Why is the Protege5 so maligned in the press? Okay, maybe not maligned... rather, completely IGNORED????

This article is the perfect example...

http://www.autonet.ca/AutonetStories...m?storyID=4771

Notice, they compare all 'similar' vehicles, but never a mention of the Protege5... and this is far from being the first time I've noticed this... can anyone explain?

I'm guessing its really because the Protege5 far outclasses all the others they are comparing, that it really wouldn't be fair!

 

link doesn't work

 

Good question freak!!

Maybe its just in a class of its own ?

 

You might just be looking in the wrong places. In that article, they refer to those vehicles as SUV cross-overs. The focus of the article is on utility. Cargo space and higher than normal seating position are mentioned. That doesn't describe the Protege 5. It's more about sport, with some hatchback utility thrown in for good measure. Personally, I prefer it that way. I have seen other acticles mention the Protege 5 very positively. The Protege 5 has been used as a pace car at Mazda raceway (Laguna Seca), and will be a new entry in the SpeedVision World Challenge Touring series this season.

 

ZoomZoomH:

Hrmmm... don't understand that... works fine for me.

Anyway, the aritcle's entitled "New small cars give PT Cruiser run for money"

And it basically states that when the Cruiser was introduced, it was it's own class, yadda yadda, but now everyone's coming on board with something to compete with it... and the article mentions the Vibe, Matrix and even the Suzuki G-D Aerio SX... but consipicuous in its absense is ANY mention of the Protege5, and like I said originally, I've noticed this in a tonne of articles of this type, over the last little while (especially ones based on the introduction of the Matrix and Vibe to the marketplace).

Anyhow, as I said, it must be because they realize that the Protege5 so far outclasses the rest of them, that it's not really fair to try and make any comparison!

 

When I clicked on the link around noon it keeps giving me 404 error, and now it works, what the heck is going on???

but yeah I read it, it is weird they conveniently skipped over the P5, probably out of the fear that it'll overshadow all the other hatchbacks mentioned in the article

 

freak I think that Eric is right. That article focuses on Mini-minivans (suckers) while the Pro5 is usually classed as a wagon (wagon my ***, it's just so fast the sedan's back window got pulled to the end of the trunk, ).

I was just reading the Motor Trend annual car review mag and they don't even give it it's own spot (It is lumped in with the MP3 for who knows what reason) while the VW 'W' car is given a block even though the damn thing is a 2003, same with the Matrix and Vibe. The mag is supposed to be reviewing 2002 models. And this was in Dec 2001. I am just rambling now.....

I did see one favorable review though, on tv, AutoWorld? perhaps. Anyways it was ranked the best compact car of 2001 (even though it is a 2002) which is cool. Once Mazda gives us a turbo then it can be the sports car of the year.

 

Magazines often focus on newly released models. Remember, the Protege 5 came out in 2001 as a 2002 model. It is also VERY similar to the Protege sedan other than the hatchback body. If you're happy with it, who cares about the damn media anyway. Many of us like the car because it isn't as popular as the Civic.

 

Eric,

Okay, this is likely going to appear as a second post, after a mostly blank one... and I know that's happened before... I'm so used to 'tabbing' to indent when I type, and it automatically posts because the tab lands me on the submit button, so I apologize now.

Now back to my regular scheduled post... while I agree with what you said for likely what would be the majority of these articles, the problem is, I really don't see the pt cruiser as any part SUV nor minivan. To me, it's much more just a 50s-retro-style-hatchback, i's not as tall as the others (or it's styling doesn't lend itslef to LOOK as tall, if it is), and the suzuki, while I haven't seen it with my own eyes, in all the pictures I've seen, doesn't look to be that much bigger than the Swift... although, I could be off base on that, 'cause I'm too lazy to track down the specs and do REAL research.

Also, since the PT cruiser was introduced well before the Protege5, they could have easily encompassed the P5 into this article without being off-base, IMHO.

Anyway, okay... rant over.

 

You guys are so right!
upon reading the review, I was very disappointed that they did not mention the Pro5. Check out this email i sent to them:

Dear Autonet.ca,

For the last few months, I have been tuning into your webpage to read about the latest reviews of the newest cars around; what their pro's and con's are/who their competitions are, etc. Many articles are very interesting and I’d like to give you credit for putting a lot of thought into them. However, the latest article, "New Small Cars Give PT Cruiser Run For Money (Mar.11)," was very shocking and disturbing to me because you guys did not even attempt to mention one car which I felt was a winner in its class: the Protege 5, by Mazda. This first thing I’d like to point out is that Mazda was one of the first companies to bring back the hatchback style look, with some added features such as a sportier body and a sleek new interior design. The Protégé 5 made a very big impact on younger consumers who love the unique style and features of the car. Now, I’m sure that all the cars that you’ve mentioned in the article such as the Toyota Matrix, and the Pontiac Vibe GT, have similar features and may have a more powerful engine than the Protégé 5, but what makes the Protégé 5 different from the rest is that when you look at its interior and exterior style, its design, its performance, its features, its price range – add it all up and it makes the Protégé 5 the number one choice for consumers!
When you write an article comparing the latest vehicles with 'four-door hatchbacks with an exterior size' to the PT Cruiser, you need to make sure that all the cars in that class are listed and described so that consumers will know what they like and don’t like about the cars. I felt that it was unfair that you guys left out the Protégé 5 in your review because it was the first car that actually started the returning trend of wagon/ hatchback vehicles. There are just so many specifications of the Protégé 5 that you guys could have listed in your review, so why was it not even mentioned at all? Was it because you guys forgot about the Protégé 5? Or because the Protégé 5 was not good enough to compete against its own class? Please enlighten me with your reply.

Sincerely,

KC
Aka: FrIzZyBoNe

 

freak, the first time I saw that suzuki whatever it is called I swore it was a sister to the vibe and matrix. It looks almost exactly the same except for some cosmetic differences. The body shape and size seem to be dead on. I too, being lazy have never researched the exact specs yet but I have seen them in person (though not side by side). I swear that Suzuki is owned by Toyota or GM.

 

In Spain there's a lot of "media pushing" for the best sellers like Volkswagen, Renault, Citroen, Ford, etc.

Not to mention Seat, once a national owned company and now part of VAG. The Japanese car makers seem to be always underperformers for the european press.

Mazda caught my eye because there are a lot of older 323's here in Catalonia, they're still running!

Then came the new 323F (Protege5 for you) and then I realised that it was my car. The spanish press has not given enought attention to Mazda, although this would change because there's a Ford factory in Valencia (Spain) that is going to produce a new model for Mazda. So this would probably lead to better reviews...

Maybe Mazda should hire me after all...

 

Canoe is owned by the Sun ... so don't worry about taking their opinons seriously anyway because they always talk out of their *****

I'd be insulted if they compared the P5 amongst that ugly lot of crap! It would be more correct to pit it vs the Volvo V-40, Lexus IS 300 Sportcross, Kia Rio RX-V, Focus ZX-5 ... the cars that are still cars, not minivans that someone left in the dryer for too long

 

rjakobs, that is damn funny, minivans left in the dryer for too long...heh heh heh

 

Thanks for your input. The article to which you refer was not researched and
written by our good folks here, though. It is an Associated Press article
that we picked up off the wire. I imagine it probably ran in many other
publications around the world.

As background, let me state that the hatchback never really went away, it's
just that automakers lost sight of how to make them appeal to younger
buyers -- some created slab sized station wagons of their subcompacts (like
the Ford Escort and Chev Cavalier) others just gave up on the bodystyle
(like the Honda Civic and Toyota Tercel and Corolla), and some just
soldiered on in obscurity (the VW Golf and Subaru Impreza, for example).

Although I share your view that the Protege5 is probably the most exciting
of the ones available today, I can't honestly agree that it is a market
leader. The truth is that had it not been for the PT Cruiser, chances are
vehicles like the Protege5 and Focus ZX5 would never have landed on North
American shores -- remember that both the Familia 5-door (Protege5) and
Focus 5-door hatchback have been available in Japan and/or Europe since
those vehicles were introduced. That Matrix and Vibe not only exist but are
being produced in North America is further proof that the North American
market has finally got its head on straight. That is directly attributed to
Chrysler's bringing the PT Cruiser to production.

The differences the new models share with PT Cruiser, and the ZX5 a bit, but
not with Protege5, Impreza, Golf, Hyundai Elantra, and Kia Rio RX-V is the
higher seating positions and rooflines, and widely-adaptable interiors.
Granted the others' interiors are adaptable and roomy too, but not to the
same extent.

I have to agree with the AP article, that the success of this market will
not be measured by how well the Protege5 does (and it looks to be Mazda's
saviour right now) but by how well Matrix and Vibe travel the road paved by
the PT Cruiser.

Cheerz for reading,