2003 Mazda Protege Review
2003 Mazda Protege Review





+50
Used Protege for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Tight suspension, powerful brakes, superb steering feel, comfortable seats, attractive exterior styling.
Cons
- Suspension may be too stiff for some buyers, mediocre horsepower output given the handling capabilities of the car.
What’s new
Minor changes limited to feature content are in store for Mazda's economy sedan. The DX trim gets a CD player as standard equipment, while air conditioning is offered as a stand-alone option. The LX trim receives 15-inch wheels as standard. Last year's premium packages for the LX and ES have been discontinued, but you can still get the sunroof, side airbags and antilock brakes as options.
Edmunds says
When it comes to small, snappy sedans, the Protege is a tough act to beat.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M) 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 $3.42 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$173/mo
Protege ES
vs
$182/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Mazda Protege.
5 star(75%)
4 star(19%)
3 star(3%)
2 star(2%)
1 star(1%)
146 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
3.88 out of 5 stars
Wow, this car is fun to drive!
delrey,11/15/2012
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
This car is a lot of fun to drive.
The handling, steering, and road feel are top notch for this car, especially for this class.
It puts some newer and more expensive cars to shame.
With that said, the car wasn't perfect.
The best gas mileage I could get was 28MPG.
Despite regular detailing, the car had a decent amount of rust.
I went through front wheel bearings like crazy and I had to … replace my front struts twice within the 130,000 miles of ownership.
Interior is rather nice for the year but the radio is quite weak.
A fun car to drive with minor flaws.
5 out of 5 stars
One-owner Review
randallwhitted,04/23/2015
2003 Mazda Protege ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
I bought my 2003 Protege ES new based on handling and ride - and looks. It's been a great car, extremely reliable and is still fun to drive.
The sway bar bushings wore out at 85,000 miles and the tubing to the mass air flow sensor cracked, but a redneck duct tape fix still works.
The passenger side electric door lock stopped working at about 50,000 miles. The worst thing on it by far … is the rust in the rear fender wells.
After 105,000 miles, everything else still works great.
At 150,000, I've replaced the right rear strut because it rusted apart. The timing belt et al has been changed and the car continues to run great. Rust wreaks havoc on these cars, though not as bad as some other cars. Still no mechanical problems or break-downs. Both passenger side electric locks no longer work. The main frustration is the rust. It runs perfectly - if it wasn't for rust, it would look and work very much like new.
Shortly after 150,000, my son rear-ended another car. I have not had an estimate for repairs yet, but the hood is crumpled, the grille is gone and headlights smashed, but the fenders seem OK. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much because this car still has LOTS of useful life in it. The engine still runs like new. Really a great car.
Repaired the hood and front-end plastics myself summer 2019. 16 years later, it's now the teenager's car. Still runs great, which means in over 155k miles it has never had a mechanical problem. There is now a hole in the back seat floorboard from rust and the seat belt mechanism broke - replaced with junk yard piece. The exhaust rusted apart just after the downpipe so it's a little loud but fixing that means a full exhaust replacement. Car is now in Nevada away from salt. Should last forever at this point!
4.25 out of 5 stars
Best Car I have owned
mazdafan8,05/27/2011
2003 Mazda Protege DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
I love my Mazda.
I bought it used in 2004 with 25,000 miles on it.
It now has 88,000 miles.
I have only replaced brake pads, tires and one hose in addition to oil changes.
My engine runs flawlessly.
I get better than rated mileage.
She handles great for a sub-compact.
Has road feel instead of the numb feedback of a Toyota.
The stick is smooth with shifts.
Seats are comfortable.
I will … keep it until it dies since it has no resell value.
I hope to get at least another two years.
2.63 out of 5 stars
gas tank leaking & rust
fuel tamk leaking,08/24/2009
2003 Mazda Protege LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
This car Just over 5 years old, the gas tank was leaking, cost me $1400 to replace the pump, gas tank and etc. Complained to Mazda company, but they did not care. I will not buy any Mazda again. The Mazda company cut too much cost to build this Protege, not only the rust on the gas tank, but also other areas. I make a big mistake to buy this mazda protege. Gas tank leaking is a safety … issue!! I can accept other problems, but not gas tank.
Features & Specs
- Base MSRP
- $13,680
- MPG & Fuel
- 22 City / 28 Hwy / 24 Combined
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 14.5 gal. capacity
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: front wheel drive
- Transmission: 5-speed manual
- Engine
- Inline 4 cylinder
- Horsepower: 130 hp @ 6,000 rpm
- Torque: 135 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm
- Basic Warranty
- 4 yr./ 50,000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 175.3 in. / Height: 55.5 in.
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 67.1 in.
- Curb Weight: 2,634 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 12.9 cu.ft.
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Side Impact TestNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
- IIHS Small Overlap Front TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front TestAcceptable
People who viewed this also viewed
4.3 average Rating out of 7 reviews. |
Starting at $24,650 |
See Inventory |
4.3 average Rating out of 10 reviews. |
Starting at $26,700 |
See Inventory |
3.6 average Rating out of 17 reviews. |
Starting at $24,475 |
See Inventory |
More about the 2003 Mazda Protege
Used 2003 Mazda Protege Overview
The Used 2003 Mazda Protege is offered in the following submodels: Protege Sedan. Available styles include ES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M), DX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M), and LX 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M). Pre-owned Mazda Protege models are available with a 2.0 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 130 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2003 Mazda Protege comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 5-speed manual.
What's a good price on a Used 2003 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 2003 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) 2003 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 2003 Mazda Protege.
Can't find a used 2003 Mazda Proteges you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
Find a used Mazda Protege for sale.
Find a used Mazda for sale.
Find a used certified pre-owned Mazda Protege for sale.
Find a used certified pre-owned Mazda for sale.
Should I lease or buy a 2003 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.
Check out Mazda lease specials
Check out Mazda Protege lease specials
Related Used 2003 Mazda Protege info
Shop similar models
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Hyundai Sonata 2001
- Used Mercury Grand Marquis 1994 For Sale
- Used Chrysler Aspen
- Used Saab 9-3 Griffin 2008
- Used Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 2004
- Used Audi Q7 2012
- Used Toyota GR Supra 1996
- Used Acura Integra 1991
- Used Rolls-Royce Ghost 2016
- Used Toyota MR2 1991
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Porsche Macan 2022
- Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 2023
- 2023 GLB-Class
- 2022 BMW 4 Series
- Ford E-Transit Cargo Van 2023
- 2024 Jeep Compass News
- 2022 Jaguar F-TYPE
- 2022 Volvo XC60
- 2023 Audi e-tron S
- 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander News
Other models to consider
- 2022 Mazda CX-9
- Mazda CX-5 2022
- Mazda 3 2022
- 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata
- Mazda MX-5 Miata RF 2022
- 2022 MX-30
- 2023 Mazda 3
- 2023 MX-5 Miata RF
- 2022 CX-30
- 2022 Mazda 3
Research similar vehicles
- 2022 Charger
- 2022 Challenger
- 2022 Challenger
- BMW M3 2022
- Kia Stinger 2022
- 2022 Lexus LS 500
- 2022 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
- Honda Civic 2022
- Lexus IS 500 2023
- Hyundai Elantra 2022
Recommended
- New BMW X5 M for Sale in Kingwood, TX
- New Audi Rs E-Tron Gt for Sale in Oxford, AL
- Best Infiniti QX55 Lease Deals in Irvine, CA
- New Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron for Sale in Richmond, VA
- New BMW X5 M for Sale in Leesburg, FL
Other models
- Used Mazda B-Series-Truck in Riverdale, MD
- Used Ferrari FF in Ladera Ranch, CA
- Used Mercedes-Benz 600-Class in Norwood, MA
- New Ford F-250-Super-Duty for Sale in Ellenwood, GA
- Used Chevrolet S-10 in Ramsey, NJ
- New Toyota Gr-Corolla for Sale in Brewster, NY
- New Toyota Gr-Corolla for Sale in Grandview, MO
- New Jeep Wagoneer for Sale in Mahwah, NJ
- Used Aston-Martin Vantage in Collierville, TN
- Used Chevrolet Cavalier in Ellenwood, GA
- New Mitsubishi Outlander-Sport for Sale in Spreckels, CA
- Used Mclaren MP4-12C in Evansville, IN
- New Chrysler 300 for Sale in Towson, MD
- New Mclaren GT for Sale in Bemidji, MN
- New Nissan GT-R for Sale in Danville, IL
- New Mitsubishi Outlander-Phev for Sale in Old Bridge, NJ
- New Maserati Quattroporte for Sale in New Milford, CT
- New Lexus RX-450H for Sale in Los Alamitos, CA
- Used Chevrolet Malibu-Maxx in Candler, NC
- New Audi S6 for Sale in Cranford, NJ
- New Nissan GT-R for Sale in Avondale, AZ
- New Hyundai Tucson for Sale in Massapequa, NY
- Used Infiniti I35 in Elizabethport, NJ
- Used BMW Alpina-B6-Gran-Coupe in Porter Ranch, CA
- New Audi A4-Allroad for Sale in Silverdale, WA
- Used Chevrolet Malibu-Maxx in Latham, NY
- Used Acura RSX in Belvidere, IL
- New Chevrolet Colorado for Sale in Mexico, IN
- Used Aston-Martin V12-Vantage-S in New City, NY
- New Hyundai Santa-Fe-Hybrid for Sale in Westport, CT