Specs for all generations of Mazda Familia

According to owners' and specialists' reports, Mazda Familia is, or at least was at the time of its production, a dependable car choice, with no major issues having been pointed out. New variants, however, have not been manufactuired since the discontinuation of the model in the early 2000s, meaning currently available Familia cars are now quite old. So, one should be aware that the age has probably taken its toll on reliability, due to natural wear and tear.

Mazda Familia was a greatly successful model, sold worldwide under this or other nameplates. The manufacturer ended Familia's production in the last quarter of the year 2003. In the beginning of the next year, Mazda3 was introduced as a replacement of the Familia line. Mazda3 is still (as of 2022) available and in production.

Keeping in mind that even the last Mazda Familia cars produced are now about 2 decades old (as of 2022), it's not easy to mark one as the best, comparing them to current vehicles. Comparing only Familia variants, however, we can say that the last two generations saw great improvements. These include a roomier interior, improved comfort and safety features, as well as enhanced driving performance.

Despite being classified as a compact car, Mazda Familia can offer enough room to make a good family car, depending on the variant. It is available in a few body styles, including a station wagon one, which is the most suitable to serve the needs of a family. Apart from size, other characteristics of the model that make it good for the purpose are practicality and reliability.

Mazda Protegé is a nameplate used for certain Mazda Familia vehicles in the United States. 1989 model year sedan and 2001 model year hatchback variants on the North American market first adopted the name. Performance-oriented limited-edition Protegé variants were introduced later on in 2001 and 2003, that were equipped with more horsepower, sports suspension, and 17-inch redesigned wheels.