Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
24 -25 City / 30 HWY
Horsepower
130 -170
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Kayla M
A good family vehicle without the parking problems.
The protege accelerator is very responsive compared to other cars I have driven. The ratio of miles to gallons is not horribly inefficient, and the car itself is compact enough that parking in the city is not a problem. The protege is also fairly sturdy. Any car that does not have to be continually taken in for minor issues is alright by me.
accountCircle Jayne W
Great, compact, and easy to drive.
My vehicle gets really good gas mileage. It is very compact yet practical. The car is easy to drive and the turning radius is excellent.
accountCircle Marie G
It cuts to the left because of the alignment.
I like the color. I dislike the wheels. I like the interior and the design. I do like the sound system as well.
accountCircle Christina S
Nothing much to say about it.
Nothing is to be said about this subject I do not know much about cars I just know it takes gas to move it and takes a battery that can sometimes die it gets me from point A to point B and I love driving my car and not having to ride my bike everywhere or walking.
accountCircle Amanda B
The awesome storage space. Where you can let the seats down and have extra back seat space!
I love the space! It's very comfortable. I do not have major issues. Only issues lie within the rack coming loose. Poor quality but overall hands down best!
accountCircle Christine N
A car that takes care of you.
This car has never treated me wrong. Love the 6 CD player and sunroof. Only complaint is tires are more expensive.
accountCircle Grace B
If you keep up the regular suggested maintenance schedule, this car will last a very long time.
It gets great gas mileage. It is a trustworthy little car. Very low maintenance cost on it. It didn't cost a lot when we bought it new in 03. I love it, it has been great to me.
accountCircle Eric A
Reliable and Efficient. Zoom Zoom
After 18 years, Frankencar, LX with a manual transmission is at its end of life.Over 270000 miles, many city miles. Never had to replace the clutch or starter. The protege has been a good and reliable car. The only issues we had were related to hitting a deer. This model will rust away if you live in the north where a lot of salt and brine are used in winter months. Overall, I can recommend Mazda, regardless of Model. Try to avoid a CVT transmission in any Make or Model.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Nancy C
It can have about 3 rolls of seats.
It is just a 2003 old car. But in gas money is great. 20 dollars gets you in for a whole week. It is a low car. Fits a lot of people.
accountCircle Arthur R
My car gets good gas mileage.
Gas saver. Not reliable car. Not big enough for familiar works on vehicle. Tinted windows for sun small trunk. Compact.
accountCircle Nikole C
They shouldn't worry about the weird noises, because I've had them checked out and the mechanic just told me not to clean my engine as the gunk is keeping it together. It looks a little worn down, but it runs well enough to get me around town and sometimes to another state.
I like that my vehicle gets me to work and back home. I dislike that it's constantly making odd noises that I need to get checked at the mechanic, and I've spent at least the same amount I paid for the vehicle originally in repairs at this point. I like to feel safe driving my car, and that's not the case with my Mazda.
accountCircle Ben S
Reliable. Good for first car first drivers.
Slow, small. Reliable. Good for getting around town in an everyday commute. The lions are not the best. I think a good first time car for anyone.
accountCircle Shelly W
A fun to drive, compact little car.
Great car, fuel efficient, compact, easy to spot reliable, parts are available and inexpensive to purchase. Mileage is high, will start to need to fix more things. Tires are low profile and expensive but overall happy. Power brakes, windows, sunroof, tinted windows, a/c, bass cabinet, CD changer. 60/40 fold down, no AUX cord or satellite radio option.
accountCircle Susan E
Good gas mileage, but had a lot of issues after purchasing the car.
Little room for more than 2 people. The radio doesn't do much. There's a problem with the circuit for the radio also. The transmission failed once. I put more money into fixing it then what I paid for it.
accountCircle Montavius y
It is small, yet it is also fragile.
Reliable, but repairs are expensive. Small so can fit in most spaces.
accountCircle Chay M
Very reliable and good car.
My car is been a very good car! I have had it for almost two years now. It has some wear and tear and I have had to replace a few things here and there but it's for the most part very reliable. I drive it everywhere even sometimes out of state and it does fine. Spacious inside not too cramped. Fits five people comfortably. Would probably only get rid of if it completely breaks down, which I don't see coming anytime soon.

Mazda Protege Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
DX
130 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats
car
LX
130 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats
car
ES
130 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats
car
Base
130 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats
car
MAZDASPEED
170 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2003 Mazda Protege Owner Reviews

4.29
56 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 48%
4 stars 38%
3 stars 11%
2 stars 2%
1 star 2%
accountCircle Adam B on November 30, 2021
Indestructable
I have a 1997 Protege. It has 280,000 miles. It is my first car that I have had since 2016. I have ran it out of oil once, ran it low many times. Driven the tar out of it. It is still running fine. Burns some oil now, but it is the most durable car ive heard of. It also took a deer at 60mph with minor cosmetic damage.
accountCircle Marie G on April 3, 2021
It cuts to the left because of the alignment.
I like the color. I dislike the wheels. I like the interior and the design. I do like the sound system as well.

Ranks #5 Small Cars by Owners

The 2003 Mazda Protege has an average owner rating of 4.29 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 21 other Small Cars.

1
car
4.5
2
car
4.35
5
car
4.27

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Mazda Protege has a combined MPG of 33 which ranks it #9 of 21 other Small Cars.

1
car
48 MPG
2
car
43 MPG
9
Tie
car
30 MPG

Is The 2003 Mazda Protege A Good Car?

Yes. It has lasted many years with very minimal upkeep. It is easy to drive and park. It a little loud but that is really my only complaint.
Nikki S.

How Reliable Is The 2003 Mazda Protege?

It is reliable. I do not like that it has a no tolerance engine. I have to be extra careful about some maintenance because of that but it still has not needed any major maintenance.
Haleigh A.

Is The 2003 Mazda Protege A Good Value?

I bought it in 2004 from a dealership desperate to get rid of it so it was a good price. Since I am still driving it I say it is a great deal.
Morgan R.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2003 Mazda Protege fuel pump relay location?

Answer: The fuel pump relay on a 2003 Mazda Protege is located in the engine compartment fuse box. The first thing You need to do is open the hood, pull the hood release lever at the bottom left corner of the kick...

What might cause my 2003 Mazda Protege check engine light to come on?

Answer: The check engine light could come on in a 2003 Mazda Protege for a variety of reasons. The issues could range from quite minor to very serious. In order to determine the exact issue an OBD-II scanner would be...

What is the 2003 Mazda Protege map sensor location?

Answer: Your 2003 Mazda Protege manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor is located attached to Your intake manifold. It's held in place by two screws, and has a wire connector going to it. Switching out is incredibly...

What's the 2003 mazda protege 2.0 Oil type?

Answer: The 2003 Mazda Protege has a 2.0 L 4Cylinder engine that needs SAE 10W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil in above -13 F temperatures or 5W-30 in below 32 F temperatures. The capacity for the vehicle iS3.7 quarts with a...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety