However, it's the sassy five-door version that's really the showpiece of the new lineup, and design chief Hideki Suzuki cites the Peugeot 307 and Alfa Romeo 147 as inspiration sources for the car's New Age look. Mazda anticipates that two-thirds of the 3's projected 70,000 annual sales in North America will go to the more conservative sedan, essentially a scaled-down version of the Mazda 6 four-door. Cargo capacity, on the other hand, has improved, and like the Protegé5, the five-door version of the 3 includes hatchback cargo versatility, thanks to its folding rear seatbacks. Although rear-seat legroom has improved, a cross-car structural beam encroaches on rear footroom, negating, to some degree, the other volumetric increases. Height remains about the same at 57.7 inches, but width has been expanded two inches, from 67.1 to 69.1, and there's a corresponding gain in front and rear track dimensions: 60.2/59.6 inches for the 3 versus 57.7/57.9 for the Protegé5.Īll the foregoing should add up to a roomier interior, and it does-with one significant proviso. At 176.6 inches, the new five-door is 6.1 inches longer than the Protegé5.
#2004 MAZDA PROTEGE5 PLUS#
The wheelbase, common to both body styles, has been stretched to 103.9 inches, 1.1 inches longer than the Protegé and among the longest in this class, a plus in the ride department. Both are bigger than their corresponding numbers from the Protegé lineup. Like the Protegé, the 3 is offered in two body styles, a formal four-door sedan and a five-door hatch such as our test subject here. The electrohydraulic power rack-and-pinion steering system is accurate and quick at 2.8 turns lock-to-lock, and the all-disc brake system has bigger rotors, vented up front, and augmented, in our test car, by anti-lock, which is optional. Like the Protegé, the 3 is supported by struts up front, but there's a new multilink setup at the rear, similar to the system in use on the mid-size Mazda 6. After living with our test car for a week, we have no reason to doubt this assertion. This is an all-new car on a new platform, 40 percent stiffer than the Protegé's body shell, according to Mazda. The exuberant teenager is gone, replaced by a hip young adult.
#2004 MAZDA PROTEGE5 DRIVER#
Although it responds to driver commands as promptly as its predecessor did-more so, in fact-the puppyesque playfulness of the Protegé has given way to a more serious demeanor that's more purposeful, polished, and substantial. The 3 dances to more sophisticated music. Light on its feet and eager to please, the Protegé prevailed against cars with more power and, arguably, better value because of its high fun-to-drive index. What is surprising, though, is the character change that marks the transition from Protegé to 3. That's not a huge surprise, since the 3's predecessor, the Protegé, scored top marks in three successive compact free-for-alls ("Little Cars 6.1," June 2000 " Boxes, Size Small," June 2002 " Double-Dip Dreamboats," November 2002). So no matter what you need, it'll arrive at your door without costing you a dime.Aside from corporate hot rods such as Ford's SVT Focus, compact transportation appliances don't ordinarily generate much of a blip on the collective EKG trace around here. Our seat covers will also guard your upholstery in much the same way.Īll of our Protege5 accessories above ship to you for free, too. If you live in an active life - and it's possible since you drive a Mazda Protege - it's especially important to have a way to protect your factory carpet from mud. All-weather floor mats are great for this purpose - their heavy duty nature means they contain spills and excessive messes that carpet mats can't handle. We stock attractive, durable accessories that will lock your Protege in a time bubble, preserving the looks it had when you first got it.
Just because the Protege stopped production in 2004 doesn't mean your interior can't look new. Our point here is that you've got plenty of options for your Protege5. Hawk brake pads are also a popular choice. Additionally, our Power Stop kits offer one-click ordering for a completely new set of brakes. Our EBC rotors and pads are a smart way to give your hatchback more braking bite. Whether you are looking for a kit or individual components, we have the products you need. We have the best deals on the web when it comes to Mazda Protege5 brakes.
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