Mazda's recently released 323 Protegé has
won its first major award.In a field of eight candidates, the stylish sedan won the
hotly contested Small Car section in the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria’s (RACV)
annual "Best Buy Awards" which were presented in Melbourne today.
RACV judges said the Protegé delivers refined driving performance with improved engine
flexibility and handling response - "Price leader in the top three, the latest 323
Sedan is accommodating, practical and easy to live with."
Priced from $20,990 including air conditioning as standard equipment, the new Protegé
is offered with a choice of 1.6 litre and 1.8 litre engines and five speed manual or 4
speed automatic transmission.
Managing director of Mazda Australia, Malcolm Gough, said the award recognised that the
new 323 range represented the best value for money in the small car market.
"The Protegé is an extremely well appointed vehicle which boasts the highest
Japanese quality to make it the benchmark in the small sedan group," he said.
