2000 Mazda Protege ES review from North America

At 3,285 miles, car had a broken front passenger side power window regulator, a ripped driver's side floor mat, and a loose weather strip on the rear driver's side door. Mazda replaced the window regulator, weather strip and both front floor mats at no charge, all under warranty.

At 15,801 miles, the car check engine light was flashing and the car was running rough. Problem found to be a faulty coil and igniter. Mazda replaced under warranty.

At 18,133 miles, the car check engine light came on. Problem found to be a defective catalytic converter. Mazda replaced under warranty.

Mazda Protege handles good going around turns, nice and flat and very predictable. Unlike the Metro which rocks like the Queen Mary in a Typhoon.

0 - 60 times in the Protege are in the 10 second range. Pickup is good in all speed ranges. Passing ability 40 - 70 is a little above average. Unlike the Metro, which took almost a whole eternal minute to get up to 60mph, especially if there's three overweight passenger's with luggage tagging along.

Mazda dashboard layout is very user friendly and logical. What's there to say about the Metro except, one speedometer, a brake, a steering wheel for maneuvering those sailboat like nautical turns, and a tiny little gas pedal that matched up well with those three out of breath mice under the hood.

Mazda trunk is nice and roomy. The Metro has a nice flat roof, just don't forget to bring along lots of rope.

Front driver's side seat on Protege has lumbar support. Would be nice to have the same for the front passenger side seat. Rear seats are comfortable for up to three average size adults, as long as the rear seat passenger's don't have beehive hairdos. Actually this is the only category where the Metro wins. The Cone Heads would have a blast in this car.