Toyota Matrix

The Toyota Matrix falls somewhere between a compact car, a sport wagon, and a small crossover utility. When it came out in 2003, it was the only vehicle to combine car-like spirit and handling with the functionality of an SUV—all wrapped in an affordable package the size of a compact sedan. Moreover, it looked cool.

Five years later, the car market is crowded with similar vehicles from virtually every brand. The most notable competitors include the Dodge Caliber, Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Rondo, Suzuki SX4, Scion xB, Subaru Impreza, and Volkswagen Golf, to name a few. This segment of vehicles connects particularly with younger buyers interested in mix of style, versatility, performance, and affordability. The Toyota Matrix captures all these attributes in a well-balanced manner.

For 2009, the Matrix arrives as a second-generation redesign. It offers edgier, coupe-like styling, more passenger room, and an increase in performance—while remaining economical in terms of price tag and fuel efficiency. For these reasons, the new version is expected to be an even bigger hit with the Millennials and GenXers.

The Matrix is available in four models: the base, the S, the all-wheel-drive S, and the uplevel XRS. The XRS trim is the sportiest of the bunch.

Under the hood, the Matrix offers two new engines that boost power over the previous generation. There’s a 1.8-liter inline-four that produces 132 horsepower, and a very capable 2.4-liter four-cylinder outputting 162 horsepower. Both versions grant the Matrix the slight upshot of power it was missing in previous years. They also allow this little crossover to launch off the line more assertively. Power builds quickly and steadily, and engine noise is kept to a minimum.

These powerplants connect to one of three transmissions: a four-speed automatic, a five-speed automatic, or a five-speed manual gearbox. The good news is, whichever combination you select, you are going to end up with an efficient vehicle. Government fuel economy for the Matrix ranges from 20 city/26 highway for the all-wheel drive model, to 26 city/33 highway for the base model with a manual transmission. Expect combined fuel economy in the high 20s for the latter. And that goes for most of the other models and configurations as well. All of the EPA estimates are within a few ticks of each other, except for the all-wheel-drive model.

On the road, the Matrix drives like sporty coupe. It is agile and quick on the turns. There’s very little body roll or under-steer, which are characteristics typically found with SUVs. Its small, nimble nature makes it an excellent commuter vehicle, especially when having to perform quick lane changes. It also has a knack for fitting into tiny gaps found in both highway and city traffic. At the end of the day, the Matrix is just a fun little car to wheel around in.

Larger than the previous version, the Matrix seats up to five adults comfortably. The rear seat, especially, has been expanded to make more passenger room. The compromise has been a slight loss of cargo space, but not enough to notice. Overall, its functionality is still top-notch for those who like to throw in their stuff and hit the road.

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