(originally posted to carreview.com on 2002.02.06)
Overall Rating
5 of 5
Value Rating
5 of 5
Price Paid: $17000 at Jeff Haas Mazda
Summary:
Somewhere on here, I have a review of my wife’s 1999 Protege LX, which I always really liked for what it was. However, the car has no balls and doesn’t have the hauling capacity of even a simple hatch. I was resigned to having to fork out a ton more cash for a Passat wagon, all the while wishing that Mazda would just make a wagon version of my wife’s car, but faster. Then BAM, they did it. Kudos to Mazda. Exactly the right car at exactly the right price.
Strengths:
* Handling. Man, I do love the handling.
* Versatility. I can carry five, or stuff, or five and some stuff with the roof rack. Excellent.
* Comfort. Great seats, enough room in back for rear-facing baby seat.
* Styling. I’ve never owned a car that got this much attention before.
* I like the leather-wrapped steering wheel and white dials.
* Good ergonomics on the stereo.
* I never thought I’d have any use for a moonroof, but I love it!
* Handling. It’s just so sweet around the corners.
* Excellent brakes, especially with EBD.
* Mileage is decent, particularly for how fun it is to drive.
* Doesn’t suck up the whole garage, amazing considering how much interior space there is.
* Good ergonomics on the cruise control.
* Reliability. Not a single problem so far, good chance that’ll continue.
* Friendly torque curve, especially with the stick.
* Did I mention the handling?
Weaknesses:
* Cupholders suck.
* Center console/armrest is too small for both of those tasks.
* Only one intermittent wiper setting.
* Door lock sticks up into arm when you rest it on the door.
* Speakers and speaker placement leave a lot to be desired.
* Rear defroster should be on a timer.
* Car should be 4″ longer to give a smidge more room in cargo area.
* Gas fill on the wrong side.
Similar Products Used:
I also liked the Subie Impreza TS wagon, but the backseat is too small and I didn’t want to pay the extra bucks for AWD, which I don’t need in SE Texas.