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MAZDA 323 Used Car Review

The Mazda 3 is today one of the country's most popular cars, yet Australia fell in love with Mazda hatchbacks as early as 1977 with the first 323. It sold like hotcakes in 1981 when a new-generation front-wheel-drive 323 replaced the rear-drive model. There were various hatch, sedan and wagon body styles, and in the mid-1990s there was even a V6 alternative to the mainly four-cylinder line-up. A sporty SP20 model bolstered the 323's image before the model was replaced from 2004 onwards by the Mazda 3.

Pros

Cons

  • Good ride comfort and handling for its time
  • SP20 variant was particularly good fun to drive
  • Refinement of old 2.0-litre V6
  • Spare parts may be harder to come by now
  • Autos only had either three or four speeds
This is general information and should not be relied on as purchasing advice.
Mazda323SedanIs your car registered?: YesPremiumClear all

Top1998 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE 🏆 ✅rwc ✅rego ✅Manual ✅great car

  • 219817 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

🏆🔥 1998 Mazda 323 Protégé 🔥🏆 Current (RWC) & QLD Registration 👉 4 Door Manual 4 Seater Sedan 👉 Comes With Current Roadworthy Certificate and QLD registration till 22/07/2024. ✅ Good Car, 4 Cylinder reliable, CD Player , Well Looked After, Fuel Efficient, Drives Great, Super Reliable. 👉 Drives Excellent ✔️✔️✔️✔️. 👉 Go

$2,999 Excl. Gov. Charges
Arundel, QLD

Dealer used
5 hours ago

TopMAZDA 323 PROTEGE AUTO

  • 176097 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

AUTO TIDY LOW KLMS REGO INC RWC INC STAMP DUTY INC CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE https://www.broombroom.au/ YES WE DO FINANCE FINANCE MADE EASY SELF EMPLOYED FINANCE LOW DOC FINANCE PENSIONER FINANCE SOLE PARENT FINANCE OUR LOW OVERHEADS = LOW PRICES TO YOU!!!!!!! YES WE WILL TRADE-IN Our price range of trucks and cars plus a team who are easy to deal with, will hopefully put the fun back into buying your next investment with us! With our big buying power and high turnover of vehicles you save

$4,999 Drive Away^
Loganholme, QLD

Dealer used
Yesterday

Top1999 Mazda 323 BJ Protege Silver 5 Speed Manual Sedan

  • 200960 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

Unitrade Motors is not your typical ‘used car dealer’, we offer you a purchasing experience like no other. We pride ourselves on being friendly, reliable, trustworthy and finding you the perfect car that suits your requirements. Our team carefully hand selects our vehicles with precision and confidence. It's the quality of our cars that is important to us - not the quantity. All of our vehicles are checked over by our trusted mechanics and come ready to drive away with a Road Worthy Certifica

$4,499 Excl. Gov. Charges
Carrum Downs, VIC

Dealer used
7 hours ago

Top2003 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SEDAN AUTO 4CYL 1.8L *119,000 KMS ONLY*

  • 119000 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

✔️RWC ✔️REGO ✔️WARRANTY ✔️FINANCE ✔️TRADE INS 2003 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SEDAN AUTO 4CYL 1.8L *119,000 KMS ONLY* 🏁 BLUETOOTH CONNECTION TO LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC 🏁 DRIVES VERY NICE & SMOOTH 🏁 RWC & REGISTRATION 🏁 FREEZING AIRCON 🏁 ODO: 119,000KMs 🏁 PETROL ENGINE 🏁 ALLOY WHEELS 🏁 WARRANTY 🏁 AUTOMATIC 🏁 5 SEATER 🏁 5 DOORS 🏁 4CYL 🏁 RWC 🏁 1.8L 🏁🏁 THE CAR COMES WITH ROADWORTHY CERTIFICATE & REGISTRATION (exc. Gov. Charges) 🏁🏁 THE CAR COMES WITH DEALER WARRANTY 🏁🏁 FINANC

$5,995 Excl. Gov. Charges
Acacia Ridge, QLD

Dealer used
Yesterday

Top2000 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SHADES 5 SP MANUAL 4D SEDAN

  • 197605 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

Great little manual car nil engine issues. - new battery bought 15/4/24 - Year old brake disc - new rear shockies - damage on attached photos Ready to go.

$4,000
Midland, WA

01/05/2024

1998 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE 🏆 ✅rwc ✅rego ✅Manual ✅great car

  • 219817 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

🏆🔥 1998 Mazda 323 Protégé 🔥🏆 Current (RWC) & QLD Registration 👉 4 Door Manual 4 Seater Sedan 👉 Comes With Current Roadworthy Certificate and QLD registration till 22/07/2024. ✅ Good Car, 4 Cylinder reliable, CD Player , Well Looked After, Fuel Efficient, Drives Great, Super Reliable. 👉 Drives Excellent ✔️✔️✔️✔️. 👉 Go

$2,999 Excl. Gov. Charges
Arundel, QLD

Dealer used
5 hours ago

1999 Mazda 323 BJ Protege Silver 5 Speed Manual Sedan

  • 200960 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

Unitrade Motors is not your typical ‘used car dealer’, we offer you a purchasing experience like no other. We pride ourselves on being friendly, reliable, trustworthy and finding you the perfect car that suits your requirements. Our team carefully hand selects our vehicles with precision and confidence. It's the quality of our cars that is important to us - not the quantity. All of our vehicles are checked over by our trusted mechanics and come ready to drive away with a Road Worthy Certifica

$4,499 Excl. Gov. Charges
Carrum Downs, VIC

Dealer used
7 hours ago

MAZDA 323 PROTEGE AUTO

  • 176097 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

AUTO TIDY LOW KLMS REGO INC RWC INC STAMP DUTY INC CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE https://www.broombroom.au/ YES WE DO FINANCE FINANCE MADE EASY SELF EMPLOYED FINANCE LOW DOC FINANCE PENSIONER FINANCE SOLE PARENT FINANCE OUR LOW OVERHEADS = LOW PRICES TO YOU!!!!!!! YES WE WILL TRADE-IN Our price range of trucks and cars plus a team who are easy to deal with, will hopefully put the fun back into buying your next investment with us! With our big buying power and high turnover of vehicles you save

$4,999 Drive Away^
Loganholme, QLD

Dealer used
Yesterday

2003 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SEDAN AUTO 4CYL 1.8L *119,000 KMS ONLY*

  • 119000 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

✔️RWC ✔️REGO ✔️WARRANTY ✔️FINANCE ✔️TRADE INS 2003 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SEDAN AUTO 4CYL 1.8L *119,000 KMS ONLY* 🏁 BLUETOOTH CONNECTION TO LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC 🏁 DRIVES VERY NICE & SMOOTH 🏁 RWC & REGISTRATION 🏁 FREEZING AIRCON 🏁 ODO: 119,000KMs 🏁 PETROL ENGINE 🏁 ALLOY WHEELS 🏁 WARRANTY 🏁 AUTOMATIC 🏁 5 SEATER 🏁 5 DOORS 🏁 4CYL 🏁 RWC 🏁 1.8L 🏁🏁 THE CAR COMES WITH ROADWORTHY CERTIFICATE & REGISTRATION (exc. Gov. Charges) 🏁🏁 THE CAR COMES WITH DEALER WARRANTY 🏁🏁 FINANC

$5,995 Excl. Gov. Charges
Acacia Ridge, QLD

Dealer used
Yesterday

2001 Mazda 323 Protoge ! Serviced & Inspected ! Low Kilometres ! Auto ! Like New !

  • 76717 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

This Mazda 323 represents the perfect everyday car. It is ideal for many uses ensuring your satisfaction for whether it is a car for daily commuting, the family or even business use. With its sharp looks and great features it will not disappoint. Be sure that this Mazda is of the highest quality as it looks and drives like brand new and has been very well taken care of. This Mazda comes fully loaded with heaps of extras including; -Low kilometres -Ice cold air conditioning -Like new ! -Key l

$6,949 Excl. Gov. Charges
Lansvale, NSW

Dealer used
Yesterday

1994 Mazda 323 Green 3 Speed Automatic Sedan

  • 127729 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

Looking for a reliable and affordable ride? Look no further! This 1994 MAZDA 323 is the perfect sedan for you. With a CARB 1.6L engine and automatic transmission, this vehicle is a smooth and easy ride. The green exterior adds a pop of color to your daily commute. This MAZDA 323 comes equipped with power steering, making handling a breeze. Stay entertained on the road with the radio cassette player. With a low odometer reading of just 127,729 km, this vehicle still has plenty of life left in i

$4,999 Excl. Gov. Charges
Belmore, NSW

Dealer used
04/05/2024

2003 Mazda 323 BJ II-J48 Protege Shades Black 4 Speed Automatic Sedan

  • 193631 km
  • Sedan
  • Auto
  • 4 cyl 1.8L

SN1501 ***NEW TIMING BELT - JUST SERVICED - ALLOYS - RWC - 12 MTH WARRANTY*** This 2009 Commodore is located at National Automotive, (Ph: ), Carcity, Ringwood, 25 kms from the Melbourne CBD. While we consider reasonable offers be aware we have priced this car as competitively as possible so our price is fixed. HOURS: MON - SAT 9:30 - 4:30 - SUN 10:30 - 4:00 PM Looking for a reliable and stylish sedan that's great to drive? Look no further than this 2003 Mazda 323 Shades! Wit

$7,990 Drive Away^
Ringwood, VIC

Dealer used
04/05/2024

2002 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SP20

  • 225827 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 2.0L

2002 Mazda 323 Protege SP20, this is a very rare and unique sports sedan, it has had one owner from new, and he is a Mazda Master Technician at Mazda Dealer, (now retired). It is in beautiful original condition inside and out. It drives as you would expect of a car that has been loved and cared for by somebody who has been trained by the factory to do that very thing ! A one off opportunity for someone to enjoy a stunning Mazda sports sedan in immaculate condition as it came from the factory.

$5,650 Excl. Gov. Charges
Kempsey, NSW

Dealer used
03/05/2024

2000 MAZDA 323 PROTEGE SHADES 5 SP MANUAL 4D SEDAN

  • 197605 km
  • Sedan
  • Manual
  • 4 cyl 1.6L

Great little manual car nil engine issues. - new battery bought 15/4/24 - Year old brake disc - new rear shockies - damage on attached photos Ready to go.

$4,000
Midland, WA

01/05/2024

Overview of the Mazda 323

Overview of the Mazda 323

The Mazda 3 is today one of the country's most popular cars, yet Australia fell in love with Mazda hatchbacks as early as 1977 with the first 323.

It sold like hotcakes in 1981 when a new-generation front-wheel-drive 323 replaced the rear-drive model.

There were various hatch, sedan and wagon body styles, and in the mid-1990s there was even a V6 alternative to the mainly four-cylinder line-up. A sporty SP20 model bolstered the 323's image before the model was replaced from 2004 onwards by the Mazda 3.

MAZDA 323 GENERATIONS (SINCE 1994)

1994-1998

1998-2003

RUNNING COSTS

Fuel Consumption

1.6L 4-cylinder: 7.0 to 7.7 litres per 100km

1.8L 4-cylinder: 7.7 to 8.3 litres per 100km

2.0L 4-cylinder (SP20): 8.0 litres per 100km

2.0L V6: 10.0 litres per 100km

= Highly economical.

= Good economy.

= Average fuel use.

= Heavy consumption.

Servicing

SIMILAR MODELS TO MAZDA 323

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR: MAZDA 323 (1998 TO 2003)

The youngest Mazda 323 is now quite an old car. That means you really need to look at every prospective purchase on its individual merits, rather than on any hard and fast rules.

That said, there are a couple of recurring themes to be observed, starting with a 323 that has ever had its engine overheated.

This can be tricky to determine years later, but any engine that blows blue or grey smoke on start-up, has a misfire or a rough idle could be exhibiting the long-term effects of once having been too hot. This damage is permanent, too, and won't go away with a service.

Automatic versions also required their transmissions to be serviced according to the factory maintenance schedule.

A quick check involves getting the engine temperature up to normal (after a five-minute drive, for instance) letting it idle and removing the transmission dipstick.

The fluid on the stick should be a clean, clear red colour and shouldn't smell of burnt toast.