And although its price can rise to uncomfortable levels (especially with the ES model), the Protege deserves the attention of people looking for a comfortably quick commuter with spicy style and a good reliability record. The Mazda Protege is a long-time favorite of ours. Enhanced by a taut and well-damped suspension, Protege is the "driver's car" of economy sedans. Credit goes to the first-rate steering system with gobs of feedback, perfect weighting and no on-center dead spot. On the road, the Protege is a bit louder than expected, but it does provide an excellent drive. For 2001, the interior features a new center stack design, new seat and trim fabric, a new interior color, a modular audio system, improved cupholders, ignition key illumination, power window switch illumination, a map light, a lockable glove box, and a lock for the 60/40 split-fold rear seatback. There's also a proper Germanic front-passenger door grip, nicely padded upper door panels where elbows often rest, lots of storage nooks and crannies, a large rear seat, and a commodious 12.9 cubic foot trunk. The driving position is excellent, with a thick steering wheel rim to grip and a properly placed dead pedal for the left foot. The firm seats are comfortable, and the seat height and cushion angle adjustments (on the LX and ES) are greatly appreciated. The attractive brushed-aluminum wheels go a long way toward giving the Mazda an upscale appearance, as do the jewel-like headlight reflectors, angular taillights and chrome accents. Mazda has updated the front end's styling, adding a new grille, hood, fenders and headlights. The Protege is one of the best-looking economy sedans on the market, and the 2001 improvements should only further the car's lead. Torque is rated at 135 foot-pounds, up 12.5 percent over last year's 1.8-liter engine. 2001 Mazda Protege MP3 2001 Mazda Protege SE 2001 Mazda Protege5 Popular Searches. Choose from an array of styles, scoops, and vents in the latest high tech materials. Optional on the LX and standard on the ES, the new engine puts out 130 horsepower. A custom hood on your 2001 Mazda Protege will boost performance and style. Power from the 1.6-liter is tolerable, but buyers looking for more acceleration should opt for the new 2.0-liter engine. The ES also comes with features like standard air conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels, and optional ABS and side airbags.īoth the DX and the LX use a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 105 horsepower and 107 foot-pounds of torque. For options like a driver's height-adjustable seat, power windows and locks, a tachometer, and cruise control, you'll have to step up to either the LX or the ES. The base-model DX comes with standard features like power steering, a tilt steering wheel and a split-folding seatback. Sold only as a four-door sedan, the Protege is available in three trim levels: DX, LX and ES. Now in its third model year, Mazda's current Protege is a snappy car that competes against vehicles like the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus.
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