2002 Mazda Protege LX 2.0 16v DOHC from North America

Summary:

Unbelievable Quality

Faults:

Odd smell coming from the ventilation system.

General Comments:

I can't believe the quality in this car, especially for the price.

Decently loaded.

Fuel mileage could be a bit better, but then again, it does have a lot of power.

No real complaints. I'd recommend this car to either someone who's looking for a good first car, I'd even recommend this car for a small family as their only car!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th February, 2004

2002 Mazda Protege 5 2.0 130 HP from North America

Summary:

Loaded and a blast to drive

Faults:

Rear windshield wiper broke and had to be replaced.

Factory tires did not wear well; replaced at 15K miles.

General Comments:

Bought this car used (but in excellent condition) as a "learner" for our teenage daughter, but we might not give it up! It is seriously fun to drive.

Looks great. Low-profile tires, aluminum wheels, and sporty body styling make it a head-turner. Ours also has after-market window tinting which adds to the sporty look.

Handles great. Responsive steering, plenty of zoom (even with the automatic), and great brakes. Definitely not a cushy ride - but that is part of the appeal. Rides like a true sports car.

Comfortable and roomy. Comfortably seats four adults. Plenty of head and leg room. Driver's seat adjusts to just about any height/leg length. I am 5'4" and my husband is 6'1", yet we both find it comfortable to drive. Fold-down rear seats and roof rack make it a great "mini SUV."

Great value for the money. Standard features like the power moon roof, 6 CD changer and power everything make this car one of the best bargains around.

Only downfalls are the poor quality of the sound system and the lack of insulation (lots of wind noise). Otherwise, this is a terrific little car!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th February, 2004

2002 Mazda Protege 5 4 cylinder from North America

Summary:

Questionable to say the least

Faults:

The tires (all 4) have bubbled and the Wheels are bent. We have not driven the Protege 5 off road. It appears that the quality of the tires and wheels are not at a level even for street driving. We bought the car new.

General Comments:

The tires and wheels are the last thing that I would have expected to wear out on the Car.

Mazda has refused to except the fact that they put poor quality tires and rims on the 2002 Protege 5.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 7th February, 2004

24th Mar 2004, 20:21

We own a 2002 Mazda Protege that is driven primarily by a "Mom" driving back and forth to work in an urban location. Highway driving consists of loops around the city. We are extremely concerned about the tire situation and the bent rims. We have had our Mazda serviced regularly by a Mazda dealership. Our last tire rotation and alignment was a disaster. I wasn't a fourth of a mile away from the dealership when the wheel vibration forced me to pull over and return to the dealer. The service manager explained that we must have bent the rims and it was exaggerated by the tire rotation. The dealer suggested that we return the tires to the original position and purchase new rims and tires, or find someone who is local to fix the bent rims. My concern is that this will happen repeatedly. I did a search on the Internet trying to find other Mazda owners who have experienced the same thing. Judging from the results, it looks like Mazda should be aware of the tendency the rims have for bending. Do Mazda Protege owners have any recourse with Mazda? Or do we purchase new rims and tires after every pothole season?

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2002 Mazda Protege ES 2.0 liter from North America

Summary:

Excellent sports-like car for the price

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

This is a great little car.

The handling is excellent. It reminds me of my dad's old BMW 325i by the way it takes curves. Very steady. The 4 wheel disc brakes are fantastic.

This year's model has gotten even quieter on the road. It's a lot better than my wife's '94 Protege.

The sound system is fantastic and I really like the addition of the tweeters.

My last 1999 Protege did not have the Automatic Sports Transmission (you can shift to manual). I really like that feature on this car. You can change gears, but don't need to clutch!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 2nd February, 2004