Used 2002 Mazda Protege Consumer Reviews
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Excellent
buffet2, 08/08/2003
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is the first new car that I have purchased. I have enjoyed the car! It is roomier than it's competitors. With a family and a busy schedule, that is really important. I am still getting high gas mileage even though the car is a year old. It was difficult at first to get used to a 4 cylinder, but this car still has enough horsepower that I don't seem to notice it anymore.
The Greates Car Ever
jcg44498, 10/22/2003
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My Protege was my first new car and it was the greatest decision I ever made. A year later, it runs great and I got a good deal on it. It is so comfortable and stylish. When considering vehicles to buy, the Protege stood out as the best all around value for the options I could get for the price. I don't regret anything about buying my Protege and definitely recommend it for someone buying their first car.
Way more interesting than the others
lesliej, 01/09/2004
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Before buying this car I test drove EVERYTHING in similar classes- it took me a year to buy a new car. This was the most functional and fun to drive car of them all. The year that I've had the car has confirmed my initial impression & I'm very happy with my purchase. The suspension is tight which gives it a rougher ride than others but as a result it handles way better. Good driver's car with great visibility and manouverability. No mechanical problems.
Great reliable car. Don't buy a Civic!
Gksspot, 12/10/2005
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought it but have been researching & test driving compact sedans for months! PROS -Resale value not great, was able to get into one cheap compared to others compacts -Lots of features for the class -Tight suspension makes it fun to drive -Predicted reliability -Not a run of the mill car (Civic/Accord/Corolla). CONS -Gas mileage is not as good as others in class -5th gear not tall enough, pretty high RPMs on freeway. OVERALL Car can be a bit stiff for some but I like driving so the trade off is worth it. Like I said it's a driver's cars; good steering input, feel connected to the car/road & is a blast in the twisties. Will report again a year from now with cost of ownership/reliability.
overall, a great bang for the buck!
MazdaProtege1, 02/17/2004
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have had this car for a year and a half and have absolutely fell in love with it. The ride is quiet and smooth and the placement of eveything is wonderful. It's so fun to drive down the road, especially with the wonderful stereo system and the comfortable seats. And the best part about it is that it's like riding in a Lexus, but for thousands less than a Honda. Honda's are cheaper, in my opinion, and have horrible styling. This car offers style, comfort, affordablitiy, and dependability.
Best buy!
Linny, 03/09/2004
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I wouldn't buy any other car. Mazda is the greatest car for the money, very reliable and smooth ride with a kick.
Great car
Jeff, 05/10/2006
2002 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased this car for my wife and wanted good handling and 4 wheel disc brakes. Had wanted a Civic but the disc brakes only came on the Si. This has been a great car - fun to drive and no problems at all. Engine not as sweet as a Honda but it has a lot of pickup around town and on the highway as well. Not as smooth in the higher RPM range as a Honda but that is not really an issue. Highway mileage is 31-32 so it gives up a bit to a Civic but much more of a sporty ride. I prefer driving the ES to my Accord V-6. I have an auto transmission and it still has a lot of Zoom Zoom. Did I mention great handling with a good highway ride? You cannot go wrong with this car. I don't like the 3.
Good buy...
chrisfenl, 03/19/2004
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I really enjoy my Protege and am glad I decided to purchase it. It has more power than other small sedans that I've driven, has very reponsive gas and break input, and handles incredibly well. The suspension is fairly tight, so you feel bumps more, but this also makes turning feel more stable. It's a great car, and I plan on holding onto mine for a long time.
Civic Alternative
Brian Burchanowski, 08/22/2006
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought this car used in Jan 06 with 26,000 miles. This car is a bargain compared to the Civic--you get the same quality and reliability without paying for the name! Plus, the Protege has a 2.0L instead of a Civic's 1.8. My car has the five speed and acceleration is excellent for an economy car. The engine is peppy and revs freely, with a satisfying exhaust note. The car is fun to drive and is easy throw around back roads. Steering feedback and braking are also excellent (it might be worth splurging on the ES to get rear disks though). As for reliability, between the previous owner and myself the car has only ever needed oil changes and one set of rotors and pads.
02 Protege
jetskier111, 10/16/2004
2002 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Been a great, fun and reliable car. I really enjoy the look of the exterior and the interior has done extremely well. It runs solid and true, may not be the fastest out there, but then again that wasnt its goal! If your looking for something that isnt a driving appliance- has reliability and is safe, check this one out.
The Best Car I have Owned
mazdazoom22, 05/28/2006
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Before buying this car, I had previously owned a Chevy Malibu & Chevy Cavalier (both stunk!). I've had the car for 4 years now and have 30,000 miles and not one major thing had gone wrong with it. Power is better than a Honda, with more style and character for the price. Easy to keep clean with no major defects and comfort is the best that I can find. I wanted value for my money and even my husband agrees that this car is the best value out there. My only caution would be to watch out for used ones that belonged to rowdy teenagers who didn't upkeep the car and liked to rev the engine up as much as possible. I love this car!
Great lil' mobile
ann80, 02/04/2007
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I really like this car. It's fun to drive, good in the snow, takes turns well. I take pretty good care of it and it takes better care of me. I would recommend this Mazda to anyone.
Good bang for the buck
Metro guy, 03/05/2002
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We've had our 2002 LX for 6 months now. It looks good and is fairly peppy around town. The seats are very comfortable and there is loads of room in the back seat compared to a 2002 Corolla or a Honda Civic. The stereo and heating controls are useable with gloves and the heater pumps out loads of heat, even in very cold weather so the windows don't fog up. All around great car few complaints.
Flawless
Viener Vanker, 10/25/2007
2002 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased new. No problems whatsoever. At 72,000 miles, still on original brakes. They never wear out.
never buy mazda
kipp, 05/12/2003
2002 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
two starters one alternator and still no fix for running rough. the vehicle has lost it's value quicker than anything i have ever owned. it's trade in value after one year of ownership has been cut in half. i would never buy another mazda.
02 LX, automatic with 6 disk cd/moonroof
kdavis, 05/13/2003
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Great little car, wish we had know about it before we bought an Eclipe for my self. This car outperforms the Eclipse in everyway except gas milage and radio. Maybe I can trade the other car in, this time for a manual.
Style, Reliability, Fun at a GREAT Price
Nolan Ryan, 01/19/2003
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I was looking for a car that would offer me reliabilty, a little excitement, and a few toys at an excellent price. I researched and drove them all (Hyundai, Ford, Chevy, Nissan, etc.) and no one (in the under $15K category) could touch the Mazda Protege. Check the magazines, surf the web, but most importantly, take one for a test drive! You're bound to draw the same conclusion and you won't be disappointed. I got a 2002 LX (manual) with sunroof, alloy wheels, and stadard CD player for $12,200! It handles like an expensive sports car and brakes quick and sure. I am so impressed with Mazda, that when our minivan is ready for trade in, I'm going with the MPV.
MyProtege
ChipDE, 03/11/2002
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is the best sedan I have come across - very sporty and very cute. I have wanted one since 1994 and it is well worth the wait. Great buy!
I Recommend the 5sp Man DX
marty, 05/30/2002
2002 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Got this car for $12K after factory rebate and negociations(A/C and CD included). Fun to drive. Good fuel economy. Makes my wifes 97 Altima seem sluggish. Brakes are very good. Handling is very good and gives a real sense of confidence. Takes a few weeks to become accustom to the stiff shocks. Seats are comfortable but seem to be of cheap build quality. Mazda appears to have great customer support.
5 speed zip
stude30, 06/18/2003
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I was at the dealer too look into purchasing a PT Cruiser. The maroon Protege was sitting on the showroom floor with a spoiler and regular wheels (not aluminum). It was a left over with all options except the wheels,sunroof and automatic. I drove the car and bought it as it handled fantatastically and had much more zip than a PT Crusier. My wife and I both love a manual trans. The gas mileage is around 28.7 in combined driving. The 130 HP four could use maybe 10-15 more horses as you have too wind it up to keep up with traffic from a light.
What a car!!
mathieu, 03/13/2002
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Perfect car for young and ever young people. Really fun to drive and the sound system is very nice. The handling is so perfect!
Newbie Owner
Docnshine, 03/20/2002
2002 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
So far so good. Protege has been a pleasure to drive and is beautifully appointed within. Engine is relatively peppy (hey, it's a four cylinder). Handling is crisp and responsive.
Good change from a 2000 corolla
Jason McGovern, 03/28/2002
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This has got to be the coolest eco-sedan I have ever driven. It's a very nimble little car and with being a bit smaller than other eco sedans, the 130hp engine goes a bit farther on get up and go. This car comes with a sporty grip steering wheel which I believe is a 13" (a little smaller than most others). Makes for a very fun drive and ALL curvy roads are a pleasure to drive. The construction is very solid, and the interior has no annoyances or cheap interfaces. Sure, it's no drag racer, but since when do we all drive on open straight roads 100% of the time? Agility over brute strength.
Awsome car for a first timer
AFwestPunk, 03/30/2002
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought the bad boy and and having a hella good time. great size and price for this first time buyer
WOW! SO MUCH CLASS FOR SO LESS
alahiri, 03/31/2002
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just bought an Shimmering Sand LS with ABS, Alloy wheels, Sunroof, Side Airbags. The interior is also sand. It looks elegant. Road-holding is excellent. Quality is unbeatable. It's roomier than Corolla, Civic and Sentra. It also costs less than almost everyone in its class except the Korean makes. Test drive if you like class and performance at an affordable price.
Getting more for what you are paying
Met, 04/01/2002
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased my car with 4 discounts combined, CustomerCash, AutoShowDiscount, CollegeGrad, ManufacturerDiscount. I checked 2003 Corollas, but, smaller in size and gets more expensive with the options. Protege is fun to drive compact sedan.
A sleeper!
Enrique, 10/21/2022
2002 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I currently own an 02’ protege LX. I upgraded from at 98’ for the simple reason that the engine was bigger. While I did lose mpgs upgrading to a bigger engine, I can’t say I regret it. The 98’ with 197k miles held me up with no issues until it was passed on to my nephew. I acquired my 02’ with 85k miles, and currently sits at 116k miles. Between the 2 vehicles I’ve owned them both for a total of 5 years with nothing but regular maintenance done. I have spent $0 on additional parts or problems of any sort. Many overlook the Mazdas and sure as any other car, there’s pros/cons/bad years/good years but without a doubt Id recommend the vehicle to anybody obviously it’s not a Ferrari or a lambo so don’t go thinking or expecting top of the line vehicle either. It serves its purpose and with todays market and value (2022) on used cars I can say I’m happy to be a protege owner.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2002 Mazda Protege ES
SteveR, 12/27/2002
2002 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Car handles very well, comfortable, roomy back seat for the size class. Sharp looking exterior. Automatic transmission shifts well, although it feels like it could use another gear at highway speeds. Interior looks good, not too cheap; however the center console/armrest is too low. I also wish that it had a timer on the rear defroster, door unlock buttons on the passenger doors and a trunk release button on the keyless enty remote. The red illumination of the gauges took awhile to get use to as well. I am getting 25 MPG in mixed driving, I was hoping for a little better. Other than that I can't complain.
A low power beauty
Lin, 01/18/2004
2002 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great car that is low on power. Beware of an annoying auto trans whine between 24 and 38 mph with light throttle. Mazda states this noise is normal for auto trans models. 195/50X16 Dunlops are good tires, but usualy takes a few days to locate.
Needs more ZOOM ZOOM!!!!!
mazda02, 02/05/2004
2002 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought my mazda in 2003 i have had it for a little over 7 mths i got it with 16000 miles on it now it has 33500 miles i drive a lot. beacuse i drive so much i needed something that gets good gas i get about 25mpg which is much better than i got in my toyota tacoma although i miss hitting the mud puddles and off roading i like the lil mazda
Transmission is great
Agly, 05/31/2004
2002 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have a DX with a stick. It's better than 5sp on first generation Legacy, but worse than that on Civics. Seats are as good as those on Subaru and are WAY better than seats on Civics. Lateral support is okay.
2001 MP3 Sporty Sedan (2.0l DOHC 16-V)
tritonheat1, 03/02/2002
2002 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 27 people found this review helpful
The car handles so great, it makes the miata wanna have the suspension to keep up with the slalom that the MP3 can do. the acceleration is great powerful and have done easy 125mph stock with 8219miles as of today. I know this is for the Es review but i love my MP3.