What exactly is the Mazda Protege5?

[chuyler1]

When people ask you what your car is, what do you tell them? I have trouble explaining it. . .

If I tell them its a hatchback when they see it they go "oh its a cute little wagon"

If I tell them its a wagon they say "thats too small for a wagon, its a hatchback"

So what do you tell people?

[twizyours]

I would say it is a haychback since it is smaller then the sedan and the sedan is pretty damn small. When I park my sedan next to other cars that is when I realized how small my sedan is.

[JrTekSilverP5]

its a SPORTS WAGON, for the simple fact that it handles the best of any car Ive EVER drivin and it has four doors AND A hatch

[bluetribal]

ITS AN F'n HATCHBACK! IT'S NOT A WAGON! Ha ha
How about this for personal plates? NOTAWGN

[JrTekSilverP5]

the voters seem to beg to differ with you BLUE

[bluetribal]

That's why I have to get one and start a Hatchback revolution. I am WAY too young to have a wagon, sport or not..... :D

[JrTekSilverP5]

yeah i know what u mean but face the facts

[Kooldino]

Sorry, the P5 is a wagon, period. A Z28 or an RSX is a hatch. Completely different. 2 doors vs 4, and the obvious slope of the 5th door makes a difference.

[bluetribal]

A VW golf has 4 doors. What do you consider that? The MP5 is just a long hatch back.. Hahhhahah

[MadBiker]

It's a wagon unfortunately. When I told a friend what I got and my friend told his wife what I got, she wanted to know what kind of "minivan" it was, and how many kids we were going to be hauling around in it. ouch!!!

[seatown.P5]

my brother-in-law called it an "extended sedan". but that makes it sound like a limo.

but then my sister-in-law called it "spunky". i wanted to scream. that's the last thing i wanted, a spunky car.

[ATLskate]

It is a 4 door hatchback, the Ford Focus has both, a Wagon version, and the ZX5, which the hatch area is roughly the same size as our cars. not near as long as a wagon. Just because a car has 4 doors, does not exclude it from being a hatchback.

[ATLskate]

compared to this.....

[chuyler1]

Minivan? ouch.

The problem is, it is both a hatchback and a wagon at the same time...well its definatly a wagon...but the definintion of hatchback depends upon how old you are...

When someone says hatchback I think VW Golf and Honda Civic (not the sedan version). In this case it could be considered a large hatchback.

Some older people may associate hatch with an even smaller car such as the Rabbit or the Chevy Nova...if this is your definition of a hatchback, the MP5 is obviously larger and obviously a wagon.

Then there is the dispute of wagon. You can either think of a Ford Escort wagon, or a VW Jetta wagon in which case it matches pretty close. But then older people will have the mind set of a late 70s early 80s Caprice Station Wagon. <<shudder>>

So I thats why I think sport wagon fits well. Wagon puts the image of a larger 4-door vehicle with a door on the back (could open up like a mini van, or fold down like a truck). Then Sport takes that image and makes it smaller, sporty cars are generally smaller. When someone says sports car I think of the miata, mr2, s2000....If they were to say muscle car, then I would think Mustang,Camaro,Firebird.

So survey says....

We drive a sport wagon!

We must unite on this one...i don't want to hear the word hatchback again in this forum :)

[azeli73]

I agree with sport wagon. this car handles just as or better than some $50k vehicles. therefore, sporty... :p

[REMillers]

I still refer to it as a hatchback, for the lack of cargo space. To me a wagon should have more, without having to put the seats down.

But alais we can settle this by looking at the all mightly markers of the car.

Mazda:


Website (http://www1.mazdausa.com/)

Highlight the link for the P5 and what do they call it....

SPORT WAGON

Ahhhh *covers eyes*

Anyhow, least its not what they refer the Matrix as now:Wagon/SUV mix.

heheh

[chuyler1]

SUW

Sport Utility Wagon, thats what they should call the Matrix...or Shit Ugly Wagon if you as me.

[bluetribal]

Originally posted by chuyler1
So survey says....

We drive a sport wagon!

We must unite on this one...i don't want to hear the word hatchback again in this forum :) [/B]

Who died and made you god of the boards? Hatchback! Hatchback! Hatchback! Hatchback! Hatchback!

[bluetribal]

Originally posted by azeli73
I agree with sport wagon. this car handles just as or better than some $50k vehicles. therefore, sporty... :p

I don't like to start controversy or piss on peoples parade, OK I can give a rats A$$ about feelings. :p But just because someone pays 50K doesn't make it a sports car! C'mon!

[LittleRedWagon5]

It's the SHIZNIT ! MOFO.

Thats exactlly what it is and nothing more.

[bluetribal]

Your picture with the K&N filters ROCKS! Now just letem' breathe(boobs)

[InitialDMP5]

On the MAZDA webapge, when you rollover the Protege 5 pic at the top, it clearly says "Sport Wagon". There you go. I think some people don't like the fact that they own a wagon, and fear that others will make fun of them, and bruise their ego. I find it very amusing. I enjoy my wagon. Reminds me of when I was a kid and we had a Datsun station wagon, it was the exact same size as the p5.

[twizyours]

Well I have never known a wagon to be smaller then its sedan version. It looks bigger but actually isnt. Even the Techs call it a hatch.

[Natey]

It's a chick magnet! :D

[Natey]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by chuyler1
[b]SUW

Sport Utility Wagon

Nah, those are for washed-up Australian actors...

[Equinox]

Why it's not a wagon:

Insurance categorizes it as a compact car.

It is smaller than nearly every compact sedan.

It doesn't have any signifigant cargo space.

It measures a mere 170 inches.

The two side rear windows together are smaller than most hatchbacks side rear windows.


When I went shopping for cars, I was looking for the best hatchback on the market. The GTI was too square, the Cougar is a mercury, the Civic CX wasn't out that year new, the Golf is just lame, the focus has break away interior, the MP3 was badass at the time - and man, there was a hatchback version of it! So I bought a hatchback.

If you are going to call it a wagon you have to admit it as a compact wagon. Just go to edmunds.com, and find the fordfocus zx3/zx5 under wagon. You'll find Protege5 just down from it. Both of them, labeled "compact wagon".

When I feel like explaining it, it's a hatchback, when I don't feel like it, it's a wagon.

[ZoomThis]

I believe it is a Sportz Wagon! You can debate all you want about a hatchback and a wagon, but I have accepted the fact it is a wagon. BUT it is also has that sportz car feel to it. Henz SPORTZ WAGON.

By 2cents,
ZMTHIS

[chuyler1]

Ok, so "Station Wagon" is definatly ruled out. All that brings to my mind is the "Family Truckster"....ironically the Griswalds wanted to buy a cute blue sporty wagon...

I'm willing to accept sport compact wagon.

[kidkorrupt]

its a sport wagon.

thats how they refer to it in japan so thats what ill call it too =P

[xXMP5Xx]

Screw hatchback and wagan, i call it a mini-minivan :D :D :D

[ZoomThis]

Yes, Sportz Wagon! With an roaring intake and rumbling exhuast Sportz Wagon......hmmmmm.....Zoom-zoom through the turns and traffic Sportz Wagon........Yep, I am happy to accept that:)

ZMTHIS

[MadBiker]

Mazda is now calling the p5 a hatchback for those of you still interested in this thread:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=aboutPress#12

[InitialDMP5]

yes I read that recently on Mazdas redesigned page. i guess hatchback is cool as well. I think they are phasing out the wagon idea, as they change the P5 into the mx sportif concept, and start competing with Hondas SI and any other new vehicles that come out.

[CruzinAltitude]

I dont care what Mazda is calling it now, when it came out it was a Sports Wagon. When I fell in love with it, it was a Sports Wagon. When I bought it, it was a Sports Wagon. When I drive it, its a Sports Wagon. So, as far as I'm concerned It was, is, and always will be a SPORTS WAGON!

[sonkinglo]

how about a sport hatchback??
hehe

[CruzinAltitude]

Originally posted by sonkinglo
how about a sport hatchback??
hehe

Sure, I can live with that.

On second thought, nope, Its a Sports Wagon!

[iLisa]

I like calling it my 5 door sedan.. ;)
and I also call it my sports wagon

[GNsPR5]

Can I just throw in the word "recreation vehicle" just to screw things up? And what are they re-creating anyway?!?!? LOL!!

[Smilin Marty]

Originally posted by BigWavePro5
I dont care what Mazda is calling it now, when it came out it was a Sports Wagon. When I fell in love with it, it was a Sports Wagon. When I bought it, it was a Sports Wagon. When I drive it, its a Sports Wagon. So, as far as I'm concerned It was, is, and always will be a SPORTS WAGON!

I'm with you on this one.

Oh yeah, and another thing, dont call it "cute"!! :mad:

[MadBiker]

As long as it's never called a "minivan" I'm OK. I'm referring to my previous post in this thread. That hurt.

[CruzinAltitude]

Originally posted by Smilin Marty
Oh yeah, and another thing, dont call it "cute"!! :mad:

This KILLS me. All the girls at my work think its "cute." The girl at my insurance office thinks its "cute." The girl at the Carls J.r. drive thru window thinks its "cute." Damn it, its not cute, its aggressive, sporty, sexy, stylish, clean, mean, tight, whatever the hell you want to call it, OTHER THAN CUTE!!!!(piss)

[Pro5OnSpeed]

Oh yeah, and another thing, dont call it "cute"!!

amen brother!

i think you are all wrong!

ITS A FIVE DOOR!:p :D

[MP5Raycer]

ITS AN ASSDRAGGINSTATIONWAGGON LOL .. no i call it Mazdas New Sports Waggon but similar to a Hatchback

[MadBiker]

Aw c'mon guys, yeah it's got kickbutt looks and has a mean demeanor to it but at the same time it is CUTE. My wife fawns over it all the time. In Japanese she says it's kawaii (cute! sweet!). I don't care, as long as she likes it!

How about we call it a kawaiisporthatchbackwagon?

[rednecks_r_us]

Toe-may-toe tow-mah-toe
Who cares what you call it? It is still awesome to drive. It handles as good if not better than my old IROC-Z.

PS: How about a SPORT-Utility-Vehicle?
hehe haha

[chuyler1]

actually, it is directly compared to the Matrix and Vibe which are considered SPORT-Utility-...umm...cars? mini-mini-vans?