Skip to main content

2002
Mazda Protege5

Starts at:
$16,455
Shop options
New 2002 Mazda Protege5
See ratings
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Consumer rating
Owner reviewed vehicle score
Not rated
Safety rating
NHTSA tested vehicle score
Shop Cars.com
Browse cars & save your favorites
Dealers near you
Find & contact a dealership near you
no listings

We're not finding any listings in your area.
Change your location or search Cars.com to see more!

Change location

Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 5dr Wgn 2.0L Auto
    Starts at
    $16,455
    25 City / 30 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 5dr Wgn 2.0L Manual
    Starts at
    $16,455
    25 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas I4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

Photo & video gallery

2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5 2002 Mazda Protege5

The good & the bad

This vehicle doesn't have any good or bad insights yet.

Use our comparison tool to look at this model side-by-side with other vehicles or view the full specifications list .

Start your comparison

Expert 2002 Mazda Protege5 review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

Hold on to your wood paneling, your car seat and your kids eating ice cream in the back seat, with special thanks to our friends at Mazda, “wagonizing” has become a sport. Zoom, zoom … huh? The last time we saw something called a “sport” wagon, Clark Griswold was trucking his way to Wally World in the family truckster, Carol Brady was speeding through syndication and, in the real world, wagons weren’t all that cool. Wagons are cool again. At least Mazda hopes so. The automaker, which spent most of 2001 telling the world you could “zoom” your way to a better time, has created the better wagon. At least Mazda says so. Is it so? We will say it’s a lot closer than the wagons we remember. No funny jokes. No pointing and staring. No need to be embarrassed when you pull up to a light next to a Ferrari. What’s more, it’s the first in a long line of what’s to come: Mom-mobiles gone groovy that are meant to appeal to young drivers who want to haul things. As hard as it may be, Mazda has jumped in where few car companies have dared to go. And the company did it with a simple formula: Take a sedan that already works (the Protege), throw a “backpack” on the back end (rear hatch), and name it something familiar, with a numeric twist (the Protege5). That’s Protege5, as in five doors. That’s Protege5, as in the sporty little two-box version of the popular Protege sedan with more room yet still some zoom. Uh, check that: Not enough vroom. Where the 2002 Protege5 is a great idea on paper, the wagon on the street is a great deal less powerful than we would have liked. It can still haul more stuff (the real point) than the sedan. All revved up, it still sounds like a real winner, a whiner more than a mover. It just doesn’t deliver all the gusto we’d like. Zoom, zoom, cough. All new for 2002, the Protege5 is a five-door ride that Mazda hopes represents the next step as a sporty lifestyle hauler. With an extended roofline and increased cargo space, it is not the lowly wagon you used to make fun of. It is a mix of the Protege’s sharp lines, terrific steering and sharp handling – all things we loved about the Protege. All great. And wagonizing the Protege did nothing to blunt a rigid chassis and well-mannered grip. The driver is in command of the road, from start to stop, keeping things nicely centered just the same way the Protege impressed us six months ago when we drove the MP3 sedan. The problem rests in what didn’t change. The Protege5 is a heavier ride than the sedan – about 80 pounds in wagon bodywork and a little more in structural changes – and that’s a problem when it comes to pull. Under the hood, there’s a new ULEV 2.0-liter engine, a stroked version of the previous 1.8-liter that adds eight horsepower from previous models. The problem is the extra paunch. With the added weight, the Protege5 comes with all the revs, but does not come with the results. It’s still a fun car to zip around in – precise shifting, high redlines – but it suffer s in all-out zip. At nearly 10 seconds in the 0-to-60-mph range, the Protege feels like it needs more than the 130 horses to get it going. It’s adequate, just not exceptional. What’s easy to like is the interior and exterior details, a mix of supportive front and rear seats inside, a thick three-spoke steering wheel, dimpled vinyl on the dash and instruments that are tastefully lettered. Outside, the Protege sits on 16-inch alloy wheels, large foglamps and an oversized air dam to put it low to the ground. There also are the sleek, long lines and jewel-like headlight reflectors that spice up the overall look. The tastiest part? The price. At less than $17,000, the Protege rolls in at one of the lower segments in the car universe. Loaded up, you’re still less than 19k – a decent ride for all those price-concerned consumers in search of a good bargain. Standard options are also plentiful, something that’s not a guarantee in this segment. Standard transmission is a five-speed manual, with the automatic a $800 option. Mileage is downright enjoyable – about 25 mpg in the city, more than 30 on the highway with a manual transmission. Rear seating is also plentiful – two adults fit well – and good head room won’t cramp tall passengers. But, first and foremost, this is a cargo hauler – a wagonizer. Along with plenty of storage hooks and a large rear seat, there is a cargo area that nearly triples the sedan’s 12.9 cubic-foot trunk when the rear seats are folded down flat. That makes the Protege5 really sing. Cargo? A Protege? Mrs. Brady would have been proud. Now, if only she could get a turbo version. 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 — SPECS Rating: 2.5 High Gear: Mazda takes a direct hit to the masses with a Protege that comes willing to carry the family. With a tight suspension, powerful brakes, superb steering feel and attractive exterior styling, there’s plenty to like. Low Gear: The Protege’s cargo area is too small to be considered for real station wagon duty, and 130 horses seems to be more whine than zoom, zoom, zoom. Vehicle type: Front-wheel drive, front-engine, five-door, five-passenger compact wagon. Standard equipment: Bucket front seats; height-adjustable driver seat; split-bench rear seat; rear heating ducts; five-speed manual transmission; remote power door locks; power windows; power mirrors; cruise control; speed-proportional power steering; tilt steering; all-season tires; front 12-volt power outlet; air conditioning; roof rack; front disc, solid rear disc brakes; AM/FM CD stereo w/six speakers; front fog lights. Competition: Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta Engine: 130 horsepower, 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder Torque: 135 foot-lbs. @ 4,000 rpm Wheelbase: 102.8 inches Length: 170.5 inches MPG rating: 25 mpg city/31 mpg highway Manufactured: Japan Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/50,000 miles; powertrain warranty is three years/50,000 miles; rust perforation warranty is five years/unlimited miles; roadside assistance is three years/50,000 miles. Base price: $16,335 Price as tested (includes options, destination and delivery charges): $18,815

2002 Mazda Protege5 review: Our expert's take
By

Hold on to your wood paneling, your car seat and your kids eating ice cream in the back seat, with special thanks to our friends at Mazda, “wagonizing” has become a sport. Zoom, zoom … huh? The last time we saw something called a “sport” wagon, Clark Griswold was trucking his way to Wally World in the family truckster, Carol Brady was speeding through syndication and, in the real world, wagons weren’t all that cool. Wagons are cool again. At least Mazda hopes so. The automaker, which spent most of 2001 telling the world you could “zoom” your way to a better time, has created the better wagon. At least Mazda says so. Is it so? We will say it’s a lot closer than the wagons we remember. No funny jokes. No pointing and staring. No need to be embarrassed when you pull up to a light next to a Ferrari. What’s more, it’s the first in a long line of what’s to come: Mom-mobiles gone groovy that are meant to appeal to young drivers who want to haul things. As hard as it may be, Mazda has jumped in where few car companies have dared to go. And the company did it with a simple formula: Take a sedan that already works (the Protege), throw a “backpack” on the back end (rear hatch), and name it something familiar, with a numeric twist (the Protege5). That’s Protege5, as in five doors. That’s Protege5, as in the sporty little two-box version of the popular Protege sedan with more room yet still some zoom. Uh, check that: Not enough vroom. Where the 2002 Protege5 is a great idea on paper, the wagon on the street is a great deal less powerful than we would have liked. It can still haul more stuff (the real point) than the sedan. All revved up, it still sounds like a real winner, a whiner more than a mover. It just doesn’t deliver all the gusto we’d like. Zoom, zoom, cough. All new for 2002, the Protege5 is a five-door ride that Mazda hopes represents the next step as a sporty lifestyle hauler. With an extended roofline and increased cargo space, it is not the lowly wagon you used to make fun of. It is a mix of the Protege’s sharp lines, terrific steering and sharp handling – all things we loved about the Protege. All great. And wagonizing the Protege did nothing to blunt a rigid chassis and well-mannered grip. The driver is in command of the road, from start to stop, keeping things nicely centered just the same way the Protege impressed us six months ago when we drove the MP3 sedan. The problem rests in what didn’t change. The Protege5 is a heavier ride than the sedan – about 80 pounds in wagon bodywork and a little more in structural changes – and that’s a problem when it comes to pull. Under the hood, there’s a new ULEV 2.0-liter engine, a stroked version of the previous 1.8-liter that adds eight horsepower from previous models. The problem is the extra paunch. With the added weight, the Protege5 comes with all the revs, but does not come with the results. It’s still a fun car to zip around in – precise shifting, high redlines – but it suffer s in all-out zip. At nearly 10 seconds in the 0-to-60-mph range, the Protege feels like it needs more than the 130 horses to get it going. It’s adequate, just not exceptional. What’s easy to like is the interior and exterior details, a mix of supportive front and rear seats inside, a thick three-spoke steering wheel, dimpled vinyl on the dash and instruments that are tastefully lettered. Outside, the Protege sits on 16-inch alloy wheels, large foglamps and an oversized air dam to put it low to the ground. There also are the sleek, long lines and jewel-like headlight reflectors that spice up the overall look. The tastiest part? The price. At less than $17,000, the Protege rolls in at one of the lower segments in the car universe. Loaded up, you’re still less than 19k – a decent ride for all those price-concerned consumers in search of a good bargain. Standard options are also plentiful, something that’s not a guarantee in this segment. Standard transmission is a five-speed manual, with the automatic a $800 option. Mileage is downright enjoyable – about 25 mpg in the city, more than 30 on the highway with a manual transmission. Rear seating is also plentiful – two adults fit well – and good head room won’t cramp tall passengers. But, first and foremost, this is a cargo hauler – a wagonizer. Along with plenty of storage hooks and a large rear seat, there is a cargo area that nearly triples the sedan’s 12.9 cubic-foot trunk when the rear seats are folded down flat. That makes the Protege5 really sing. Cargo? A Protege? Mrs. Brady would have been proud. Now, if only she could get a turbo version. 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE5 — SPECS Rating: 2.5 High Gear: Mazda takes a direct hit to the masses with a Protege that comes willing to carry the family. With a tight suspension, powerful brakes, superb steering feel and attractive exterior styling, there’s plenty to like. Low Gear: The Protege’s cargo area is too small to be considered for real station wagon duty, and 130 horses seems to be more whine than zoom, zoom, zoom. Vehicle type: Front-wheel drive, front-engine, five-door, five-passenger compact wagon. Standard equipment: Bucket front seats; height-adjustable driver seat; split-bench rear seat; rear heating ducts; five-speed manual transmission; remote power door locks; power windows; power mirrors; cruise control; speed-proportional power steering; tilt steering; all-season tires; front 12-volt power outlet; air conditioning; roof rack; front disc, solid rear disc brakes; AM/FM CD stereo w/six speakers; front fog lights. Competition: Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Jetta Engine: 130 horsepower, 2.0-liter DOHC four-cylinder Torque: 135 foot-lbs. @ 4,000 rpm Wheelbase: 102.8 inches Length: 170.5 inches MPG rating: 25 mpg city/31 mpg highway Manufactured: Japan Warranty: Basic warranty is three years/50,000 miles; powertrain warranty is three years/50,000 miles; rust perforation warranty is five years/unlimited miles; roadside assistance is three years/50,000 miles. Base price: $16,335 Price as tested (includes options, destination and delivery charges): $18,815

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 50,000 miles
Corrosion
3 years / 50,000 miles
Powertrain
3 years / 50,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 50,000 miles

Consumer reviews

4.7 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.2
Interior 4.2
Performance 4.5
Value 4.8
Exterior 4.8
Reliability 4.8

Most recent

  • Dependable and bigger than it looks.

    171000 miles and counting. I’m 6 ft 6 and fit fine. Ac is ice cold and the car is super dependable. What more do you want? Cool tach that is white and sporty looking. Get thumbs up on the road from the old timers who get it…
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • ZOOM ZOOM ....LOVIN THE P5

    I have 3 P5's 2 '03's Silver & Yellow and 1'02Red. A 00 Protege, '93 Miata! And 01 civic to feel my age 58..ouch. I love love the P5. It has a sport feel yet has so much built into it...on certain trims you get abs, sunroof, and more. It has sleek lines, a zippy engine with excellent mpg, goes into corners and out with even more zip. Has a very attractive cluster dash with white displays and gauges that excite. It can easily be your family daily driver or zipping along on a hot date. I LOVE THE P5 AND ALL THE EARLY MADA'S. I had a lumpy and unreliable 89 Ford Taurus but when I met my Wife she was in a sexy 91 Protege and that was it...got rid of that ford ( found on road dead) and never turned back. TOO BAD Mazda only made this a 2 year production car. Very easy car on the budget, easy parts and easy fixes. You want to waste money on trendy overpriced Euro's feel free to get one of their bucket of bolts. I have owned several in the past, waste of $$$$ . Treat yourself to a P5 while some are still around.!!! ZOOM ZOOM!!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    8 people out of 8 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Super practical and kinda fun

    it is a very good car. Not super powerful but it is light and nimble. Have to replace break calipers and timing belt but is generally inexpensive for repairs and quite reliable. Most practical car on the plant. Its simple and fun.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Good Car

    It’s a good car I’m still looking at more, but I am Most definitely gone see about getting it, I just hope it’s still available.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Best small car I have ever owned

    This car has met all my needs. Its very dependable and fun to drive. I own the automatic version. There is a small quirk in my transmission, it has a lag going into drive. Not sure why as I have had it serviced.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • The car is a killer for what four valves is!

    Deep oil bath, twin cams, nice crank and sort of a Jap Mini Cooper -a cult car for all ages. You won't win at the drags but it hangs the curves and has all the balance in the world.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • 307,000 miles later!

    It?s a great vehicle! The car had bot given us any major problems even though it has over 300k miles. We are currently replacing all four motor mounts, clutch and flywheel. The handling and steering response from the vehicle is amazing! The performance isn?t out of this world but it?s still fun to drive.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Reliable, fun,cheap!!simply just a great car .

    I drive this car for my personal work "courier" I put in no lie about 1000 miles in 6 days ,I used it and abuse it on the road ,highway ,city streets and he takes it and doesnt mind it.j drive it for about 8 hours a day and I still don't get tired of driving or have lower back pain as in such cases with other small cars,Am 250 lbs 5"9 big guy and don't have issues getting in and out of the car ,I simply love it ,it's great for what I do ,doesn't back off from anything ,only issues I've had were some rust problems but I can overlook that just because of how good of workhorse it is .fun to drive always ,,love the car plain and simple
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Great car !

    We were very impressed with this hatch it is a great car. It was roomy and comfortable and very easy to drive.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Reliable, sporty hot hatch.

    We owned our Mazda Protege5 for 15 years and it always provided driving excitement & great utility. This car has taken us everywhere - beaches, mountains, cross country... 5-speed manual transmission makes it a fun to drive and sporty hatchback. great fuel economy too 25 city/31 hwy.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Race Car Feel Reliable Winner

    Bought the car new in 2002. Compared it to the Toyota Matrix which had the 6 spd, 180hp. There was a $8,000 difference which I couldn't justify when I tested the two cars. Though the PR5 had 50 hp less than the Matrix and 5 spd manual transmission, it was a better all around driver due to its gearing which gave it a lot of low end torque. The PR5 drives like a sports car more in line with the Mazda Miata. You can go into a curve, down shift and push the pedal down in the turn and come out like a sling shot with full safety control. It's the great suspension on the PR5 that makes this car unbelievable. The downside it rides rough on a rough road. But that's a small trade off. I get 25 mpg in town and 31-32 mpg highway at 76-78 mph. I have 202,000 miles on the car and only had to replace a water pump at 80,000 miles and an alternator just recently. Everything else is normal maintenance. Even more surprising, the original clutch is still working. I have a 2007 Mazda Speed 3 as well and use both cars driving back and forth from Southern and Northern Cal. But whether for daily driving or 350 mile trips to each of the state, this car is remarkable. Too bad Mazda only produce this car for 2 years replacing it with the Mazda 3 which doesn't drive with the same "fun" factor. A friend of mine who works for Mazda said they still feel the PR5 was one of the best cars they made.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    2 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • pretty good but not best in class

    Rust prone. Watch the lower front of the rear wheelwells. Brakes weak front rotors warp easily. Engine is underpowered but seems reliable. Car handles well but lots of road noise.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 3.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No

Latest news from cars.com

See all news

Mazda dealers near you

FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2002 Mazda Protege5?

The 2002 Mazda Protege5 is available in 1 trim level:

  • (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2002 Mazda Protege5?

The 2002 Mazda Protege5 offers up to 25 MPG in city driving and 31 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2002 Mazda Protege5 reliable?

The 2002 Mazda Protege5 has an average reliability rating of 4.8 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2002 Mazda Protege5 owners.

Is the 2002 Mazda Protege5 a good Wagon?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2002 Mazda Protege5. 100.0% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.7 / 5
Based on 21 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.2
  • Interior: 4.2
  • Performance: 4.5
  • Value: 4.8
  • Exterior: 4.8
  • Reliability: 4.8
Your list was successfully saved.
 
 
 
 
Save list Compare
[{"cat":"wagonhatchback_wagon","stock_type":"used","bodystyle":"Wagon","page_type":"research/make-model-year","oem_page":false,"search_fuel_types":["Gasoline Fuel"]}]