2009 Toyota Matrix
Consumer Guide put over 12,000 miles on the redesigned-for-2009 Toyota Matrix.

That was fast. It doesn’t feel like a year since we welcomed Toyota’s redesigned-for-2009 Matrix wagon into our extended-use fleet. Its arrival at our office was well timed, right in the midst of summer 2008’s record-high gasoline prices. We wanted to see if this ‘lil lugger could be a frugal, yet fun alternative to larger cars and SUVs.

In that vein, we selected the all-wheel-drive S model as our long-term tester. Among cars Consumer Guide classifies as compact, only Matrix and the Subaru Impreza offer AWD.

Test-Car Specifications
Model: AWD S

Engine: 158-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder

Transmission: 4-speed automatic

Total Miles Driven: 12,653

CG Observed Fuel Economy: 23.5 mpg

Base Price: $20,400

Major Options: Cruise control, traction control, antiskid system, carpeted floor mats, cargo mat

Price as Tested: $21,759

Problems During Test: None
Our editors were keen on Matrix’s power and nimble handling, which was especially handy for those who live around the city of Chicago’s congested streets. Also appreciated was our car’s cargo-carrying capacity. A split-folding rear seatback and fold-flat front passenger seat made short work of loading and carrying long, bulky items.

All-wheel drive and our tester’s optional traction control and antiskid system combined to scoff at anything Old Man Winter threw our way. Note that Toyota made traction control and antiskid standard on all 2010 Matrix models.

Our fuel-economy average of 23.5 mpg fares well against many midsize cars and compact SUVs, but it’s near the back of the pack among compact cars. The AWD model’s 3,300-plus-pound curb weight and lack of a fuel-saving fifth gear on the automatic transmission no doubt played a large role in these subpar results. Front-drive Matrix models with the 2.4-liter engine are offered with a 5-speed manual or 5-speed automatic transmission. A manual version of the Matrix S averaged more than 27 mpg in our testing.

We were less than enthused with our test car’s noisy engine and excessive highway-speed wind rush. Ditto its floppy ride, doors that closed with a tinny clang, and budget-grade dashboard plastics. Assembly gremlins plagued our test car with a variety of intermittent interior squeaks and rattles.

That last point is the most disconcerting. While not every car we test is absolutely perfect, we expect much better from Toyota, a company that has long been a benchmark of materials and assembly quality.

We held the previous-generation Matrix (and mechanically identical Pontiac Vibe) in high esteem, so much so that it was a three-time winner of Consumer Guide’s Best Buy award. While not the cheapest vehicles, those wagons exuded high-class ambience and an attention to detail that was nearly unrivaled in the compact-car class. Despite our tester’s nearly $22,000 sticker, this 2009 model reeks of cost cutting, resulting in a vehicle that feels less than the sum of its parts.

We certainly would not frown on anyone who decides Matrix is right for them, especially for those who place AWD high on their priority list. There are, however, more substantive choices among compact wagons and hatchbacks, including Kia’s surprising Soul, Nissan’s refined Versa, and Toyota’s own (and also Best-Buy-award winning) Scion xB.

07.22.2009