|
2000 Mazda Protege Review
One of the best cars in its class.
2000 Protege Review Summary & Specifications
Automakers seeking to fill the bottom end of their product lines have come a long way from the spartan econoboxes of the past two decades. The Mazda Protege is a prime example of ever-increasing levels of refinement in base offerings. For years, the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla have been the kingpins of the economy car market and with good reason: They offer high-quality, reliable transportation.But even before it was redesigned, the Mazda Protege was a durable, refined offering that could compete with those standard bearers. Mazda's faith in the quality of its product can be seen in its warranty: 50,000 miles compared to the 36,000-mile coverage offered by most carmakers. And one full year after its redesign, continual refinements and a touch of style maintain the Protege's status as a seductive alternative.
|
|
| Vehicle Category | Compact Cars |
| Editor | Kevin Ransom |
| Model Lineup | Protege DX ($11,970), Protege LX ($13,245), Protege ES ($15,040) |
| Engines (standard) | 1.8-liter, DOHC 16-valve inline-4 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 4-speed automatic |
| Engines (optional) | 1.6-liter, dohc 16-valve inline-4; 1.8-liter dohc 16-valve inline-4 |
| Transmissions (optional) | 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | dual airbags, rear door safety catch pin, triple-H body structure with side-impact protection, load-limiter front seat belts |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | |
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/50,000 miles |
| Assembled In | Hiroshima, Japan |
| Manufacturer Phone | 1-800-222-5500 |
| Manufacturer URL | www.mazdausa.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 11970 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Protege ES ($15,040) |
| Standard Equipment | (ES) Air conditioning, cruise control, rear defogger, power steering, power windows/door locks/exterior mirrors, tilt steering column, AM/FM/cassette/CD stereo, remote trunk-lid and fuel-door release, reclining front bucket seats, height-adjustable driver's seat, tinted glass, 60/40 fold-down split rear seatbacks, wheel covers, 15-inch alloy wheels |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | Automatic transmission ($800); ES premium package ($1580) includes power moonroof, front side-impact air bags, carpeted floor mats, ABS |
| Destination Charge | 450 |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Layout | front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Price as Tested | 17870 |
| Horse Power | 122 @ 6000 |
| Torque | 120 @ 4000 |
| Fuel Economy | 24/29 |
| Wheelbase | 102.8 |
| Length/Width/Height | 174/67.1/55.5 |
| Track Front/Rear | 57.9/57.9 |
| Turning Radius | 34.1 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 39.3/NA/42.2 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.4/NA/35.4 |
| Trunk Volume | 12.9 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | Independent |
| Rear Suspension | Independent |
| Ground Clearance | 5.6 |
| Curb Weight | 2577 |
| Stock Tires | P195/55R15 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | disc/drum (ABS optional) |
| Fuel Capacity | 13.2 |
|
|