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Tough Crowd Comparison Test: Mazda Protegé

Second Place: Mazda Protegé
April, 2009
By Dave Coleman
MAZDASPEED Protegé
Estimated Price : $19,980
Engine
Engine Code : FS
Type : Inline four, iron block,
aluminum head,
turbocharged and intercooled
Valvetrain : DOHC, four valves
per cylinder
Displacement : 1991cc
Bore x Stroke : 83 x 92 mm
Compression Ratio : 9.1:1
Claimed Crank Hp : 170 hp @ 5500 rpm
Claimed Crank Torque : 155 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Measured Wheel Hp : 150 hp @ 6000 rpm
Measured Wheel Torque : 150 lb-ft @ 3700 rpm
Redline : 6500 rpm
Drivetrain
Layout : Transverse front-engine,
front-wheel drive
Transmission : Five-speed manual
Gear Ratios
1 : 3.307:1
2 : 1.842:1
3 : 1.310:1
4 : 0.970:1
5 : 0.755:1
Final Drive : 4.105:1
Differential : Conical ring
torque-sensing limited slip
Chassis
Measured Curb Weight : 2,810 lb
Weight Distribution F/R : 63/37 estimated
Overall Length : 174.6 in.
Wheelbase : 102.8 in.
Overall Width : 67.1 in.
Track F/R : 57.4 in./57.2 in.
Height : 55.5 in.
Suspension
Front : MacPherson Strut,
anti-roll bar
Rear : Strut with two lateral
links and one trailing link,
anti-roll bar
Brakes
Front : 10.8-in. vented discs,
single-piston sliding calipers
Rear : 11.0-in. solid discs,
single-piston sliding calipers
Electronic Driving Aids/Inhibitors : ABS Standard
(prototype test car was
not ABS equipped)
Wheels and Tires
Wheels : 17x7-in. Racing Hart
Tires : 215/45ZR-17 Bridgestone
Potenza RE040
Performance
Acceleration
0-30 mph : 2.8 sec.
0-60 mph : 7.6 sec.
30-50 mph : 2.9 sec
50-70 mph : 4.1 sec.
Quarter-Mile Time @ Speed : 15.5 sec. @ 89.4 mph
Handling
Lateral Grip (200ft skidpad) : 0.89g
Slalom Speed (700ft slalom) : 70.3 mph
Braking
60-0 Stopping Distance : 123 ft (no ABS)

Honda Civic Research
Honda Civic Explore the new Civic and examine the various features it has to offer. Check the available rebates for the Civic, which will help you save money on your next new car purchase. It comes with comparable warranty coverage to other vehicles in its class. You also might want to research the Nissan Altima and the Mazda CX9.