Picture Gallery: 2009 Toyota Matrix XR | Discuss
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The 2009 Toyota Matrix is a complete redesign of Toyota’s version of the small hatchback platform it shares with GM (which also serves as the basis for the Pontiac Vibe). The Toyota Matrix is designed exclusively for the North American market, despite being based off of the global Toyota Corolla architecture. The Matrix is also built in Ontario – talk about blurring the lines of import versus domestic!
With the drivers of Ottawa’s red-and-white buses on strike, I spent quite a bit of time behind the wheel of my own red-mobile for the week, going back and forth across the city several times with a few trips in snowstorms for added measure.
My tester was an XR model, B package with automatic transmission – with a suggested price of $24,155 including destination charges. The XR model bumps the engine from the standard 1.8-litre four-cylinder to a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with 158hp and 162lb-ft of torque; the automatic transmission is a 5-speed with a sequential multi-mode shifter, as Toyota calls it. The XR model is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive; my tester was equipped with the standard front-wheel drive option.
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The interior, despite its plastic fascia, does have many standard features, including: power windows and mirrors, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, cruise control, air-conditioning, height adjustable driver’s seat and a front folding passenger seat for greater cargo capacity.
The rear seat has a 60/40 split seatback, and of course the hatchback body style means cargo capacity is generous for a compact car. As mentioned, I spent quite some time behind the wheel of the Matrix during which I found the seating to be comfortable and the driving position well-suited to me; legroom was comfortable, too, with room to stretch on the highway with the cruise control engaged.
I found rear legroom to be somewhat limited with my driving position, which had the front seat further back, and the telescopic steering fully extended. Headroom is good all around with this car’s tall-wagon feel both front and back.
The cargo area was somewhat disappointing for me. The size was not the issue, but rather the materials used. The cargo floor is hard plastic – Toyota provided a rubberized cargo mat accessory that was still very hard – which meant that any boxes or other items would roll around the cargo bay constantly while the car was moving.
The cargo cover protector is also the cheapest cover I have yet encountered, although Toyota gets a thumbs up from me for providing one at all. This cover was a pain in the you-know-what, as it would keep popping off the little clips in the cargo area wall.
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My Matrix XR tester was still wearing the 17-inch aluminum alloy wheels it came with, although Toyota graciously provided winter rubber to ensure journalists didn’t end up in the ditches of Ottawa and the surrounding areas. Unfortunately, though, as with many winter tires with 45-series sidewalls, the tires are so stiff they perform only marginally better than an all-season tire – but this is a vehicle review, not a tire review.
The AWD option would have been a treat to have the week I drove the Matrix as I was caught in a few rather snowy days. The front-wheel drive Matrix - equipped with stability control and traction control - did perform admirably and never left me stuck, but the traction control was working overtime as the front wheels would spin on the smallest bit of snow and ice.
A quick tap on the traction control button and a little wheel spin would allow me to get moving; the system keeps the stability control on which is great if you find yourself out of control, and the traction control does re-enable after a period of time just incase you forget that you had switched it off.
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Rattles, bangs, clanks and bumps are unfortunately ever-present when driving the Matrix. The XR’s suspension, coupled with the low profile 17-inch tires, make for quite the rough ride indeed. This seemed to have taken a toll on my tester’s plastics, as creaks and rattles were evident over bumpy terrain.
What I didn’t enjoy about the ride, though, was made up for by the performance. The 2.4-litre engine is torquey and pulls the car away from a stop with authority, and the transmission is very quick to shift as well, but this has a downside and one that becomes painfully obvious when exiting a highway.
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When stopping from any higher speed roadways, I noticed the transmission was harsh when shifting into first gear upon stopping. Just before coming to a complete stop the transmission will shift into first gear, causing the car to lurch forward.
I was also not extremely impressed by my tester’s build quality. The doors sounded hollow when closed; there must not be much sound deadening in the doors, which also attributed to some road noise out on the highway.
But what I was impressed with was the engine’s fuel economy, especially for an engine with as much fun potential as the 2.4-litre. I averaged approximately 7.5L/100km over the course of my week with the Matrix, and that alone makes the Matrix a very compelling vehicle.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Toyota Matrix XR B-Package
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $24,155
For more information on Toyota and the Matrix visit Toyota Canada
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February 01, 2009, 08:55:23 pm Somewhat disappointing review; this was one of the vehicles we would look at next.
February 02, 2009, 08:54:08 am I'm not surprised by the noise and tinny doors. I drove my friends Yaris home the other day after he was drinking and you could head every grain of dust the dit the bottom of the car. It was a decent vehicle, and I know it was a sub compact, but still, it made the vehicle seem like a complete pile, when it really wasn't. Toyota has not figured out how to cheaply insulate their small vehicles...
February 02, 2009, 11:21:07 am The lack of heated seats in Matrix alone turns me off about this car.
February 02, 2009, 12:13:28 pm The review sounds like the impression I got from test-driving a 2009 Corolla. It felt so "old", both in ergonomics and tinny feel / rattles. The Sentra I finally got rides like a bimmer by comparion, and so did the Civic I test-drove.
February 02, 2009, 01:06:24 pm Interesting. I recently rode in a friends 97 corolla with 250,000 km. Not a rattle to be heard.
February 02, 2009, 01:28:30 pm I've only drove the previous matrix. It was a pleasant car and seam to drive quiet sporty. I didn't mine the route master driving position which had high up mini van feel and I like the easiness to fold the back seat down and the hard plastic floor which would have been great for my messy dog.
What I didn't like was.
The shiny silver plastic on the dash and doors. Because when the sun hit the dash and doors. The sliver plastic glinted too much and made my eyes squint. Nor did I like any of the other plastics. I wasn't keen on the dash board, Looking down little tunnels to see the dials. No change there I see.
Also I kept thinking that a Vibe is better to buy. B/C you were paying extra for the Toyota badge. Resale on this rare occasion is about the same as GM's vibe. I feel I have point out that, Matrix's seam to sell for a lot less than a Corolla same model year. I've seen this on a number of occasion. I drove a MK8 Civic the next day and never looked back.
I do think Toyota and Honda have slip on the quality of the plastics. when you compare a MK7 Civic to a MK8, Same with the Toyota's.
February 02, 2009, 02:19:35 pm I wasn't impressed at all with the new Matrix when I was looking. Way better cars out there for the money
February 02, 2009, 02:51:40 pm
February 02, 2009, 03:47:05 pm
Drive all the other Toyota's is all I can say in my defense.
February 02, 2009, 04:08:13 pm I thought it's well known that the rattles come standard on most new Toyota vehicles.
February 02, 2009, 07:46:06 pm ^^^ I drove the same car James did the week previous to his drive and spent seven days listening to a rattle that sounded like something was broken in behind the stereo/HVAC controls. I blamed on the cold (it was in the -20s most of the week), but my beater makes less noise than this Matrix did. My review will show up on the site in the next week or two.
February 03, 2009, 08:15:24 am I have rattles coming from my 07 camry about 6 months after i got it. It is less in summer and a lot more in winter but its still there.
I rented a subcompact for a week early this year and they gave me a almost brand new yaris sedan (about 3500kms on the odo). It was rattling too.
Toyota interior quality has deteriorated a lot in the last few years, i am hoping thay they have not lowered the quality of the the mechanicals.
I bought this car to be used as a appliance and hoping i get trouble free driving experience for atleast 10 years.
February 03, 2009, 09:05:35 am We considered the Yaris when we were looking for a small car and I still like them but we opted for the Accent 4 door and after three years and going on 50,000km not a rattle from body or suspension. Still seems new to me. Would buy again but like the Fit concept. Or maybe a new Accent and remove the rear seat and modify the deck to give a flat surface up to the the front seats in the full back location. The latter course would be cheaper but would have to store the seat.
February 03, 2009, 09:21:39 am We lucked out with our Corolla. After close to 30K, it's drum tight. I thought we had a bad rattle in the dash near the driver's door, but then I discovered that the change holder has no felt lining and it was some change banging around in it.
February 03, 2009, 11:15:14 am Our '06 RAV4 is still solid as well, which has been a pleasant surprise. Rattles or squeaks drive me nuts, and this is the first car I've owned where I haven't needed to work on parts of the interior to try and get rid of a noise. I hope the Canadian RAV4 plant is building new ones as tight as ours is.
February 03, 2009, 11:28:57 am
It's the same in my car. I cannot understand why the manufacturers cannot spend few pennies to line the coin holders, all the storage bins and grab handles for that matter.
February 03, 2009, 03:31:47 pm ^^^^ What would it cost to line the coin holders and storage bins with some soft rubber that stops things from rattling around and can be wiped clean easily? Not much IMO.
Except for that, my Versa's tight as a drum, no rattles even with the -25 temps we had a few weeks ago. Amazingly, my mother's '94 Corolla is the same, not one squeak or rattle. The interior still looks brand new - I wonder if you'll be able to say that about the current crop in 15 years.
February 03, 2009, 03:42:07 pm Agreed, the coin holders are a PITA. I always buy some adhesive-backed felt and line them myself.
Other than that tho, our '05 HL has been/continues to be tight as a drum at almost 4 years and about 53k clicks. No squeaks, rattles or groans.
Some of the newer models (Matrix being one) do seem to have a lot of hard plastic today, but it seems most cars in this price range do as well.
February 04, 2009, 04:48:01 pm I would get the Pontiac Vibe. Better deal, warranty and more features. I have an 2004 Vibe AWD and considering purchasing a second car... likely, the base Vibe with Traction Control, etc. I have snow tires and rims as well. Never had a problem! The Vibe wins hands down! A few rattles here and there but the Matrix is same.
February 05, 2009, 10:04:50 pm My mom got a 2005 Matrix XR 4 months ago and it has been solid ever since (70k kms).
Back in the summer, my mom had to rent a 2009 Matrix 1.8 and all I have to say is that the 09 had a better ride (16" wheels for 09 vs. 17" wheels for 05) and seating position, but the 05's interior build quality is MUCH better, and it has more cargo space than the 09.
Plus, I don't really like the 09's looks very much; I like the 1st gen's better.
Overall, the Matrix is just a Corolla hatchback; If you want an economical, roomy, versatile, and reliable car, the Matrix has no comparisons.
I actually decided that the first car I purchase myself will be a Matrix, but I wish Honda would make a Matrix-opposing hatchback/wagon based on the Civic, because Toyota's quality (interior, at least) is dropping as they cut corners more and more.
If Honda made a Matrix-fighter, their sales would skyrocket because there are A LOT of Matrixes out there, even more than Corollas.
Overall, the 2005 is a good car that has loads of space, even for people (you can fit 3 adults in the back without too many problems), is pretty fun to drive, and is based on the Corolla, so it'll last for a very ling time, and won't eat a lot of gas in the process.
No wonder I see more Matrixes out there than Corollas; because it's a Corolla that has more space and looks much cooler.
February 20, 2009, 12:23:00 am I think it looks decent and much better than the one it replaces. However, for whatever reason, the interior still does not do it for me and the 'tinny' noises and rattles are a turnoff. I would lead towards the Mazda3 personally..