![]() Anti-lock brakes are optional on the mid-level LX and top-end ES, but are not available on the base model, the DX. Other safety equipment includes dual front air bags in contrast to the Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Prizm or Mitsubishi Galant, the Protege does not offer side air bags. The rear does easily accommodate three children, and all can be strapped into three-point safety belts. But while the Protege is technically a five-passenger sedan, I wouldn't want to join two other adults in the back seat for very long. The nearly 6-footers who sat behind the wheel reported no problem getting comfortable. Though it is a tad smaller than its predecessor, the new Protege feels very roomy, with ample room, front and back, for heads and knees. As good as the Protege is in many respects, it can't match the New Beetle or the Mercury Cougar in the personality department. And although the company enlisted a group of celebrity individualists to help promote the Protege, I cannot quite envision Dennis Rodman, or even Marisa Tomei, signing a purchase agreement at the local Mazda dealer. But the company's marketing line - that the car breaks ''out of the box'' - may be an exaggeration. With its classy, sophisticated styling, the Protege needed to make no apologies for its appearance in a parking lot filled with BMW's and Mercedes-Benzes at a fancy suburban mall. The nimble Protege turned out to be the perfect car for my mission. Small cars have never been better, with generally good quality control, spirited performance, responsive handling and amenities once reserved for large, luxury automobiles.Īmong the newest of these big-little cars is the Protege - Mazda accents the second ''e,'' but not the first - which stacks up well against the competition in styling, ride, handling and price.Īlthough I usually try to avoid holiday crowds, my work and travel schedules required me to do my holiday shopping on one of the busiest days of the year. Like some other sales trends born of gasoline cheaper than bottled water - regular gas is well below 90 cents a gallon in many parts of the country - this one is unfortunate. Even people in their 20's, who have made up the vast majority of small-car buyers, are instead choosing small sport utilities and other vehicles perceived as being cooler than compact sedans. Car buyers are instead opting for large, powerful and comparatively thirsty sport utilities, pickup trucks and luxury sedans. Small-car sales have plunged along with gasoline prices, falling nearly 20 percent in the last two years. Find out more about our advertising opportunities.THE radio headline grabbed my attention: ''Gas prices drop to the lowest level in history.'' While analysts on the newscast pondered whether gas could become even cheaper, I had to wonder if small cars, like the 1999 Mazda Protege I was driving at the moment, were on their way to becoming irrelevant. Advertise Advertising on is well-targeted, has unique benefits, and is highly successful. Looking for something lighter? Read our funny complaints to see people who found humor in a bad situation. Vehicle Problems Find out what cars to avoid, view the latest problem trends, or keep up-to-date with the most recently reported problems. Contact us with any comments or concerns. #PROTEGE CAR MAKE DRIVERS#Car Problem Resources Around the Site Information Find out more about us in the press or read stories from drivers who praise our work.The complaints are organized into groups with data published by vehicle, vehicle component, and specific problem. ® is an online automotive complaint resource that uses graphs to show automotive defect patterns, based on complaint data submitted by visitors to the site. ![]()
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