The Mazda Protege has been a ray of sunshine in the small sedan class, combining a spacious interior for its exterior size with a sporty, performance-oriented personality. The Protege has been extensively reworked for 1999, with new styling and chassis and engine upgrades. And, thankfully, no loss of energetic personality. As before, three trim levels are offered in the Protege lineup. There are chassis and suspension revisions to improve the ride comfort and handling, and decrease interior noise levels.
All levels are very well-equipped.
A week with a new Protege ES left a very good impression. It was conveniently-sized outside for city parking and maneuverability in traffic, with plenty of room inside for its size. Its nimble handling and quiet refinement was complemented by a joyously snarling exhaust note. It hasn't lost its sporty character. The new Protege is edgier and more defined than the previous version, but still low-key and conservative in styling.