"I get compliments from everyone," said one owner, while another elaborated, saying, "By the simple addition of a hatch, body panels and some fancy wheels, Mazda has managed to build some character into the Protegé."īeyond looks, these owners also appreciated the car's build and material quality. Owners, even those without ABS-equipped cars, expressed a great deal of pleasure in how well the brakes work.įuel delivery: Multipoint electronic fuel injectionīut most owners did seem to like the car best for its looks. Similarly, the Protegé5 felt very controllable on the skidpad, with only a bit of understeer.Its four-wheel discs and optional antilock brakes worked wonders in the stopping department, pulling the little hatchback to a standstill from 60 mph in 125 straight and drama-free feet. Its slalom speed of 45.5 mph made it a tick slower than the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V, at 46.0 mph, and measurably quicker than the Mitsubishi Lancer OZ, at 44.3 mph. Its handling is very forgiving and allowed us to flatfoot it through the 490-foot course. Through the slalom the car's steering felt nice and quick, and lacked the dartiness that plagues other lower-priced Japanese cars we've driven lately. The Protegé5 performed much better with a few turns thrown in. Not great numbers by any stretch, but given its fairly hefty 2716-pound curb weight, they're somewhat understandable. But for those who value performance over panache-i.e., speed freaks, and you know who you are-the Protegé5 might not be the best choice.Īt the track the Protegé5's little 130-horsepower 2.0-liter inline four demonstrated its limitations, turning in a less-than-spectacular 9.53-second 0-to-60-mph time, with a best quarter-mile speed of 80.4 mph in 17.11 seconds. O wners consistently lauded the Protegé5's good looks, both inside and out, many to the point of saying its sharp styling made up for the Mazda's relatively weak motor. And of all the choices-from high-revving pocket rockets to cutesy little retro boxes-Mazda's Protegé5 just might be the most handsome. THE STREETS OF AMERICA WERE TRANS-FORMED last year into a virtual small-car nirvana, with several automakers jumping into the market melee with their own unique interpretations of what comprises compact fun.
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