Its lines are clearly more elegant than the previous 323 sedan's, and the finish is of a higher quality. 1999 Mazda Protegé ES Is Better, Not Bigger.But we did question its styling, wondering if so thoroughly improved a car should look so much like its predecessor and whether buyers in this category still appreciate the boy-racer look of aero tack-ons. We liked the Escort GT, finding it quick, lively, responsive, and modern. Ford and Mazda jointly developed the Escort/323 platform, and Mazda supplies the sixteen-valve 1.8 used in both the Escort GT and the LX version of the Protegé. We previously drove this engine-chassis combination when we tested the new Escort GT ( C/D, August 1990). All for just a few dollars per month more than basic transportation. All of which has helped make the Protegé what it is: a slick and tidy four-door sedan that runs almost like crazy, welcomes four grown people, and looks shamelessly like a Mercedes 190. The goal was to recast its public image, from a maker of low-priced cars to a premium-quality specialty manufacturer. Rather than basking in its Miata and MPV successes, Mazda was moving and shaking, restructuring itself for more efficient decision-making. Mazda introduced the Protegé late in the summer of 1989, the same time the concept of "kansei engineering" and the tag line "It Just Feels Right" appeared in the company's advertising. From the February 1991 issue of Car and Driver.
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