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Mazda Protege Cargo Space

The 2003 Mazda Protege has 20 cu ft of cargo space behind the rear seats: room for 3 checked suitcases or 10 carry-ons.

EPA interior volume · 20 cu ft cargo · 106 cu ft cabin · measured 2003 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

Among 18 sedans and coupes with a similar-sized cabin, the average is 23.5 cu ft, so the Protege sits below it.

What actually fits in a Protege

FIG.01·Mazda Protege — what fits in the trunk
What you are loadingHow many fitEach item
Checked suitcases327 × 21 × 14″ — 4.6 cu ft
Carry-on cases1022 × 14 × 9″ — 1.6 cu ft
Grocery bags16about 1 cu ft each
Golf bags3full set, about 5 cu ft
Folded strollerFitsabout 6 cu ft
ROWS 5·SOURCE ForCar, computed from EPA cargo volume

Cabin or cargo — where the space went

FIG.02·Mazda Protege — cabin versus cargo
SpaceVolumeShare of total
Passenger cabin106 cu ft84.1%
Cargo area20 cu ft15.9%
Total interior126 cu ft100%
ROWS 3·SOURCE EPA interior volume

Against cars with a similar cabin

FIG.03·Mazda Protege against similar cars
MeasureThis car18 sedans and coupes with a similar cabinDifference
Cargo volume20 cu ft23.5 cu ft-3.5 cu ft
In checked suitcases34-1
ROWS 2·SOURCE ForCar, computed across cars of similar cabin size

Cars with the same room

Against its closest rivals: the Kia Sephia has 14 cu ft, next to 20 cu ft for the Protege. That makes the Protege the roomiest of the two.

FIG.04·Mazda Protege — cars with the same cargo room
CarLoad volumevs Mazda ProtegeChecked suitcasesMeasured
Buick Riviera18 cu ft-2 cu ft31999
Kia Spectra18 cu ft-2 cu ft32009
Saab 90024 cu ft+4 cu ft41997
Saab 900024 cu ft+4 cu ft41998
Chevrolet Optra9 cu ft-11 cu ft12007
ROWS 5·SOURCE EPA interior volume + ForCar
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Everything on the Mazda Protege
Recalls35 campaignsFuel economy30 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems1,196 complaintsCheck a VINAgainst this exact buildDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices120 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1990–2003

Frequently asked questions

How much cargo space does the Mazda Protege have?

20 cu ft behind the rear seats in the 2003 model, with 106 cu ft of passenger space. The average for 18 sedans and coupes with a similar cabin is 23.5 cu ft.

Does the Protege have more cargo space than the Kia Sephia?

Yes: 20 cu ft against 14 cu ft for the 2001 Kia Sephia, about 6 cu ft more.

Which cars have the same cargo room as the Protege?

The closest by volume in the same body family are the Buick Riviera (18 cu ft), Kia Spectra (18 cu ft) and Saab 900 (24 cu ft), against 20 cu ft for the Protege.

Cargo and passenger volumes from EPA interior-volume records, measured 2003 for the Mazda Protege, seats up. Luggage capacity computed by ForCar at 80% usable volume against airline-standard case sizes (how we count). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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