1998 Mazda Protege Review
Price Estimate: $437 - $727

Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Zingy powertrain, despite lackluster performance data. Large inside. Fun to drive.
Cons
- Average crash scores. No de-powered airbags.
What’s new
A CD player is standard on ES and LX. It also comes on DX models equipped with an option package.
For sale near Cibolo, TX
2 listings
- Photos not available$10,000
- 5,404 miles
- No accidents, 6 owners, personal use
- 26 City / 33 Hwy MPG, Manual
- Galaxy Autos (967 mi away)
Close
Located in Sioux Falls, SD
Looking for a reliable and efficient vehicle? Look no further than this 1998 Mazda Protege! With a spacious interior and fuel-efficient 1L NA I4 doubl...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
29 Combined MPG (26 City/33 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1BC1416W0171868
Stock: 171868
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 03-18-2024 - 125,712 miles
- 1 accident, 2 owners, personal use only
- 23 City / 29 Hwy MPG, Manual
- UzdcarzINC (1,128 mi away)
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Located in Pompano Beach, FL
All original, VERY clean, well kept car that will not disappoint you !
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
25 Combined MPG (23 City/29 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: JM1BC142XW0191601
Stock: 191601
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 06-20-2025
Vehicle overview
We've been unfair to the Protigi in the past. A couple of years ago we criticized Mazda for requiring consumers to buy the top-of-the-line ES to get the goodies on the options list, and we complained about the Protege's price, which had pegged this smart sedan near the top of the compact sedan cost list since its debut in 1995.
These days, compacts regularly top $15,000 with a modest load of equipment. Mazda has been pricing cars more aggressively, resulting in better values despite the fact that all Proteges are shipped to the U.S. from Japan. Incentives and subsidized leases make the Protege even more desirable.
Not that the car itself isn't appealing. The Protege boasts the largest interior in its class, and J.D. Power and Associates found that the Protege finished among the top ten cars in a recent Initial Quality Study. For 1997, exterior styling was spruced up with a new front bumper, grille, fenders and headlamps. Inside, a revised dashboard made it easier to operate climate and stereo controls. New wheelcovers gave the LX a more upmarket appearance. This year, a CD player has been added to the standard equipment list of the LX and ES. It comes on the DX too, but only when ordered with a Convenience Package.
Protege is available in DX, LX and ES trim. DX is very basic, nothing more than a price leader powered by an adequate 1.5-liter 92-horsepower engine. LX is the most popular Protege, and it comes standard with cruise control, power windows, and a CD player. Step up to the ES, and you'll get a mini sport sedan equipped with a 122-horsepower 1.8-liter engine, disc brakes all around, air conditioning and the ticket to fun times behind the wheel.
Fully loaded, the ES nearly reaches $19,000 including destination charges. While the ES is our favorite, we recommend the more sensible LX for budget-minded shoppers. Decently equipped with automatic transmission and antilock brakes, buyers can get into the LX for less than $16,000 sticker. That's still a good chunk of change for a small sedan, but not unusual in 1998. Take the Protege for a test drive, and find out if this attractive little Mazda is right for you.
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas
$119/mo for Protege DX
Protege DX
vs
$145/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Mazda Protege Owner Reviews
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Trending topics
Timex Tin Can
4 out of 5 starscraig, 02/21/2009
1998 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan
The car has been very reliable as others have mentioned, however this is transportation at it's most basic level. This car is a noisy tin can on wheels. Radio must be cranked in order to overcome excessive road noise. Car lacks power even with the larger 1.8L engine and is really not that great on gas. I rarely take it on highways and my wife refuses to drive it at all because of the … "Tin Can" feel. With that said, it is a reliable beater for local commutes but would not take this car on long trips.
Fun car
4.88 out of 5 starsDanioes, 01/16/2005
1998 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan
Bought the car at 71,000 miles. It's been trouble free with only preventive maintenance needed. The 1.5 is underpowered, but the 5-speed makes it fun to drive. This car also gets great mileage (30 mpg city/highway mix, 37 mpg all highway). Roomy car (I am 6'5"). Very very practical car.
Reliable, fun, needs more power!
3.63 out of 5 starsdennisjhs, 03/09/2003
1998 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
This is my 5th Mazda, 2nd Protege. Fun
to drive, but, even with the manual
transmission needs more umph! The 13"
tyres don't grip the road very well, so
I replaced the wheels with alloys and
used the stock LX/ES sized tyres of
185x65x14 and it made a considerable
improvement in handling and braking.
But, inspite of the manual
transmission, its a loud vehicle; I …
installed Dynashield Extreme and other
sound insulation products to kill the
road noise. Reliable, has only needed
regular maintance in 101,000 miles and
a battery. Was totaled in a accident,
so I looking for another to replace it.
Love my 5 year old Protege!
4.75 out of 5 starsjalth, 10/22/2003
1998 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan
I have had my car for over 5 years now,
bought it with 30 miles on it. I drive
it about 11,000 miles a year. This car
has been so good to me. I have only had
1 minor problem so far with it, the
shifter froze one winter and wouldn't
shift, but that was fixed years ago.
This car has been so dependable, I
would recommend to anyone.
1998 Protege Highlights
DX
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 29 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $119/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 13.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5PassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
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