Car and Driver rates the 03 Protege 5

[IRISH22]

I just picked up the magazine yesterday. Car and Driver 2003 ultimate comparisons. They compared 6 in this class. Guess who came in first??
6th place- Suzuki Aerio SX score (78)
5th place- Pontiac Vibe (81)
4th place- Ford Focus ZX5 (82)
3rd place- Toyota Matrix XRS (85)
2nd place- Chrysler PT Cruiser 87)
1st place Mazda Protege 5! (92)
HIGHS: athletic stride through twisties, taut control responses, sporty cockpit feel, console perfectly shaped for painless bracing of your right leg.
LOWS: Same low eye point as the sedan, buzzy vibrations at most speeds, loud engine.
VERDICT: a sports car in a station wagon clothes.

I also read a thread somewhere asking exactly what class this is, and Car and Driver says "It's a new class of NOT suv's, NOT station wagons, NOT minivans." It dont make sence, but they call them NOTS.

And for you protege LX owners, you will be happy to know it beat out the Toyota Corolla LE and Hyundai Elantra for the top spot in it's class!

 

[ards]

Great! I just love my P5.

 

[h22dx]

thats good, but look at its competition. they need to put it against some better cars. cant wait to see it though!!

 

[Action Jackson]

That was originally in C&D June 2002.

 

[kidkorrupt]

yep, that was a good article. quoted it on my website.

the japanese classify it as a sport-wagon and there was a poll here awhile ago with that name winning

 

[falkofire]

I rock the name of...turbo-wagon

 

[IRISH22]

yeah it was in a past issue, i read the fine print after the post. this magazine also had the RX8 beating an acura, and a mustang. it looks pretty nice!

 

[sharkonwheels]

or, TrackWagon?

(laserp5)

 

[jjac28]

WELL ,THE MATRIX XRS HAS BETTER SPECS...INCLUDING ACCELERATION. I WOULD PUT THE MATRIX 2ND AND NOT THE CHRYSLER. I WONDER WHY THEY LIKE IT SO MUCH.

ISNT THAT SUZUKI UGLY?

 

[Stealth5]

mm old news, last summer when you went to a mazda dealership they rubbed that s*** in your face hard