Another in a series of my reviews that appeared in the online version of African Americans On Wheels, a now defunct automotive magazine that was included as an insert in the Sunday newspapers of major cities.
All I can say is that I remember being in a really bad mood the week I had this car, although I don’t remember why. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Mazda – I even own one. I’m willing to bet if they’d supplied a model with the manual transmission, like they did with the 626, the review would have been more flattering. Mainly, it would have taken away the two main complaints: Weak off-the-line acceleration and piss-poor gas mileage. For comparison, the contemporary Corolla with an engine of almost identical size and power was EPA rated at 28/36 versus the Mazda’s 24/29. I’m sure that given more time and an open mind, I would have realized superior ride and handling to its peers, or a better trimmed interior and more comfortable seats, but I just didn’t care.
Not that any of my complaints are invalid. It’s just that when you’re dealing with something as subjective as a “review,” you just never know what’s going on in the author’s head.
Mazda’s Protege traces its heritage back to the 1977 GLC. However, like its big brother 626, it is considered an also-ran in the big picture. Mazda’s hoping to change that with a completely redesigned Protege for 1999.
Unlike the nearly invisible redesign Mazda performed on the 626 last year, the new Protege looks completely different from last year’s model. Smooth curves have been replaced by sharp edges all around. The bold grill and angled headlamps from the 626 are up front, while tall, thin tail lamps grace the rear. The new Protege is available in the DX, LX, and ES configurations. The base DX and luxury LX come with a 105 horsepower, 1.6-liter four, which is larger and more powerful than last year’s base engine. The ES comes with an all new 1.8-liter engine derived from the 2.0-liter in the 626, although it’s rated at the same 122 horsepower as last year’s 1.8. While slightly smaller inside due to increased side impact protection, the 92.6 cubic-foot passenger volume and 12.9 cubic-feet of trunk space is at the front of the pack for compacts. There’s a new dash with a hooded instrument panel and a center stack console. The seats in the ES feature height and bottom cushion angle adjustments, rare in a small car.
And yet the new Protege gives me no compelling reason to buy it. The new look does little to set the Protege apart from its ilk. Even with the larger engine, the Protege felt lethargic off the line with the optional four-speed automatic, and its gas mileage was disappointing for a small car. Shamefully, antilock brakes are only available as part of an expensive “premium” package that includes a power sunroof and floormats. In my opinion, they are too important to be thrown in the same league as a sunroof and therefore priced out of most shoppers’ budgets.
The Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic have their legendary reliability and resale value, the Ford Escort and Chevy Cavalier have their low price, and the Dodge/Plymouth Neon has its cute chic. The Protege, while a good car in its own right, has no “draw.” And that could be its roadblock to success.
For more information contact 1-800-639-1000
SPECIFICATIONS
Type: Four-door Sedan
Engine: 122-horsepower, 1.8 liter inline-4
Transmission: Four-speed Automatic
EPA Mileage: 24 city/29 highway
Tested Price: $16,175
Mazda’s Achilles Heel is not enough power, at least when a model is first released. I test-drove the then-new CX-5 in 2013 and would have bought it except that it was too anemic on power. They have finally fixed the Miata (or whatever they call it these days) in that regard.
I bought a new CX-9 last year even though it has an (albeit quick) four-cylinder. To me, the Mazdas look so quick standing still and have such good handling, that they deserve to have more power. The same (turbo) motor that is in my CX-9 has finally cured the CX-5’s problem, but to me the CX-9 really cries out for a proper V-6.
I know you know this much better than me, but a too-small motor will be bad on gas, notwithstanding its displacement, given the job it has to do. Too many car buyers make that mistake, thinking that a car will at least be good on gas, if underpowered. They are surprised when they learn that it is not.
I deleted the duplicates for you. I agree with you regarding gas mileage in certain situations, like with my mother’s Pinto (80 horsepower pulling about about 2,700 pounds worth of wagon hooked to a 3-speed automatic with air conditioning). My father said that the gas mileage was no better than the V8 Mustang they traded in.
However, I don’t think that applies here. With Mazda, I think it’s that their powertrains were just inefficient, a problem solved with SkyActiv. As you know, we bought the 2013 CX-5, and while a bit under powered, the gas mileage is excellent. There is a notable decrease in mileage with the 2.5 and turbo. Like I mention in the article, the contemporary Corolla achieved significantly better mileage with roughly the same engine size, power, and weight.
One Mazda with a pre-SkyActiv powertrain that really bugged me was the Mazda5. With the old 2.5-liter, it achieved about the same EPA estimates as the Honda Odyssey. When I mentioned this to the salesman, he noted that the Odyssey was also significantly more expensive. Not an excuse if you ask me.
Thanks for the fix, Adam – you’re a gentleman.
You’re correct that size is not everything with respect to gas mileage; I was oversimplifying.
A friend of mine had a 1991 or so Protege LX without the optional alloy wheels. It had the 125 horsepower DOHC 1.8 liter coupled to a 5-speed and had more speed than anyone expected in a Japanese compact sedan at the time. The 132 horsepower Neon was still in the distant future. He had that car for many years in rust-free California, and it was still running great with about 160K miles when another friend took it in for preventative maintenance by an incompetent mechanic who killed it. Good car. If it hadn’t been equipped with mouse-belts, it would still be a perfectly pleasant sport sedan.
The generation in question was offered as the wagon-like Protege 5, a car which I suggested to my girlfriend at the time. The dealer had one, but they wouldn’t let us look at it. We were perfectly respectable thirty year olds driving a clean Volvo 940 wagon, but they refused to let us so much as get within fifty feet of their Protege 5. Having attempted to purchase cars from this particular dealer any number of times, I’d say the car was allocated to be a demo for some family member who read about how cool it was in Car and Driver. Sadly, we bought one of the first new Mini Coopers instead.
Ahh the Protege 5. I loved them when they were new. In 2004 I got a new Mazda3 hatch, which I still own and seems to be a much more substantial car than the preceding generation, but I still think the Protege 5 was the most handsome compact car of its era.
Nice to see a great little car get some recognition. I bought a 2002?? from a young man in my city some years ago in part because I tested one of these sedans new back in 2002. I was impressed then and more so after I bought the ES from an a Kijiji ad.
The car only required detailing and me learning how to work the stereo system which had USB and Bluetooth. It had to go when I came across a nice 03 Mustang Coupe that I just couldn’t resist. I had no issues with the Protege and enjoyed zipping around town while the 1.8 litre engine hummed along.
Awwww. I bought a ‘99 Protege LX with a 5-speed brand new after driving all the competitors. I found all the other cars snoozy. The Mazda had an edge to it that made it more sprightly. It was entertaining, efficient, and comfortable. I brought both of my kids home from the hospital in it. I sold it after ten years and my younger daughter still hasn’t forgiven me for selling it. The new owners emailed me five years later and thanked me for selling them such a wonderful car. I’m guessing you must really have had a bad week when you wrote the review.