Ten years ago, the 1997 Protegé drove well, but wasn't exactly a spectacular car. The hottest model, the LX, had a 1.8-liter engine that developed 122 horsepower, and cost $17,200. As for the base SE model, it made do with a 92-hp, 1.5-liter engine and 13-inch wheels.
Today, the 3 GT with the Luxury Package tested here costs $25,245, has a 156-horsepower 2.3-liter engine, and offers equipment that used to be reserved for high-end luxury cars: bi-xenon headlights, 17-inch wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers and heated seats. My, has time changed, yet our needs for transportation didn't really change all that much...
Fun to drive
The 3 always shined by its sporty character, whichever version or engine that's sitting under the hood. The 2.3-liter unit is peppy and reaches its redline very rapidly. The shift lever begs us to be abused, and the generous amount of torque makes for interesting acceleration and passing times.
The suspension is a little hard, but it's the price to pay for the road manners of the GT version. The car hangs on in curves, and the precise and direct steering entices us to divert from the commute to work in order to have some fun in nearby countryside back roads.
The 3 isn't perfect, however. The engine spins vigorously at highway speeds, and we often try to shift into a 6th gear that unfortunately doesn't exist. As a result, the cockpit gets noisy. As for fuel economy, I averaged 10.3 L/100 km, which is better than what I achieved in a Mazda3 GT that I drove last year.
Well-finished interior
Lots of plastic, but its texture is pleasing. The dashboard is pretty with its silver trim pieces. The front seats are comfortable and offer good lateral support for those spirited driving moments. The audio and cruise control buttons are perfectly placed on the steering wheel spokes. The glovebox is so deep that a school binder can fit in it.
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Today, the 3 GT with the Luxury Package tested here costs $25,245, has a 156-horsepower 2.3-liter engine, and offers equipment that used to be reserved for high-end luxury cars: bi-xenon headlights, 17-inch wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers and heated seats. My, has time changed, yet our needs for transportation didn't really change all that much...
Fun to drive
The 3 always shined by its sporty character, whichever version or engine that's sitting under the hood. The 2.3-liter unit is peppy and reaches its redline very rapidly. The shift lever begs us to be abused, and the generous amount of torque makes for interesting acceleration and passing times.
The suspension is a little hard, but it's the price to pay for the road manners of the GT version. The car hangs on in curves, and the precise and direct steering entices us to divert from the commute to work in order to have some fun in nearby countryside back roads.
The 3 isn't perfect, however. The engine spins vigorously at highway speeds, and we often try to shift into a 6th gear that unfortunately doesn't exist. As a result, the cockpit gets noisy. As for fuel economy, I averaged 10.3 L/100 km, which is better than what I achieved in a Mazda3 GT that I drove last year.
Well-finished interior
Lots of plastic, but its texture is pleasing. The dashboard is pretty with its silver trim pieces. The front seats are comfortable and offer good lateral support for those spirited driving moments. The audio and cruise control buttons are perfectly placed on the steering wheel spokes. The glovebox is so deep that a school binder can fit in it.
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