1996 Mazda Protege Review

Name: 1996 Mazda Protege
Brand: Mazda
Price: 1758 USD
Rating: 4.3 (36 reviews)

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List Price Estimate:	$1,758 - $2,929

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Mazda Protege model years

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by the Edmunds Experts

What’s new

No changes for 1996.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 1996 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.32 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$136/mo

Protege LX

$179/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Vehicle overview

The engineers and designers who were putting the finishing touches on the new Protege must have lost lots of sleep during the first half of 1994. After all, they were redesigning a compact sedan that, since its 1990 debut, had been likened to a mini Mercedes 190, and had been one of the few four-doors competing in SCCA racing events. Oh, there was that pesky upstart from Chrysler Corporation too, the Neon, but heck...it was a Chrysler; nothing to worry about.

Well, Mazda's new Protege has been on showroom floors for about one year. If the numbers of new Proteges and Neons prowling the streets of America are any indication, Mazda needs to do some quick thinking to sell at least a few Proteges.

We have some suggestions. Make the 1.8-liter engine standard on the LX model, and offer air conditioning at no extra charge. Why would Joe Consumer ante up nearly $16,600 for a five-speed Protege ES when he can get a Neon Sport with every possible option, better looks, and better performance for a grand less? (On the other hand, considering the Protege's cavernous interior, perhaps it makes better sense as an alternative to Ford's Contour SE.)

The new Protege, priced more competitively, would make a solid alternative to the Neon. With the 1.8-liter engine and the roomiest interior in its class, the Protege's design is competent, if not inspiringly styled. However, compared to many of its competitors, the Protege cannot provide the value buyers expect in a small car. Until this issue is addressed, the Protege is destined to remain invisible to consumers.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 1996 Mazda Protege.

5 (47%)

4 (44%)

3 (3%)

2 (0%)

1 (6%)

4.3

36 reviews

Write a review See all 36 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Great little car!

BMH,02/07/2017

DX 4dr Sedan

I got my 1996 Protege DX with an automatic transmission in 2006 and it's been a great car. I just turned 112,000 miles on it and have only replaced the waterpump and timing belt and have had regular fluid changes. No leaks or smoke. Starts up every time. I just replaced the stock Mazda battery two years ago! The gas mileage is about 32-34 highway and it's roomy inside. The engine could …

Nice car, very few problems

Jayman770,07/15/2002

DX 4dr Sedan

I bought my protege in October of 1999. The only thing that i have fixed on it was a blower motor about 2 years ago. Other then basic oil changes nothing else has been fixed on it. I would highly recommend the protege for those people wanting an economy car but not willing to pay the price of other highly rated Toyota and Honda economy cars.

20 years and still running like a champ

Abe25,10/13/2015

ES 4dr Sedan

I just bought one. It was the best investment I have ever made. I paid $400 for it on Craigslist because it needed repairs. The parts were cheap. I ended up spending just $300 to replace the rear struts and springs, all four brake pads and rotors, headlights, spark plugs, air filter and replaced all of the fluids. Now it runs like new which is surprising since the engine and …

Most reliable car I've owned

MazdaLover,08/11/2008

ES 4dr Sedan

I bought my 96 Protege in 2003 with 89,000 miles on it. I junked it in 2006 with almost 200,000 on it. I never had it in the repair shop once while I owned it (except for oil changes) and it never stalled on me or failed to start. When I dropped this car off in the junkyard I was almost in tears. The motor was in PERFECT condition, never ate oil or even sputtered, I didn't have to drop a …

See all 36 reviews of the Used 1996 Mazda Protege

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Features & Specs

See all Used 1996 Mazda Protege specs & features

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver3 / 5
PassengerNot Rated
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
DriverNot Rated
PassengerNot Rated
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
RolloverNot Rated
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Acceptable

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More about the 1996 Mazda Protege

Used 1996 Mazda Protege Overview

The Used 1996 Mazda Protege is offered in the following submodels: Protege Sedan. Available styles include LX 4dr Sedan, ES 4dr Sedan, and DX 4dr Sedan. Pre-owned Mazda Protege models are available with a 1.5 L-liter gas engine or a 1.8 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 122 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 1996 Mazda Protege comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 5-speed manual.

What's a good price on a Used 1996 Mazda Protege?

Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.

Which used 1996 Mazda Proteges are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 1996 Mazda Protege for sale near. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 1996 Mazda Protege.

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Should I lease or buy a 1996 Mazda Protege?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

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1996 Mazda Protege Review

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Edmunds' Expert Review

What’s new

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 1996 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.32 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Vehicle overview

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 1996 Mazda Protege.

Most helpful consumer reviews

Features & Specs

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Used 1996 Mazda Protege Overview

What's a good price on a Used 1996 Mazda Protege?

Which used 1996 Mazda Proteges are available in my area?

Can't find a used 1996 Mazda Proteges you want in your area? Consider a broader search.

Should I lease or buy a 1996 Mazda Protege?

Consider these recommendations

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1996 Mazda Protege Review

Get More For Your Trade-In

Edmunds' Expert Review

What’s new

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1996 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.32 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.

Vehicle overview

Most helpful consumer reviews

Features & Specs

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Used 1996 Mazda Protege Overview

What's a good price on a Used 1996 Mazda Protege?

Which used 1996 Mazda Proteges are available in my area?

Can't find a used 1996 Mazda Proteges you want in your area? Consider a broader search.

Should I lease or buy a 1996 Mazda Protege?

Consider these recommendations

Related Used 1996 Mazda Protege info

Shop used vehicles in your area

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Other models to consider

Research similar vehicles

Recommended

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 1996 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.32 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}