2002 Mazda Protege 5 review from North America
"Thrifty sweet ride"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
There is a slight rattle coming from the passenger side door that I cannot track down. It only occurs when I go over bumps.
I do not like that the windows don't "squeegee" the outside when you roll them down.
The doors do not unlock when you try to open them from the inside (even the front).
General comments?
The car holds the road better than any other I have ever driven. It cuts a line exactly where you point it. Even 12' was no problem (entertaining, but not a problem).
I did not think I would like the manu-matic transmission, but it really is the best of both automatic and a manual.
The hatch is deceptively spacious. A whole love seat fits in the back.
Runs on 87 octane fuel and gets better gas mileage then my old Ford Focus.
It looks good.
If you are considering a small car look at the Protege. Between all the people in my family we have been through all the compact sized cars from the BMW 3 to the Focus Focus. Most of us are now own Proteges. You can't expect it to beat a BMW 330i, but it is close.
Recommended reviews
| We got a lemon |
|
| Nice in a lot of ways, but overall unrefined and illogical |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 2002 |
| First year of ownership | 2002 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 2.0L Semi-Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 82 miles |
| Most recent distance | 3500 miles |
| Previous car | Ford Focus |
| Date of Entry | 24th April, 2003 |