When Mazda redesigned the Protege in 1999, designers in Hiroshima made a number of chassis-strengthening improvements. They increased the bending strength by 22 percent and torsional (twisting) rigidity by 12 percent. Protege's crash protection also has been improved by the addition of side-impact reinforcements. This stiff unitbody chassis, working in concert with responsive rack-and-pinion steering and a four-wheel independent suspension, translate into a comfortable ride, good high-speed stability, and excellent handling.We tested the Protege during a wintry week in Detroit. Not all compact cars handle snow particularly well, but the Protege was able to plow its way out of a foot of snow -- with no prior shoveling. Out on the highway, whether the pavement was wet, dry or covered with snow and ice, the Protege offered predictable handling and good grip. Working with its 4-speed automatic, the 1.8-liter engine in our ES allowed us to pick through traffic without unnecessary theatrics. The car also offered good acceleration whether starting from a standstill or pulling out of corners. When coupled with the 5-speed manual transmission, the 1.8-liter powerplant will offer even better thrust in passing situations. The Protege's brakes -- disc in the front and drums in the rear -- bring the car to a quick, stable stop under hard braking. They showed no evidence of fading or locking-up prematurely. Optional ABS allows the driver to maintain control of steering during panic stops. Road noise and engine noise can be a problem with small cars, especially on the freeway, but Mazda has expertly damped it out, making the Protege one of the quietest cars in its class. It seems quieter than the $21,400 Infiniti G20.
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