figures, but since it has
The unsophisticated engine is also the cause of the car’s sub par fuel figures (25MPG city and 32MPG highway). These figures aren’t SUV bad, but compared to a Civic or a Corolla which get the highway mileage of the Protégé in the city, it’s not great.
The final complaint is something that is fairly common in all small cars. When you get onto the highway and up to 60+ mph you’re going to wish you had a sixth gear. The car will get up passed 3000 rpm at these speeds, and as a result it’s not exactly the quietest car I’ve ever been in. Compared to a cars from the same year though, it’s really not that bad, but if you’re used to driving modern compact cars it will seem a little bit on the loud side.
Conclusion: The Mazda Protégé5 is in my opinion even more fun to drive than the already incredible Mazda3, but I will admit that the 3 is definitely more refined, more powerful, and as something to live with everyday, it’s probably better. I do wish that the Protégé5 came with a better engine in it, but other than that it’s hard to fault the car. The Protégé5 is an amazingly fun car, it’s well put together, it’s reliable, and it still looks modern despite being over five years old.
If you do go out and look for a used Protégé5, you will run into something that makes the laws of economics look wrong. First off, they’re thousands of dollars cheaper than Civics and Corollas of the same year and mileage; however, you can find Civics and Corollas everywhere on the used market, but it’s nearly impossible to find a Protégé5. The basic supply and demand model for economics hasn’t been disproved here though because, for the majority of the population, the Protégé is indeed a forgotten car, so most used car buyers don’t look for one… but why aren’t there many on sale then? That’s because everyone who’s bought one doesn’t want to let go of it because they like it too much. I’m not making this up neither, ask any Mazda dealer and he/she will tell you the same thing I just said.
So, if you’re in the market for a used car and you find a Protégé5 (or an ES sedan which is kitted the same) I would recommend buying it because you can’t possibly do better for the money. The Protégé5 is an excellent car, and I guarantee you’ll fall in love with it. I did… in fact I even bought one!
Summary:
The Good: Fun, reliable, well put together, cheap… what else do you want?
The Bad: The engine is lively, but too weak to properly pay homage to a great chassis
Verdict: It’s impossible to find a daily driver that’s this much fun for cheaper
Random Stats:
Engine: 2 liter I4; 130 hp, 135 lb-ft torque
EPA Fuel Mileage: 25/32
Observed fuel mileage: 27 mpg
