Mazda Protege MPG by Year & Engine (EPA)

EPA fuel-economy ratings for every rated Mazda Protege model year from 1990 to 2003 — each engine and transmission with its official city, highway and combined figures. Over these years the Protege has been offered with 2.0L 4-cyl, 1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl engines; the most efficient version is the 1996 (up to 30 MPG combined). Data: U.S. Department of Energy & EPA, fueleconomy.gov; prices are live medians from VehiSales listings.

Mazda Protege fuel economy by year

YearCombinedEnginesMedian used priceFor sale
2003 23–24 MPG 2.0L 4-cyl — —
2002 24 MPG 2.0L 4-cyl — —
2001 24–28 MPG 1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl — —
2000 23–27 MPG 1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1999 23–27 MPG 1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1998 23–29 MPG 1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1997 23–29 MPG 1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1996 23–30 MPG 1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1995 22–30 MPG 1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1994 22–27 MPG 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1993 23–27 MPG 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1992 23–27 MPG 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1991 21–28 MPG 1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —
1990 21–28 MPG 1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl — —

2003 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 2003 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (2.0L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 24 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege/Protege 5 2.0L 4-cyl Automatic (S4) Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege/Protege 5 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege/Protege 5 2.0L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege/Protege 5 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Premium 21 27 23 MPG

2002 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 2002 Protege was EPA-rated in 3 versions (2.0L 4-cyl), with combined economy of 24 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege/Protege 5 2.0L 4-cyl Automatic (S4) Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege/Protege 5 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege/Protege 5 2.0L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG

2001 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 2001 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.6L 4-cyl, 2.0L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 24 to 28 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege/Protege MPS 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 25 31 28 MPG
Protege/Protege MPS 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 23 30 26 MPG
Protege/Protege MPS 2.0L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege/Protege MPS 2.0L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG

2000 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 2000 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 27 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 25 31 27 MPG
Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 23 30 26 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 25 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 27 23 MPG

1999 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1999 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 27 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 25 31 27 MPG
Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 23 30 26 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 25 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 27 23 MPG

1998 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1998 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 29 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 26 33 29 MPG
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 22 30 25 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 23 29 25 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 20 27 23 MPG

1997 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1997 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 29 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 26 33 29 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 23 29 25 MPG
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 22 30 25 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 20 27 23 MPG

1996 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1996 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 30 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 27 35 30 MPG
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 23 32 27 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 23 30 25 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 20 27 23 MPG

1995 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1995 Protege was EPA-rated in 6 versions (1.5L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 22 to 30 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 26 35 30 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 24 33 27 MPG
Protege 1.5L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 23 32 26 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 23 29 25 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 29 24 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 20 26 22 MPG

1994 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1994 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 22 to 27 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 24 33 27 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 21 27 24 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 29 24 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 20 26 22 MPG

1993 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1993 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 27 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 24 33 27 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 29 24 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 26 23 MPG

1992 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1992 Protege was EPA-rated in 4 versions (1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 23 to 27 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 24 33 27 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 29 24 MPG
Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 26 23 MPG

1991 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1991 Protege was EPA-rated in 8 versions (1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 21 to 28 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
323/323 Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 25 33 28 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 24 33 27 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 23 30 25 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 29 24 MPG
323 Protege 4x4 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 21 26 23 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 26 23 MPG
323 Protege 4x4 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 19 24 21 MPG

1990 Mazda Protege: engines & MPG

The 1990 Protege was EPA-rated in 8 versions (1.6L 4-cyl, 1.8L 4-cyl), with combined economy from 21 to 28 MPG.

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCityHwyCombined
323/323 Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 25 33 28 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 24 33 27 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.6L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 23 30 25 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 29 24 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 22 28 24 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Manual 5-spd Regular 21 26 23 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 21 26 23 MPG
323/323 Protege 1.8L 4-cyl Automatic 4-spd Regular 19 24 21 MPG

Frequently asked questions

What MPG does a Mazda Protege get?

Depending on year and engine, EPA combined ratings for the Protege range from 24 to 30 MPG. The most efficient rated version is the 1996 model year.

What engines does the 2003 Mazda Protege have?

The 2003 Protege was EPA-rated with 2.0L 4-cyl engines — see the 2003 table above for each version's exact city/highway figures.

Does the Mazda Protege require premium gas?

Some versions do: EPA lists regular gasoline and premium gasoline depending on year and engine — check your year's table above.

About this data: EPA ratings from the official U.S. DOE/EPA dataset (fueleconomy.gov), as of August 2026; refreshed monthly. Market prices and listing counts are live medians from VehiSales inventory, updated daily. How to cite: “VehiSales Research, Mazda Protege EPA Fuel Economy by Model Year” with a link to https://vehisales.com/research/fuel-economy/mazda/protege.

See also: Mazda Protege hub — live listings, prices & reliability · Most fuel-efficient cars by segment · Model price trends. Media inquiries: [email protected].

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