The Mazda Protege is as roomy as many of the more-expensive mid-size cars. The Protege offers a comfortable interior, a comfortable ride, good high-speed stability and excellent handling.

Mazda totally redesigned the Protege for 1999. The makeover included a new body style with a distinctly European look, a tough new frame, two new engines and a new transmission. It resulted in a vehicle that was hailed in many quarters as the best in its class.

The changes shone even more in the context of the previous Protege, which was so fundamentally sound and aesthetically pleasing that Mazda could have gone a few more years without an overhaul. Mazda's decision to plow ahead with luxury-car styling, comfort, and roominess in an economy car raised the bar for its competitors.