Used 2003 Mazda Protege5 Wagon Consumer Reviews
Used Protege5 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.
Amazing
rylie1, 07/17/2013
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
18 of 18 people found this review helpful
I drove this car for three weeks. I loved it. Unfortunately a guy turned in front of me without looking. My car got totaled. This car saved my life. The paramedics could not believe how much the car was squished and not me. Besides the normal symptoms of a crash, I am way better than I should be. This is one amazing car in all aspects.
Spacious and reliable
Rome45249@gmail.com, 04/21/2016
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
These cars are great on gas mileage they have a pretty good amount of room and maintenance is very low
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2003 Mazda Protege5 for sale near you
Showing 3 of 8 listings
- Base WagonMSRP: $6,495343 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $973998 mi away
- Base WagonMSRP: $5,7772,019 mi away
See all 8 listings
Absolutely Love It.
kenmo, 09/17/2011
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
21 of 22 people found this review helpful
I work at a car rental company at an airport, so I drive brand new 2011-2012 cars all day long. This car is on par with these brand new cars, in my opinion. Everything about it is wonderful. The features, the handling, the styling, the utility, the mileage!. It's by far my favorite car to drive out of all I have driven!
Best car I've ever owned
crawlnstall, 03/17/2011
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I bought Stella, my 2003 Mazda Protege5, about 14 months ago. It had 95,000 miles on it and now has 105,000. I was previously driving an old beat up Honda. It was a night and day difference between the two. It looks beautiful and new. Interior is great. Bad placement on the cupholders, only bad part of the interior. It is a fun, zippy quick car with great gas mileage. Stock tires drive terribly in any kind of snow, if you buy snow tires like I did its does amazing in snow, but stock tires are awful in snow. Cupholders and tires are only complaints. I absolutely love everything else about my amazingly fun to drive protege5.
LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!
darkmattress, 01/31/2013
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
12 of 12 people found this review helpful
I have owned this car for 10 years now and it has been nothing but good to me. I always took it to the dealership so anything related to maintenance and the few recalls were taken care of properly. I put a few modifications on it early on (Injen CAI, Racing Beat Catback Exhaust, Short Shifter) and have enjoyed even better performance and fun driving. Granted, this car is not going to win any drag races, but it is has decent pep and loves corners! Very reliable- never had anything beyond regular wear and tear in 10 years.
Honda and Toyota look out
colt933, 10/15/2009
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
We bought the P5 new for my wife. She drove a '94 Miata daily for years so this Mazda was a no-brainer. Still have the Miata. This is the most reliable car I have ever owned including 3 Hondas, except for maybe the Miata. The only items that have failed and needed replacement are the O2 sensor, starting battery, and a window regulator. I do all maintenance myself - which is minimal. I've put synthetic oil in since the first oil change. At over 100k miles the brakes still have 40% life and the clutch is still strong. It doesn't need new shocks/struts either. We typically get 32-34mpg on the highway. It is starting to use some oil - but we've had it for 7 years!
Fun car
Kvigg, 07/11/2018
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
EGR valve blockage is a chronic thing with this car. Road noise as well. Look for rust in the rear wheel wells and strut mounts. Handles great!!! Fun car to drive, easy to work on.
- Safety
- Technology
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Fun to Drive & Keep!!!
SS in AZ, 11/08/2009
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
Purchased new 12-2002 after 350000+ miles on a 1991 Mazda Protege LX. No mechanical problems with the engine in this car!!!Only had to replace lock motor for $400.00. I use Mobil 1 and stay on top of the maintenance. Fun to Drive but you need to keep the tires aligned and rotated or they will be worn in a year.
LOVE MY P5
davi3, 08/01/2013
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
20 of 23 people found this review helpful
I bought my 2003 P5 new...have had for 10 years now. It has 287,000 miles! I plan to get as many miles as I possibly can out of her. It is a manual trans and I've kept the timing belt replaced at regular intervals and have only ever used synthetic oil. The thermostat quit once but was a very simple fix. The headlight have always been a headache. I used to would have to replace them seemingly constantly. I love driving this car and don't feel like I will ever like another car as much as I like this one...unless it was a suped up chevelle or something :) cheap car, cheap on gas & fun to drive.
200,000 miles and counting...
christieg, 06/29/2012
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
11 of 12 people found this review helpful
I purchased my 2003 Mazda Protege5 in 10/2002 and have been glad every day since! I have had the clutch replaced in the past 2 years along with the compressor and the catalytic converter and the drivers side widow thingy. I feel like after 7 years, this is normal. The head-light bulbs have been a bit of a nuisance, having to replace frequently, but being able to replace them myself, i'm just out the cost of the bulb, which isn't much. If you know the car has had regular maintenance, it will not let you down.
Running great 16 yrs and 176K later. Manuals Only!
ColleenF, 10/03/2018
updated 11/13/2018
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
I still love this car after 16 years. It was my main car until Dec 2017 and is still my everyday car though I own a 2018 SUV. Air conditioning and heating have never been great but the Pro-5 has been more reliable than I ever imagined. Mazada only produced this model for 2 yrs (2001 & 2). I have always kept up on the maintenance, belts, oil and tune-ups. In 16 yrs I have replaced the front wheel bearings and the clutch as repair items. Before I drove it from California to Utah in 2017 (when I moved), my mechanic changed the water pump as a maintenance item. Not sure why he did that I wasn't having a problem. I have two complaints. 1)The frequency of the headlight low beam failure. I changed them at least 10 times as at least one seemed to blow 1st rain of the season. Also, the fog lamp lens broke and to change it you have to take off the entire bezel. Dumb design. This would be a great 1st car for your teenager. Big warning. Only buy the models with manual transmissions. A friend bought an automatic for his daughter because mine was so reliable. The automatic was a money pit so the difference must be between the auto and manual transmissions. Using that theory, if I see one in a parking lot I always peak in the window to check for a stick shift. In every case, the survivors are manuals and I see a fair amount of these still on the road. This car is very light so stability depends entirely on the tires. You must buy rain tires. Last time I bought they didn't have rain so I bought all weather. I've since moved to snow country and I cannot believe how well this little car held the road in the snow with the all-weather tires. The P5 is too low to drive in deep snow but for light dumps it's great. My granddaughter is getting her license soon and wants this car. I just don't know if I can part with it. I still drive it almost every day.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great Used Car
Sean Taylor, 04/30/2017
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Bought this car when I moved. Starting out, it had a TON of problems. However, after 1 year I had all problems fixed and it didn't even cost more than $1000. Parts are a little more expensive than your run-of-the-mill Honda, but the reliability of those parts is far greater. It handles like a dream and faster than any 4cyl I've ever owned. There is one CON to this car and it's the very common idle problems. The EGR Valve and IAC Valve crap out at least once in this cars lifetime. From experience I would highly recommend spending the money and getting the correct part. No need to pay dealership prices on installing because it's MUCH easier than it looks. All in all, I give this car a 9.5 out of 10. I will continue to drive this car until the end of its life.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
OUTSTANDING VALUE
dmarsh, 07/10/2006
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful
Purchased car used from the original owner in June '06. Car had only 15k on the odometer. Ride & handling are exceptional. My P5 is a 5 speed & I consistently average 30 mpg around town. Exterior fit & finish is terrific while the interior materials are comparable to those found in more expensive cars. The car feels tight & solid. Layout of all instruments is very intuitive. Red illuminated instrumentation is easy to read and looks sporty too. I absolutely love this car & find it to be superior to many of the small & midsize cars that GM currently manufactures (I am a former 15-year GM employee). This is not sour grapes, just the truth. Great engineering & content planning by the Mazda team!
Versatile, Reliable & Fun to Drive
Bill, 02/15/2018
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Used this little car as a commuter, weekend tripper, small load transporter. It never required any exceptional maintenance. It was pleasant for trips. Easy to drive, comfortable seating, adequate cooling, heating, and ventilation. My wife could fall asleep as a passenger. Excellent visibility all around. Easy to load and unload. Could carry bike & gear behind front seats or by folding down back seats more bikes, storage boxes, lumbers, etc. Fit easily into my garage. Paint held up well. Acceleration, braking, and handling were adequate. It felt nimble. My other cars are Porsches so I needed to adjust my performance expectations when driving the Protégé 5. I wish I could buy it again. (No more after 2003)
- Safety
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
Another Review - No Change - Still Great
Mustangleadr, 10/19/2017
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
I own currently two 2003 models , one manual the other automatic with sport mode. Bought both ironically with 133,000 miles separate times. The first one has 172,000 miles and the other has 152,000 miles now. I bought both after selling a new 2014 Mazda 3 which I found boring to drive compared to the "zoom, zoom" ride of the PR5. Due to gearing, the car has very good low and mid range torque range compared to the 6 speed manual 155 hp of the Mazda 3. I chipped my first PR5 2002 model ( which had 235,000 miles which I sold for $4500) along with turbo muffler and cold air intake. This gave the car high torque power but current ones I own have only a cold air intake with provides more than enough power to allow me to drive between 75-80 mph going up the Grapevine in So Cal/No Cal. I know, above speed limit but I just driving the flow if you drive that route. Still get between 28-30 mpg. Though it lower than the 34 mpg from 2014 M3, the car still "feels" like a sport car which was the final analysis in Car and Driver's Comparison test placing the car in 1st place. Too bad Mazda stop making the car but if you read Consumer Reviews like Edmund you see how owners feel. Car is reliable, great handling made for the twisty roads and fun car to drive. What else can you ask for a daily car.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Comfort
I like my protege5
mitchell meyer, 01/30/2017
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
have had it for over two years now it's one of the best cars I have perched. have been looking for a 2003 with sunroof and red
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Couldn't ask for more
mfs, 09/25/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Bought my P5 brand new, and couldn't be happier with it 7 years later. No one can believe it has 178,000 miles on it, it still looks and runs great. Haven't had to do anything to it other than maintenance. Average 34 MPG during summer, 30 in the winter on my mostly highway commute. Road noise louder than avg, but nothing you don't get used to. Have to pay a little extra for tires, but that's more than made up for with what I save in gas and repairs. Great Car.
protege fun
protegepal, 01/25/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Have owned my car for 7 years and still love it. I have a manual transmission and this car is fun to drive and feels/looks sporty. Roomy for four of us and luggage. Still gets great mileage. Hard to find tires for it that aren't expensive and not the greatest in the snow, but those are my only complaints. I get tons of compliments on it as well.
Great car
eric90, 01/29/2011
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Me and my girlfriend have been driving this car 166 000 km (100 000 miles), since 2003. The car is great fun to drive, very reliable and comfortable for long road trips (many 6 hrs + trips in the bag). Other than standard maintenance, we've had few repairs on this car. Good fuel consumption for a sporty performance. Nothing bad to say about this car !
Just bought my first zoom zoom
sweetmetal, 02/13/2009
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have wanted to be the proud owner of a Mazda for a long time. I finally came across one that I could as one person said "pry from someones hands" for a price I could afford. Just as I imagined the adrenaline raced through my veins as I drove it for the first time.. So I am addicted. I am IN LOVE with this car and from the reviews I have read that will not change anytime soon! So far so good.
Protege/prodigy
bob green, 07/03/2008
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
If you want some fun on a budget try prying one of these away from some one. This is my sixth Mazda (including a '91 Miata) so you may sense a bias. However this car is so easy to drive enthusiastically, my only regret is that I can't drop the top! Corners flat, easy to drive in city traffic. Peppy without the AC going, OK with. Cruises happily at 75 plus, no problem. Fuel consumption is about 30, but can be stretched to 34 with a lighter foot. Still no rattles or squeaks. At 50,000, feels like it's just breaking in. No defects, one minor factory recall. My wife likes to sneak away with it once in a while. What else can I say? Find a good one used and drive it 'til it drops (200,000+)
An Exciting Daily Driver!
Chris, 01/24/2019
updated 07/27/2020
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My wife and I bought our first 2002 Protégé 5 with the automatic transmission back in 2008 with roughly 120K miles on the car. In early 2017, the car was totaled as it was rear-ended by a drunk driver. At that time, the car had 244K on the clock and the engine and transmission were still going strong with no signs of power loss or oil leakage. Throughout the years of ownership, only preventative maintenance was required. The timing belt and water pump were replaced at the inception of our ownership and a second time at around 200K as the car was still going strong at that point. However, I do want to point out that the catalytic converter went out completely at around 220K and had to be replaced along with the 02 sensors as the check engine light would not go away. The 6-disc CD changer, the driver seatbelt buckle (would not release seatbelt properly even when the unlatch button was depressed) and the front passenger door locking mechanism had also stopped working somewhere along the way (had to be manually locked). The brake calipers were also replaced at around 190K as the driver side caliper seized up and one of the rear calipers started leaking brake fluid. We purchased a manual transmission 2003 Protégé 5 with 140K miles in April of 2017 as a replacement daily driver, and as of today (~171K mi), the only maintenance items that I have done are the water pump, timing belt, power door locking mechanism, brake pads and rotors. Overall a very reliable car that is relatively easy and cheap to maintain. As of 7/26/2020 (at 189k mi), the car is still running strong. However, I started noticing engine oil loss about 10k miles ago. It's nothing severe as I have been refilling the engine 1/4 to half a quart every 5000 miles.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great car
ND_mazda, 11/26/2008
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I have owned quite a few vehicles and this is one of the best I've owned. It's comfortable with a good amount of sportiness in it. There are a lot of stuff I can add to it to make it look better and have more fun with it. Very good car with not many problems. Have driven 16 hours straight with it about 5 times with no problems. Couldn't ask for better unless it could fly.
Zoom zoom
STS28540, 06/04/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
Ever since I was a kid I always wanted a Mazda for the cool little catch phrase in the commercial "Zoom-Zoom" It wasn't until last year that a station wagon could really have the power to go like this one does, there is a huge stabilizer bar under the hood so I can take incredible turns. I am so satisfied with this car, however because they are discontinued I am not sure if I would like to buy another Mazda, I am considering the new 6 but we will see in time. Mine is a 5-speed Manual and I have the issue with cup holders, they are in a REALLY bad place you hit them all the time and I cut my finger open the other day on a cup. All I can say is ZOOM-ZOOM.
Great looking car that is just so-so not great.
Own only manual vehicles, 12/16/2018
updated 01/16/2024
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
Definitely I like the way the car looks. The zoom-zoom factor is there but the implementation kinda fell short likely because of cheaper manufacturing. I like the placement of most of the controls, and it was great to know that many features came standard with the Protege5. Never thought I would like a moon roof but now I think i will need to have one from now on, really like the 2 ways the Protege5 can adjust the moon roof (back tilt open or fully open). Nice to have power windows and locks but the power lock mechanism does not last long (the one plastic part inside the lock motor should be made of better material) so far had to replace all 4 door automatic lock mechanisms at least once and the rear ones went out again. Had tons of problems with the parking brake (something that I know or ever heard of had an issue with, I'm the first ever), twice (two different mechanics) and still have issues. My mechanic hates my car now as he had to work on the brakes 5 times (first time I paid for it, the rest where worked under warranty). Mazda dealer was worst than useless (likely my last Mazda ever because of it). The radio is kinda garbage. The CD changer died, and the radio sounds is mediocre with little to now bass (despite the subwoofer attached to the spare tire). My air conditioning ON/OFF button broke off (I can still turn it off and on but need to stick my finger in the hole to de/reactivate), the driver side map light button is now intermittently defective (sometime it does not stay on). Noisy cabin at any speed but really bad at high speeds. Poor interior quality control. Reliable engine (so far 85K miles), very good brakes (except for the emergency brake which is likely to be the worst ever made in the world) althougth the rear brakes need changing more often that the front and I may now have an issue with one of the calipers. Would prefer if the Protege5 had a timing chain instead of a timing belt (like many other manufacturers of 4 cylinder engines), plastics on the roof rack are now cracked (roof rack itself works great and is 100% functional just looks ugly). Who ever designed the roof rack though the only reason to have a roof rack is to put skis. bikes or something on another type of item that uses a device that attaches to a rack. Using the rack damages the plastics on the rack. The spare wheel hole does not fit a regular tire (so no chance of having a 5th real tire as a spare), also when you get a flat the tire has to occupy the trunk space. The Protege5 could use a 6th gear and better insulation to reduce cabin noise. Mileage on it is the worst of any 4 cylinder I ever owned (from my 1.7-2.5 liter Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel) which all have better average mileage from from 4 to 15 MPG. But not horrible enough to change my car immediately (although I would not keep this one as long as my other vehicles). Over all I am not happy with the Protege5, I got it used (with very low mileage) did not pay a lot so it is hard to be extremely disappointed (had it been bought it new, the would be a very different story) but overall I can not recommend it. Likely the reason it was manufactured for only 2 years. I would of sold it already to get something better but because my preference of manual transmission (and dislike of reliability, response and feedback of automatic or CVT) my choices are very limited.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
It's been a good car, more or less
ceecee9, 08/21/2011
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 6 people found this review helpful
I bought my 03 P5 in June of 05 with about 36,000. At 60 ish the head gaskets blew...which was an expensive fix. Other than that it's been regular maintenance which is begining to become quite frequent. My one major complaint is the tires are expensive and hard to find. Oh- And my other major complaint is two of the rear seat belts are broken and are very expensive to fix. My car has 134,000...and i'm in the process of researching and buying a new one.
Great handling....poor quality
newtonguy, 10/23/2003
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Mazda has created a car with tight steering, good pickup (with the manual transmission) and a sporty appearance. However, check this list roofrack loud road noise, new auxiliary fan, rusted rear brake caliper pin, new EGR valve, poor power window performance, new rotors needed at 18,000 miles, and A/C turning on without me pressing the A/C button. Gas Mileage is poorer than on the sticker and exterior paint and sturdiness is less than adequate. At 1 year, my trade value was $9K. I spent over $15K. It's a shame because the car is fun to drive and looks great but steer clear of Mazda.
Almost perfect--except transmission!
HB, 01/12/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought my P5 brand new and loved it up til now. At 110k miles the overdrive gear went out now I have to buy a new transmission. All maint done like clockwork, drive like an old lady, so I don't get it. Mazda reliability has always been good. Most say I must have got a bad transmission or early mechanical failure due to wear. I do put about 18k miles/yr commuting, but geez, this is not acceptable. Toyota 4wd truck w/ 140k and NO problems!
Excellent car
Rob, 10/08/2008
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I have 110K on my car, bought it new and do the req. maint. on time. Only ever had two complaints about this car. The first was the original tires that came with it... TERRIBLE. They were Dunlop tires and 2 of the tires developed bulges in the side walls. They also had terrible traction, especially in the rain. The other is gas mileage. For a small car, with a 2.0L engine (5 speed manual trans.) the best it can do on the highway is 32-35. I had a Honda Civic (5 spd.) that routinely got 40-45 and a Dodge Stratus (5 spd too) that got between 35-40 hwy. Otherwise, I LOVE this car. I drive it everyday. It's reliable, comfortable and fun to drive; handles great with the new Kumho tires
Takes a lickin...
webby32, 04/19/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Purchased my Protege5 in 2006 with 44500 miles on it, only issues I've had is a pesky ABS light. Aside from that Oil changes and a pair of brake pads. Great car from a reliability stand point, great mileage. Mazda had the right idea when they built this car should get 200000 miles easily.
Zoom-Zoom!
adam, 10/14/2006
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this car brand new in spring of 03 and couldn't be happier with it. I have kept up with most suggested maintenance and oil changes and have not had to service at all except for brake pads! Car has over 60,000 miles and is running wonderfully. Pickup is still excellent, as is fuel economy. LOVE the six disc in-dash CD changer and the stereo quality is good for stock. Only problem is that FM reception isn't the best.
Bought with 200k!
Samantha, 07/18/2017
updated 01/25/2021
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car a few months ago with 200k in the clock! I previously had a 99' protege 1.8 sedan that I loved, but always wanted to upgrade the handling. After a wreck, I got the opportunity to purchase my beloved 02' P5! Everything about this car was a dream come true! It handles noticeably better than the sedan did, being a standard I feel it has a little more pick up. Only issue I had with this car is in the 02' model but fixed for 03' is the a/c & a/c light cutting out on some speeds, after reading into the problem, the only permanent solution is to wire in resistors to the climate control unit, but after that fix (about an hour) the a/c works perfect again. EVERYTHING else on the car works! Working on the motor is a little harder than the 1.8 due to different coils & the strut bar. Timing belt was replaced around 150k. I have no doubt this betty will see 300k I have absolute faith. I love love love this car. 100% would buy this car again. 270k update. Still in love, I have replaced a lot of worn out parts for reasonable prices!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I can't believe how reliable this car is
mikeyp70, 04/02/2008
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I now have 85k on this car. I change the oil every 3-5k miles and change the antifreeze and air filter at the recommended intervals. That's it. Changed the brakes (pads only) at 60,000 miles. That's right, original rotors. I had to change my last GM's at 20k because they warped (under-designed). Kuhmo tires only cost $68 and I put 50k+ on my last set vs the original tires without much change in performance or ride quality. This is a great car and the 28-30 mpg couple with low maintenance costs makes it very economical. And oh yeah... it's fun. Nimble and sporty.
the perfect car
happyP5, 12/05/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
I have owned many cars. None have performed like my Protege5. It is fun; it is roomy; and it has never needed any significant work. I take long trips with it. I use it for weekend ski trips, kayak trips, canoe trips, camping, and every day to and from work. At 90,000 miles, I paid about $1000 to have a total overhaul including new timing belt/chain. Other than that, I've never done anything more than routine oil changes. I don't think the newer Mazda 3 is this good. In fact, it's about $5k more (I bought my protege5 for $14,999) and not as good quality and not as fun. I'm a lucky man! Oh, the cd stopped working, so I have an aftermarket Sony stereo. Everything else is stock.
Love the car, dissappointed in service
yellowstoneguy, 05/06/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my car new and loved it for 45,000 miles. Had a screw come loose from the intake and go through the engine prior to a recall for that very thing. Fixed the misfire, but started having black/blue smoke issues and had to replaced smashed plug. Whitten Bros. "did" the recall work and claimed no problems, yet when I had to rebuild the engine 1 year later due to smoke, discovered in fact that one of the screws they'd "checked and replaced" had indeed gone through my engine, pitted pistons, destroyed catalytic, fouled engine. Runs great again now, but had to rebuild myself because Whitten Brothers wouldn't live up to what happened and didn't have money/trust for the stealership to fix.
Great car at a great price
chumly, 01/03/2011
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I bought my Protege 5 in January 2004 for $13,900 due to it's being replaced by the Mazda 3. I'm on my 7th year and it has been a great car! I have 160,000 miles and I've had few issues. At 120,000 miles it started running rough and I found that the hose connecting the airbox to the intake was cracked. It cost about $90. At 100,000 miles I replaced the timing belt, belts, hoses, water pump for about $1000 through the dealer. Other than that it has been basic maintenance and has been very reliable. It now needs new struts, but otherwise works fine. I hope to get a few more years out of it.
Don't Bother
carsbite, 06/07/2013
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
4 of 18 people found this review helpful
Automatic transmission died at 110,000 miles. This is pretty unacceptable for anyone looking for reliable transportation considering cars from most other makers don't have this problem. I baught this car used and did my research. I got it well taken care of and I continued regular maintenence(all fluids regularly changed including trans fluid) Changed timing belt and water pump etc. There were some minor repairs like the alternator and an intake hose too. But then the transmission started slipping and I took it to a mazda specialist. He said this was unfortunatly a common problem for these cars.
Extemely reliable and fun to drive
Hugo Munoz, 11/07/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 6 people found this review helpful
I cannot say anything bad about this car. bought with 9000 and have changed brakes this year. Engine, Transmission,clutch etc. are all working strong. Perfect car for anyone. ONLY defects are headlight bulb = $25, air filter hose = $90. Other than that car is completely perfect.
The car with the most fun for low price.
Misbehave, 10/31/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
1 of 11 people found this review helpful
I love this car. For style, the aggressive outlook will make people jealous all along the road. For driving pleasure, this car rank number 1 for it's class and price. For value, the below 20k price tag gives you all the good things you want most in a sport car. I am proud to own this car. I no longer have to pretend I am driving a sport car, because it is a sport car.
Zoom Zoom
firemandan, 09/12/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After careful research, i chose the Protege5. It is without a doubt, the best car i have ever owned. I would not hesitate to recommend it (or the dealership for that matter) to anyone interested in a Fun, Functional car with excellent handling.
Protegé5
RedQuest, 09/23/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is exactly what I was looking for. Sports suspension with enough power to go up smoothly through the hills I have to drive everyday. For me is just perfect.
Pro5; love/hate relationship
jw82, 09/15/2008
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
You know, I absolutely loved this car up until about 5k mile ago. I love everything about this car except for the poor design/build quality of the engine and wheel bearings. Had to replace right front wheel bearing at just under 60k, and now the engine is going out on it. My Mazda dealer says its either a wrist pin or rod bearing crapping out at ONLY 64,XXX miles. Other than that, this car would be absolutely perfect! If you plan on buying one of these beauties, be cautious and buy the extended service plan! Better safe than sorry
Zooom Zoooom Zoooom Aperautanauoo (sp?)
TominSF, 09/26/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Best car I've owned (esp compared to the Jetta). I live in San Francisco and I feel like I'm in a commercial everyday zooming around the hills.
A Nice Little Package
DTKWOK, 09/28/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After looking at the likes of the Nissan Altima 2.5S, Jetta, Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla, the MP5 is a lot of car for the money. Great looks, awesome handling (for a front driver), good passenger room, decent gas mileage and good amenities make it a serious contender in the sub $20K market.
Zoom, Zoom
industrogoth, 10/16/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've only had my car for a few weeks but I'm very impressed. I actually bought the car without test driving but it was a gamble that paid off. It's very fun to drive, often come up with any reason to get behind the wheel. It rides smooth, has great handling and comes with every feature standard. A/C works great and the sound system is pretty good too, also gets great gas mileage. To sum it up, this is possibly the best car I've ever owned and I advise you to check it out.
its a blast to drive
dgc, 10/19/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
have only owned the p5 for a couple of months but have thoroughly enjoyed every day. It's just a blast to drive, especially up twisty hills. Mazda has set this car up so well that i wish i lived farther away from work! My family loves it so much we're putting it away for our tough Canadian winter.
My new Protege 5 drives like a BMW 3 Ser
MaryC, 10/25/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love this car. Some years ago I had a Mazda 323 ('87) and I loved that too but found out it didn't do so well in crash tests. My new Protege 5 got 5 stars (driver) and 4 stars (passenger) in the crash test. It drives like a dream. Nothing else in this price class can match its style and performance - it's really got class. A very cool sport wagon.
QQUUIICCKK!!
robfosse P5, 11/01/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Very QUICK car, good for driving in traffic, and curvy roads, until you get up to high elevations and you lose that last amount of power that seems so important. Quickness is its best virtue, and most descriptive adjective, which is more important than speed, because, we're not racing, are we? SPeed limits favor quickness over power. Super comfortable. The leather seats are fabuloso. The sport trans is fun and fairly functional in many sitations, like mountain roads, traffic jams (you won't need to move to the brake pedal as often). Smooth is another applicable term for this vehicle, especially when driven moderatly. The brakes seem superb.
Fun car with some annoying quirks
DCdriver, 02/02/2010
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in 2008 looking for a sporty hatchback on the cheap. At the time there wasn't much in the offering, unlike today where it seems like hatchbacks have caught on again. It's a great car for most occasions with plenty of "get-up", lots of room with the seats down, and a great exterior (imho). Unfortunately it's not without its problems: anything exhaust related (EGR valve for instance, the fact that it has TWO cat. converters that like to fail!) and of course the headlights, as most other reviewers have mentioned. All in all it's a fun car, but if I had to do it again I might have spent a little more money and gone for a Mazda3.
Great Car, Great Fun
Equinox, 11/05/2002
2003 Mazda Protege5 4dr Wagon (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Originally wanted a Mazda MP3, and learned to love the Protege5 just the same. Very sporty, extremely unique look, aggresize styling, resembles a BMW M Coupe.