The elemental humor that went along with the introduction was greatly appreciated, but not as much as the attractive little car that debuted. The MX Sportif is for all intents and purposes a mildly disguised next-generation Protegé5. Will they still call it a Protegé by the time it hits dealerships across the country, most likely not. Despite the strong brand equity in the Protegé nameplate, the company is said to be following the lead of their highly successful Mazda6, that recently replaced the 626, with a Mazda3 to replace the Protegé and most likely, Mazda5 for the Protegé5.
But if the Japanese Ford division is about to upset the applecart it might as well do it with a car as enticing as the MX Sportif. Not only does it look sensational, pulling all the right design cues from the sexy Mazda6, but it is packaged perfectly for the up and coming clientele it's aimed at.
With room enough for five, college students with friends and young families alike will find refuge in Mazda's little runabout. But it's not all about size. The MX sports an upscale interior, even more so than the current Protegé - one of the best in its compact class.