

Car and Driver measured it traipsing from zero to 60 mph in 15.1 seconds and trotting through the quarter-mile in 19.7 seconds at 66.8 mph.ĭuring 1978, a five-door version was added to the line. Add in a five-speed transmission ($120) to replace the four-speed, an AM radio ($69) and 155mm section width Bridgestone radial tires and the total was still only $3,495.īut with 52 horsepower from its carbureted 1.3-liter SOHC engine on tap, it wasn't quick. Initially available only as a three-door, it was priced at $2,945, with the Deluxe model at $3,245. It was what Mazda dealers needed: a cheap, showroom traffic builder. The GLC is clearly the finest old-school minicar going." However, being last does offer one undeniable benefit - the chance to better all previous offerings - and Mazda has used this advantage well. "This time it's Mazda with the spanking new GLC do-everything MaxiMizer - because this is quite likely the last econocar built from the now obsolete front-engine, rear-drive blueprint. "Someone had to be last," wrote Car and Driver's Don Sherman in a test of the GLC. It looked like a contemporary hatchback in the mold of the front-drive Volkswagen Golf or Honda Civic, but the first "Great Little Car" was a primitive rear-driver with a solid rear axle: a Japanese Chevette. By the mid-1970s it was apparent that Mazda was going to have to do something different.īy 1977 Mazda knew it had to make a piston-powered car the heart of its North American line. But while the Wankel was powerful and smooth, it was also thirsty and ill-suited to the realities of commuting. As the company expanded its American presence, it did so on the unique and compelling engineering of the Wankel rotary engine. Mazda dribbled into the American market during 1970 with limited distribution in the states of Washington and Oregon. Start your search for a Mazda Protege with Kijiji Autos today.The history of the Mazda 3 starts when it seemed Mazda would never build a car like it. Kijiji Autos also offers online financing services. Kijiji Autos has a range of Mazda Protege for sale in markets across Canada as well as a suite of advanced search filters that allow you to tailor results by engine type, model year, paint colour, kilometres and more to find your perfect ride. The Mazda Protege was replaced by the Mazda 3 in 2004. In 2003, the Mazdaspeed Protege was launched with its 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine turbocharged to 170 horsepower. The Mazda Protege 5 wagon was launched in 2001 as was the performance-oriented Mazda Protege MP3, which came with lower, stiffer suspension, larger wheels, performance tires and quicker steering. The engine in the DX and LX was enlarged to 1.6-litres and now reached 105 horsepower. The vehicle's structure was reinforced at the door pillars, roof rails and side sills for better protection in rollovers and side impacts. The third-generation Mazda Protege was launched for the 1999 model year and featured a range of improvements.
#Mazda protege hatchback 1999 manual
Transmissions included a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic. The base model DX and mid-range LX were powered by a 92-horsepower 1.5-litre 4-cylinder engine, while the range-topping SE model came with a 122 horsepower 1.8-litre motor.

The second-generation Mazda Protege arrived in 1995 with a longer wheelbase, giving it a more spacious interior than the previous version. The premium LX model came with a more powerful 125 horsepower engine, and all-wheel drive was available until 1993. The Mazda Protege debuted in 1990 as the four-door sedan version of the Mazda 323 hatchback, with the base model powered by a 1.8-litre 4-cylinder engine producing 103 horsepower.
