Mazda Protege

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Mazda Protege Models

The Mazda Protege comes in three trim levels with two different engines: DX, LX, LX 2.0, and the ES 2.0.

LX and DX models come with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that puts out 103 horsepower. (The 1.6-liter engine meets California's ultra-low-emissions vehicle standards.) A five-speed manual transmission is standard. A 4-speed automatic transmission can be added as an $800 option.

ES and LX-2.0 are powered by a 2.0-liter engine that produces 130 horsepower. ES comes with four-wheel disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels with P195/50R16 tires, a black-chrome grille treatment, a rear spoiler, fog lights, white-faced gauges and monochrome interior trim.

We highly recommend the $800 package that combines front side-impact air bags and anti-lock brakes with brake force distribution. ABS helps the driver maintain control of the steering during panic stops; just hold the brake pedal hard to the floor and steer around obstacles.

Driving the Mazda Protege

The Mazda Protege offers excellent handling and decent acceleration performance. It's an affordable sports sedan. We tested the Protege during a wintry week in Detroit. Not all compact cars handle snow particularly well, but the Protege was able to plow its way out of a foot of snow -- with no prior shoveling.

Out on the highway, whether the pavement was wet, dry or covered with snow and ice, the Protege offered predictable handling and good grip. Anti-roll bars on the ES-2.0 model are larger to reduce body lean in corners. Mazda has thoroughly revised the entire steering system for improved feel. Steering is precise; the car seems to turn in a bit quicker than before.

With the 2.0-liter engine, the Protege delivers good acceleration whether starting from a standstill or pulling out of corners. Producing 130 horsepower, the 2.0-liter engine (taken from the Mazda 626 midsize sedan) offers 8 more horsepower than last year's 1.8-liter engine. In terms of acceleration performance, the horsepower increase is largely offset by the increased weight. The real gain is in the increased mid-range torque (135 pound-feet), making the car more responsive and easier to drive around town. That should particularly benefit models with automatic transmissions. At the same time the horsepower was increased, Mazda managed to improve the fuel economy (to 25/31 mpg with 5-speed).

The base 1.6-liter engine, which produces 103 horsepower, struggles when pressed.

Four-wheel disc brakes are now standard on the top-line ES model. The brakes bring the car to a quick, stable stop under hard braking.

Mazda has expertly damped out road noise and engine noise, often a problem with small cars, making the Protege one of the quietest cars in its class. Insulation has been added to the floor, under the hood, behind the firewall, and around the wheel housings. Plus the body and chassis have been enhanced by structural improvements, like thicker sheetmetal in the suspension towers, which yield greater stability and control.

When it was redesigned, the Protege received a number of chassis-strengthening improvements. Bending strength was increased by 22 percent and torsional (twisting) rigidity by 12 percent. Protege's crash protection was also improved by the addition of side-impact reinforcements. This stiff unitbody chassis, working in concert with responsive rack-and-pinion steering and a four-wheel independent suspension, translates into a comfortable ride, good high-speed stability, and excellent handling.