2002 Mazda Protege 5 review from North America
"Loved this car!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Road noise is our only compliant.
General comments?
Bought our 2003 Protege 5 new and are now selling it, after 4 years. Other than road noise, which honestly we got use to and didn't notice after a while, we have totally enjoyed the car.
This was our first car from the Mazda family, and I now would call us Mazda loyal. People really amaze me by generalizing a make of car, based on their unlucky experience or their own downfall in improper maintenance. We serviced our car with all genuine Mazda parts, on time and on schedule and the car drives and runs as good as when we got it.
The car is a 2L, what do you all except? A BMW? It handles great, and unfortunately having soft performance tires that allow you to stick to the road will wear faster than your mini-van tires. Just silly to me, read reviews on any make and model and there will be bad experiences, but don't let the few shadow the many great reviews.
The fact that the car's two year model style sold as well as it did, and that the 3 is now selling like crazy should speak volumes. Most Mazda owners are happy. Enough said.
Recommended reviews
  | Drives like a 3 series costs like a Mazda |
| Nice in a lot of ways, but overall unrefined and illogical |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model Year | 2003 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Manual |
| Performance marks | |
| Reliability marks | |
| Comfort marks | |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Distance when acquired | 40 miles |
| Most recent distance | 82000 miles |
| Previous car | Toyota Tercel |
| Date of Entry | 14th October, 2007 |