With the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth, send in the Protégé. Mazda’s compact sedan scores a grand slam in every judgment category. It’s priced right (base model price is $12,765, while top of the line ES version is $15,535) – no need to get macaroni and cheese to meet the monthly payments. There’s ample interior room – a 5’4" woman and a 6’4" man find the OptiSpace design roomy without any field of vision constraints. The list of standard equipment compares to many $30,000-priced sedans, and is especially nice on the top loaded ES Protégé: four wheel disc brakes, 16-inch alloy wheels, black chrome grille, rear spoiler, white-faced gauges, remote fuel and trunk release, dual map lights, cruise control (with steering mounted controls), rear window defogger, air conditioning, and monochromatic trim.

Changes to the line-up for 2001 only add to Protégé’s appeal. There’s a new center console, new modular AM/FM audio system, and locking feature on the 60/40-split, fold-down rear seatback. Game face exterior changes in 2001 spotlight an altered hood, front fenders, and front fascia as well as new front bumper, headlights and fog-lamps. The 2001 Protégé expands its stats with a new 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine producing 130 horsepower. Five-speed manual transmission is standard on all Protégé versions; 4-speed automatic transmission is optional. Protégé doesn’t foul out via drooping in the fuel economy meter. The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder mated to 5-speed manual transmission tags 25 city and 31 highway mpg estimates. Ride/handling makes a smooth connection via responsive steering (2001 model adds stiffeners to steering shaft mounts and steering box’s torsion bar, which reduces steering gear friction).
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