2003 Mazda Protege 5

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/02/2003 (8438 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BEING won over by a small car with an automatic transmission is something that happens to me about as often as I visit the dentist. So I guess it’s about time to make an appointment.

Mazda’s Protege5 undergoes minor styling changes for 2003, and now includes on its option list a ‘Sport Mode’ automatic transmission. It’s equipped with a manual mode — this transmission type is referred to as a ‘manumatic’ — that allows driver control over gear selection. It’s not groundbreaking technology, although until this year it’s been the exclusive domain of near-luxury and performance cars costing $40,000 and up. Now the feature is trickling down to models with a more digestible sticker.

The P5 has a base price of $20,185. Add my tester’s gorgeous Midnight Blue paint ($105), 4-speed Sport automatic ($1,300), A/C ($1,000) and glass moonroof ($800) and the total as-tested price comes to $23,390. That’s a competitive price for a car that includes niceties such as four wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, 16-inch alloy wheels, ground effects, six-speaker CD audio, cruise, and keyless entry as standard equipment. An SE model adds leather seats, but pricing was not yet available when this review was written.

I had a chance to drive the P5 on a short highway trip and found it to be a capable, comfortable package. The engine turns just under 3,000 rpm at 110 km/h; a little busy, but appropriate for mild acceleration without having to drop a gear. There’s precious little wind noise at that speed, with the ambient sound being divided between road (tire) noise and engine hum. The 2.0L is one of the most refined in its class, competently doing its job and revving without complaint. Highway speeds are attained easily and passing performance is decent.

The Sport Mode transmission is a competent piece of equipment, and complements the engine’s power characteristics well. Automotive Editor Kelly Taylor’s commentary on the manumatic accompanies this review.

Another of the Protege’s claims to fame is its handling. The P5 is tuned for sporty handling thanks to a front strut tower bar that increases the stiffness of the front end under cornering loads. The steering is responsive and communicative, and it incorporates excellent turn-in characteristics.

In short, the Protege5 drives like a car costing thousands more.

Mazda’s designers have nailed the interior design of the P5 as well. It’s like they went shopping with a list of all that is trendy and incorporated these items into their design. Tasteful cloth covers seats that, while a little on the flat side, provide decent support. The texture of the interior plastics makes them look softer than they are. Silver trim is everywhere, including the centre stack and door panels. Another nice touch is the faux carbon fibre trim on either side of the centre stack. Silver-faced gauges with black numerals revert to a red-on-black colour scheme at night — attractive to look at and very easy to read. The sound system is easy to operate and sounds great, thanks in part to two tweeters in the dash in addition to the requisite four larger cones.

Overall, it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing interiors in its class.

It would be nice (although compromising for interior headroom) to see a larger sunroof in the P5. It’s almost small enough to fit into the ‘why bother’ category. And the only other concession that the P5’s interior makes is that the door handles are cheap feeling in their operation. Something a little more substantial would be appreciated there.

Interior packaging is top-rate as well: passenger space is identical to the Protege sedan’s in all but one respect: it boasts 10 mm more headroom in the rear seat thanks to its hatch configuration. The Protege’s rear accommodations are among the best in class as well. Headroom and legroom measure 976 and 900 mm, respectively, while those measurements are 946 and 914 for Civic, 940 and 856 for Sentra, and 940 and 899 for Corolla.

The split folding rear seat makes cargo versatility a P5 strong suit as well. Boasting 561L of volume behind the rear seats (compared to 365L of trunk space in the sedan), that number grows to 691 with the seat folded forward. And for privacy, there’s a standard removable cargo cover that keeps smaller items away from peering eyes.

In terms of exterior styling, the P5 has to be one of the prettiest faces in econo-dom. That Mazda supplies the hatchback only in top trim levels, with fog lights, ground effects, a rear spoiler, and 16-inch alloys doesn’t hurt matters either. It possesses an aggressive sportiness that few vehicles in its price range can approach.

To Sum it Up

The Protege provides a sporty, stylish, practical package for a very reasonable price. The wagon is back, and this time, it’s hip.

Shopping Around

The P5 is one of many models participating in the wagon revival. Primary competition comes in the form of the following:

Chrysler PT Cruiser ($22,500)

Ford Focus ZX5 ($21,260)

Hyundai Elantra GT ($18,495)

Kia Rio RX-V ($15,750)

Pontiac Vibe ($20,220)

Subaru Impreza TS ($22,995)

Suzuki Aerio ($16,195)

Toyota Matrix ($16,645)

2003 Mazda Protege5

Base price: $20,185

Price as Tested: $23,390

Type: 4-door, 5 passenger hatchback

Layout : transverse front engine/front-wheel-drive

Engine : 2.0 litre 4 cylinder, DOHC, 16 valves

Horsepower: 130 @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 135 @ 4000 rpm

Transmission: 4-speed ‘Sport Mode’ automatic

Tires: 195/50 R-16 all-season

Curb weight: 1246 kg (2741 lb.)

Wheelbase: 2610 mm (102.8 in.)

Length : 4331 mm (170.5 in.)

Width: 1705 mm (67.1 in.)

Height: 1420 mm (55.9 in.)

Cargo capacity: 561 litres (19.8 cu. ft.) (rear seats up)691 litres (24.4 cu. ft.) (rear seats down)

Fuel consumption: City: 9.9 l/100 km,Hwy: 7.4 l/1.