2002 Mazda Protege5 Review

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Review:

One minute, the terrain resembles a lava-strewn moonscape, a mile later, a tropical oasis.  So it goes on the "Big Island" of Hawaii, where Mazda has gathered a small clutch of auto writers for a preview of its new Protege5 and MP3 models.

The setting is, in a sense, appropriate.  The unusual island offers a surprisingly wide range of climates as one climbs from its warm, azure coast to its frigid volcanic peaks.  The two new Mazdas show just how much a manufacturer can vary the look and feel of a single platform in its bid to attract different buyers.

Once one of the hottest, hippest Japanese nameplates, Mazda has struggled in recent years, unable to find a distinctive niche.  Sales have slumped, as buyers ignored its offerings in favor of more mainstream brands, such as Toyota and Honda.  But during a recent background briefing, TheCarConnection.com got a close-up look at a wide range of products Mazda now has in the pipeline.