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Inside Story:
2009 Toyota Matrix XR
2009 Toyota Matrix TWONNNNNNNNNNNG!!!! Uh-oh. That can't be good. The last time a Clark cared about how a car door closed was 1965, according to Papa Clark. For those that care to Google, the year of the Total Performance full-size Fords boasted of an interior that was quieter at 60 mph than a Rolls-Royce. The door on the winning Ford Galaxie 500 XL had the best closing sound, compared to the Pontiac Parisienne and the Plymouth Fury that were on the short list. Of course, there was nothing between those doors but air. And yet, the importance of that acoustic thud has been with us for as long as loafers have been smudging their shoe polish on tires.
The Cockpit
The familiar Toyota three-spoke wheel includes audio navigation tabs on the left, with a traditional cruise control lever indented at the four o'clock position. Wiper controls include an intermittent swipe for the rear glass, while the headlamp switch lacks an Auto setting. Power mirror controls are dash-mounted, to the left of the gauge pod, and at a sensible height.
The Centre Stack
There's little to confuse you for audio and HVAC dials. A digital clock is found ahead of the shifter, flanked by two outfitter switch blanks for future equipment upgrades. In the "Huh?" department is the rear defroster switch, which appears to have no thermostatic shut-off.
Cubbies!
The non-locking glovebox yields no cool-box venting, though there is an upper provision for the owners-manual collection. The front cupholder system is both an exercise in innovation and penny-pinching for materials. Two dividers are used, with additional positioning slots designed to tailor-fit the beverage cavity. It works most of the time, though the depth needs to be expanded a smidge for this Venti-sized world of ours. Ahead of the cupholder is a well, destined for cell phone or music player parking, with an auxiliary audio jack and the only 12-volt DC powerpoint in the entire vehicle. The first of the centre console compartments includes a card and pen holder, with a larger lower cavity.
Like the front doors, the rear doors of the Matrix supply bottle-specific cavities, positioned at strange angles. The front passenger seatback is a kinda-cubby, with its fold-forward function and flat work space that's perfect for road warrior laptops. The driver's side seatback gets the storage pocket. In between those seatbacks is a flip-out C-clamp dual cupholder. The driver's knee hides a tip-out compartment for flip phone or coin stowage. Speaking of flipping out, a hook of this nature is found near the bottom of the glovebox door, for bags, purses, and murses.
The Overhead
Visors receive dual unlit vanity mirrors, with no sliding action for optimum sun shield. Frontal map lights work independently of the door/hatch-activated lamps. The roof rails have slots at the ready for dealer-installed accessory rack systems.
Seat treat
No heat, just height adjustment for the driver's seat. On a quality note, the materials used for the XR seat surfaces border on backpack, with grade-nine shop-class quality in the stitching department.
Cargo
The ample hatch opening reveals a hard plastic load floor, which keeps most items in check, thanks to rubbery raised strips. Of particular note is a flat load floor, with rear seats descended. Robust cargo tie-downs are found throughout the cargo area. The design-savvy/cheap-out debate continues, with a collapsible tonneau cover for the rear cargo cavity. It stows in a flattened fashion, with a proprietary bag with printed instructions. The attachment points are anything but robust, and seem doomed to snap off in frigid winter weather.
Spare care
The cargo floor unlocks to reveal a space-saver spare, with adjacent tool stowage. Roadside assistance continues as an extra-cost membership of $84.95 per year, with no mileage restrictions during the subscription.
The mill
Even with the beefier 2.4-litre four in its engine bay, the XR displays little concern for future component access. The only fluid access head-scratch is the brake reservoir, which is reached after the removal of an upper panel and weatherstrip belt.
The Verdict
I'm going to go out on a limb here, and lump the Matrix less-plastic-is-more philosophy into the current Toyota green initiatives. The majority of the fit-and-finish items are spot-on, with the obvious exclusion of the TWONNNNNNNG! doors. What the restyle appears to have completely missed is the opportunity to add a few more wow-factor innovations. 3.5 stars.
Next week: 2008 Mazda B4000
Michael Clark is a Winnipeg-based freelance automotive writer |
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