2003 Mazda Protege Consumer Reviews

Good Car

Written by: Kurt on 07/14/2009

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I have had my 5 speed for 5 years and absolutely love it. Pros: Decent gas mileage, (not as good as a Corola, but more fun to drive) Fun to drive, responsive handling, good road feel comfortable seat. Good shifter. Very reliable, (just brakes and tires are the only parts replaced. Con. Noisy to ride in.

Favorite Features

Road feel, handling

Suggested Improvements

quieter ride

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Reliable as the Sun

Written by: trogglbey on 05/31/2009

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I have a paper route; that is 60 miles a night of continuous stop and go with a heavy load of newspapers. This car never complains. Still has excellent get up and go with almost 150000 miles of hard driving. Never been in the shop for anything aside from a belt replacement and an AC recharge. Most reliable and solid little car I've ever owned. No rattles, clunks, or squeaks to drive one crazy. I love this car.

Favorite Features

The handling in amazing, the turn radius being extremely tight and takes turns like a dream. Roomy interior for its size. And remarkably good gas mileage in stop and go driving. The gear box in tight and responsive without much fuss.

Suggested Improvements

The headlight assembly could be a little friendlier when it comes to changing the bulbs and the fuel mileage at highway speeds could be upped a bit. But otherwise its a fantastic driver!

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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2003 Mazda Protege

Written by: Buzz Wichmann on 02/28/2009

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

This is a fun car to drive .. not as fuel efficient as my 96 Protege was but the better looks on the 2003 model negates the lower mpg rating for me. Still 34 highway/24 city not bad .. roomy comfortable car despite being so small with good sound system - highly manuverable as well with tight steering

Favorite Features

Front grill work and overall look from front is exceptional - the mag wheels are an attractive feature - also the overall stance of the car gets a second glance

Suggested Improvements

paint issues seem to be in need of improvement ... no rust but some little bubbling going on - otherwise nothing negative to say.

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Excellent sedan

Written by: RK on 02/12/2009

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Bought the car new, 5 speed trans. running fine, going on its 6th year. I have driven it across country three times and have had no issues. Always changed oil between 4k-5k use synthetic. With clean air filter on the highway I've gotten 32 MPG. Control is tight and a blast to drive on good roads. Suspension may be to stiff for some on bumpy roads. Very happy with interior, sunroof and 6 CD deck (all work fine). Also like the red interior lights (good on the eyes.

Favorite Features

How the car drives on good roads, overall design. Happy to see re-sale value almost 50% of what I paid after 6 years.

Suggested Improvements

As others have mentioned in 5th gear the engine RPM is to high (for those of us who drive around 75), With a little more horse power initial pick up could be improved.

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Will not be shopping for another Protege

Written by: jenna on 10/12/2008

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

A few days ago, my Protege was completely totaled by another driver in a very minor accident. So, its durability is questionable. Within the first year of owning it, I had a reoccurring problem with moisture on the inside of the car. Whenever it would rain, wells in the trunk would fill with water with no drainage route. Windshield took forever to defrost/fog. In the winter ice would form on the inside of the windshield -not a fabulous prerequisite to my morning commute. The weather stripping began to peel from the passenger door, and the door handle became loose one winter. Also, the car would rattle whenever stopped in traffic.

Favorite Features

It was very comfortable and fun to drive, great sound system.

Suggested Improvements

No major problems with the car, just an adequate number of small annoyances that will keep me from replacing it with another.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Some flaws after a few miles

Written by: Cheaprick29 on 08/10/2008

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I bought this car about a year & 1/2 ago. Paid $8k w 55k and now has 82k. The A/C doesn't work on 2 or 3 setting. The transmission makes a 'growling' or humming noise and continues to get worse the more I drive it. The trunk leaks due to a faulty trunk seal; My car smells like mildew all the time because water gets under the carpets. Had to replace the drive belts around 60k due to squeaking. Hit curb and cost $3800 to fix; not the best car to get into an accident in due to thin sheet metal. Other than that, the car is a great car. I switched out the stock head unit for a Pioneer; the CD player didn't work properly. I like the aux connection on my new head unit.

Favorite Features

Handling is amazing; I never have to hit the brake on sharp turns. Headlight design. Above average interior plastics. Fit and finish is amazing. Side mirrors are very high quality. My favorite thing is the steering wheel, its small and very sporty looking. Looks great when all cleaned up.

Suggested Improvements

Smoother ride, stiffer sheet metal, better gas mileage; I get about 26 MPG combined (I do floor it all the time!). Change the instrument panel lights to blue; green isn't right for this car.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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03 Mazda Protege ES - 5 speed

Written by: 03 Mazda Protege ES on 08/09/2008

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

This really is a great solid little car. Fun to drive! Very reliable, always starts, never needs repairs. The ES has several added features, alloy wheels, power sun roof, spoiler, 4 wheel disc brakes. NICE! I have the five speed and it helps the gas mileage about 5 mpg over the automatic. Get about 27 in town if I drive it right! Car is tight, and everything always works. If your looking for a (not too) small, and dependable car that gets good mileage, this is it. I've had Hondas and the Mazda is very comparable. I can't say there's much I would change on the car, except the 5th speed overdrive design. (not enough difference between 4th and 5th speed). Brakes are excellent.

Favorite Features

Very reliable and trouble free! One of the best small cars I've owned. Love the little 2.0 engine, and smooth 5 speed. Very clean running and responsive engine. Plenty of power for average driving. Driving the car is lots of fun, as it drives like a sports car.

Suggested Improvements

The transmission is very smooth, but it needs a different overdrive gear ratio in 5th gear (or a 6th gear) It's not low enough overdrive ratio to get real good highway mileage) I've had other cars with 5 speeds that you can tell by the lower RPM on the tachometer, they have more overdrive gearing.

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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A true sleeper

Written by: Dnasty on 07/04/2008

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Protege is one the best handling front wheel drive cars in its class still to date. The car moves any where you want it move without much effort. The interior is pretty good better then average. Gas mileage is great on the car. I've had my protege for about 3 years and it's on 93,000 and never gave me any problems as long you take care of the car. I suggest buying some performance parts for the car, cold air intake, and exhaust system. For ride comfort suggest getting 17 inch rims no bigger with sporty tires. Will make a world difference.

Favorite Features

Very responsive steering, great brakes, 5 speed transmission is a lot of fun. Plenty room for you and friends enjoy a long rides.

Suggested Improvements

The wind noise is pretty loud. For people like speed like myself more horse power.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Little car with BIG attitude

Written by: Mazda Forever on 05/30/2008

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

My Protege is the best little car anyone can have. It is great on fuel. It attracts a lot of attention because of the style and mainly the color because it is Laser Blue Mica. I get offers to buy my car even though it is not for sale. I like the way it rides except for the road noise. I think that has to do with the low profile tire on my car.

Favorite Features

Color, style and rear spoiler.

Suggested Improvements

In case they decide to make another Protege, I would like for the car to have at least 2 or 3 different tire types it can have on it instead of 1 such as Low Profile tires that are sometimes expensive. Maybe a better stereo system, and possible reduction of road and wind noise.

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Mazda Protege LX sedan 2003

Written by: Luigi on 04/29/2008

Vehicle

2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I love my Mazda. It works well and I've never really had a problem with it even after someone hit me going 40 when I was at a complete stop. Not that much damage done to it when it was hit, but it did cost a few thousand dollars to get it fixed. Very fun to drive. Pretty fast (obviously not a Corvette or BMW, but still fast enough to make you happy). Very good handling and easy layout of controls (minus the power windows switch for driver. I always press the back ones on accident). Other then that I'm glad I have it. Gas could be better especially with the prices the way they are now.

Favorite Features

The steering wheel. The sound of the engine. The speed it can handle. The handling itself. And the stereo (though I don't like that the buttons get really hot after playing a cd for a while).

Suggested Improvements

Move the power window switch for the driver down more. Offer power seats, and a stiffer back seat. The back seat it way too soft.

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