A 2.5-liter engine would work better with an automatic, which causes power losses. The four-speed automatic transmission has a manual shift feature, but causes acceleration to suffer a bit and hinders passing and hill climbing. The tachometer registers a high 3,100 rpm at 65 mph, reflecting the engine's size, but easy cruising isn't a problem on level roads. And its size calls for a downshift from overdrive fifth gear to fourth or even third gears for fast 65-75 mph passing times. But the fuel-thrifty, ultra-low-emissions engine is noisy when pushed. Acceleration is lively, with the 0-60 mph dash taking 8.9 seconds with the manual transmission. The 2-liter four-cylinder engine has dual overhead camshafts and 16 valves, so it develops a respectable 130 horsepower for its small size. Supportive bucket seats, sports-car driving position, legible off-white gauges, thick leather-wrapped wheel and short-throw gear shifter set you up to feel as if you're at the wheel of something much more than just another small wagon.īut all isn't perfect because the shifter is occasionally notchy and the light clutch has a long throw and somewhat vague feeling. The few major options include $800 anti-lock brakes with side air bags, $700 power moonroof, $800 automatic transmission and $500 in-dash six-disc CD changer. There's enough equipment to justify a higher price, with such items as air conditioning, cruise control, tilt wheel, console, AM/FM/CD player, rear spoiler, roof rack, rear wiper-washer, front fog lights and power windows, door locks and mirrors-besides remote keyless entry. But the $16,385 Protege5 will hardly break the bank, and is so nicely built and designed that it feels as if it could cost in the high teens. The Protege5 is the costliest model in the subcompact Protege line, which also contains sedans that cost from $13,075 to $15,700. Open the hood and you see a race-car-style strut tower bar that stiffens the front of the chassis for improved steering response, besides easily reached fluid filler areas. But we could do without the "5'' designation because it just comfortably seats four adults. Many folks (especially younger ones) stared at my test model, which had vivid, screaming, flaming yellow paint. In fact, the $16,385 Protege5 resembles the $32,305 Lexus IS 300 SportCross sports wagon. There also are sporty looking 16-inch alloy wheels and body color bumpers, door handles and mirrors. The Protege5 has a racy look with body-color front/rear air dams and broad fender flares and body sills. Some call it a "sport wagon,'' but it's plenty roomy with a spacious back seat and decent cargo area even with its standard 60/40 split-folding rear seats in their upright position. The front-drive Protege5 thus is more of a sporty hatchback than a wagon. Go ahead and call the fun-to-drive Protege5 a sports car clothed as a station wagon-although its roofline hasn't been extended rearward enough to allow genuine station wagon capacity.
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