2003 Mazda Protege Review

Name: 2003 Mazda Protege Review
Brand: Mazda
Price: 549 USD
Rating: 4.7 (147 reviews)

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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 Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2003 Mazda Protege DX 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

$177/mo

$179/mo

Avg. Compact Car

Calculate my fuel costs

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Mazda Protege.

5 (75%)

4 (19%)

3 (3%)

2 (2%)

1 (1%)

4.7

147 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 147 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

See all 147 reviews of the Mazda Protege

Write a vehicle review

2003 Protege Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$13,680
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	24 MPG
Cost to Drive	$177/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	12.9 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	4 years / 50,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver3 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

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

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Not Tested
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Acceptable
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Original
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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2003 Mazda Protege Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Edmunds says

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2003 Mazda Protege DX 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2003 Mazda Protege.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Wow, this car is fun to drive!

One-owner Review

Best Car I have owned

gas tank leaking & rust

2003 Protege Highlights

Safety

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2003 Mazda Protege Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What’s new

Edmunds says

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2003 Mazda Protege DX 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.

Most helpful consumer reviews

Wow, this car is fun to drive!

One-owner Review

Best Car I have owned

gas tank leaking & rust

2003 Protege Highlights

Safety

People who viewed this also viewed

Related Used 2003 Mazda Protege info

Vehicle reviews of used models

Popular new car reviews and ratings

Research other models of Mazda

Research similar vehicles

Other models

Join Edmunds

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2003 Mazda Protege DX 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 $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.}