![]() The new look does little to set the Protege apart from its ilk. The seats in the ES feature height and bottom cushion angle adjustments, rare in a small car.Īnd yet the new Protege gives me no compelling reason to buy it. There’s a new dash with a hooded instrument panel and a center stack console. While slightly smaller inside due to increased side impact protection, the 92.6 cubic-foot passenger volume and 12.9 cubic-feet of trunk space is at the front of the pack for compacts. The ES comes with an all new 1.8-liter engine derived from the 2.0-liter in the 626, although it’s rated at the same 122 horsepower as last year’s 1.8. The base DX and luxury LX come with a 105 horsepower, 1.6-liter four, which is larger and more powerful than last year’s base engine. The new Protege is available in the DX, LX, and ES configurations. The bold grill and angled headlamps from the 626 are up front, while tall, thin tail lamps grace the rear. Smooth curves have been replaced by sharp edges all around. Unlike the nearly invisible redesign Mazda performed on the 626 last year, the new Protege looks completely different from last year’s model. Mazda’s hoping to change that with a completely redesigned Protege for 1999. However, like its big brother 626, it is considered an also-ran in the big picture. Mazda’s Protege traces its heritage back to the 1977 GLC. It’s just that when you’re dealing with something as subjective as a “review,” you just never know what’s going on in the author’s head. Not that any of my complaints are invalid. I’m sure that given more time and an open mind, I would have realized superior ride and handling to its peers, or a better trimmed interior and more comfortable seats, but I just didn’t care. For comparison, the contemporary Corolla with an engine of almost identical size and power was EPA rated at 28/36 versus the Mazda’s 24/29. Mainly, it would have taken away the two main complaints: Weak off-the-line acceleration and piss-poor gas mileage. I’m willing to bet if they’d supplied a model with the manual transmission, like they did with the 626, the review would have been more flattering. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Mazda – I even own one. The Honda is a tough act to follow but this new Mazda has plenty to offer the buyer looking to separate from the Civic masses.Another in a series of my reviews that appeared in the online version of African Americans On Wheels, a now defunct automotive magazine that was included as an insert in the Sunday newspapers of major cities.Īll I can say is that I remember being in a really bad mood the week I had this car, although I don’t remember why. The keyless entry is standard this year on ES models.We admire Mazda for going after Civic-like quality and performance with the new Protege. New options include an LX Premium Package that comes with ABS, moonroof, and remote keyless illuminated entry. All three models lose the locking glovebox door that was standard last year. LX and ES models get a larger center console but lose the previous front-seat side storage trays. Inside there's a new driver's side vanity mirror, larger cloth door inserts, and three-point safety belts for the rear seat. A five-speed manual transmission is standard in the Protege but an all-new, four-speed automatic can be ordered with either engine.Įxterior changes range from a new "626-like" grille to body-colored door handles and side moldings (on LX and ES models) to 15-inch alloy wheels (ES only). This engine is standard on the DX and LX models while the top-line ES features a new, 1.8-liter inline four capable of 122 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque. As you might expect, power is also up with the new base engine making 105 horsepower compared to only 92 for the old 1.5-liter mill. ![]() Topping the list of improvements is a new base engine that grows from 1.5 to 1.6 liters. OK, so maybe the top-line ES brake system has gone from a four-wheel disc setup to a front disc/rear drum configuration, but since the new model is also lighter than previous Proteges, Mazda assures us that stopping distances haven't suffered. Looking to take a share of the Honda Civic's sales numbers, Mazda's new-for-'99 Protege offers substantial improvements this year.
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