2003 Toyota Matrix Base 1.8 130hp

Summary:

Reliable, but cheap car

Faults:

Two window runners deformed - replaced under warranty.

Drive belts squeaking during winter - warranty.

Radio stopped working - warranty.

General Comments:

Handling - The handling score I'll give this car is average. Obviously, Toyota put little engineering effort to make this car sporty. The tail tends to roll a lot during cornering. The handling works, but by no means very enjoyable. On the plus side, the front-rear balance feels pretty good.

Seats quality are pretty low end. The rear seats get deformed from repeated laying flat and carrying stuffs in the trunk. The rear seatbelts latch fell through the gap in the seats and never see the light of day since.

Rear trunk is covered in plastic. No other cars have this "cheapness" as far as I know. All hatch backs have cloth covering. Plastic cleans easily, but no help if it scratches up quickly.

Sound proofing is also quite bad, noisy when driving on the freeway. The engine is well-admitted as more noisy than the rest.

I test drove the Corolla, and my opinion is Corolla is overall better made than Matrix.

Reliability is great.

Amongst all these complaints, I am satisfied because I paid 13.5k for base, 5spd, power. I will feel bad for those who paid upper of 15k for this car.

I may consider buying used Mazda3 next. If their reliability holds up.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 27th October, 2005

19th Aug 2006, 16:55

I test drove the Matrix and was not at all impressed. Very cheaply built, no power and grossly overpriced. There are a lot better values out there. The Chevy HHR is a much better vehicle at several grand less, as is the new Dodge Caliber.

11th Oct 2006, 10:36

Yes, but those are newer models still with an unproven record. Arguably, Dodge and Chevy have not shared the same reliability record as Toyota.

I've had my 2006 Matrix for six months now. It replaced my "money pit" 1999 Ford Escort. I wanted something brand new and not too expensive. It had to be high tech looking, somewhat sporty, reliable and good on gas. My silver Matrix FWD 5 speed base model with air conditiong and 16" aluminum wheels fits the bill just fine. Feels and looks much more upscale and comfortable than my mother's 2003 Corolla which cost only marginally less.

No car is perfect. My Matrix has a few small quirks, like the location of the shifter attached to the dash (in the way of my knee if I wish to stretch legs outwards), a drivers seat that creaks sometimes and small compartment door in the dash below the radio that doesn't quite open all the way, but nothing to make me wish I hadn't got this car.

11th Oct 2006, 17:31

To 16:55. You think that the Matrix is cheaply built and that an HHR is a better vehicle? WHAT!? When I see an HHR on the road, after I quit laughing, I get as far away from it as I can, because I know that the person behind the wheel does not have good judgement about too many things.

2003 Toyota Matrix 1.9 litre

Summary:

Good fuel economy, but the remaining aspects of the short lived ownership were disappointing.

Faults:

Replaced the AM/FM/CD player three times in a 7 month duration due to various malfunctions with the CD player.

Had to replace "on board" computer to remedy frequent stalling episodes.

Interior trim is very "unforgiving" as the dash and door trim components are extremely susceptible to scratches. Additionally, the paint on a plastic component wore right off prematurely, and on an other component exhibited unexpected fading.

An unpleasant odor, not unlike the smell of burning rubber, was emmitted from engine during slightly extended periods of high rpm - such as when spinning tires in snow.

General Comments:

I was intrigued with the design concept of this vehicle, (sport utility/station wagon), but I should have heeded my own advice about avoiding the purchase of any vehicle in it's first model year.

Although Toyota has a fairly established record for manufacturing quality vehicles, I suspect that the vehicles built in Japan offer better quality and value.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 9th April, 2004

18th Sep 2004, 12:16

We have also had to deal with "design flaws", I guess you could call them. Basically, on all of the faux brushed steel plates on the dash and doors, the paint just peeled off! This occurred within 2 months of ownership. The paint on the outside also is chipping off on the hood, doors etc.

Our windows rattle in the doors and don't always roll up into the rubberized channel correctly.

Performance is good except for a weird,burning, sulpherish smell coming from the engine the first 2,000 miles or so.

We don't like the sports package that we got on the vehicle because it makes the car way too low.

Ultimately, we are searching for another car and after spending almost $26,000 on this one I feel ripped off with the resale value.

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2003 Toyota Matrix XRS 1.8 Variable Valve Timing

Summary:

Great car! Fun to Drive. Great Performance and Economy.

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with this car.

General Comments:

This car is a great combination of performance, economy, fun-to-drive characteristics, practicality, and versatility.

It drives like a little sports car. The six speed is terrific.

It gets great gas mileage. Never below the mid 20's, no matter how hard I push it. In the mid 30's on road trips.

The high revving engine gives me the option of driving it like a sedate economy car or a screaming sports model.

The car is absolutely reliable.

My only gripe regards climate control. I am used to the high output heaters associated with SAABs and Volvos, and this one is a bit more anemic. But it has kept me warm, once the car has been running 10 or 15 minutes.

The seats are comfortable, even on 500 and 600 mile trips.

It handles cargo and passengers well. Older folks prize its ease of entry. There is no need to "climb up" to get in, or to "climb down." In that regard, the ease of entry is comparable to a much larger car like a Cadillac DeVille.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st January, 2004

2003 Toyota Matrix XR 4WD 1.8

Summary:

You don't need an SUV when you have a Matrix

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

Model selected, 4 wd, a necessity for us, was said to be a "slow-poke" but such is not the case.

Loads of interior space and accomodates 5 full sized adults easily. More roomy than my Jimmy and runs on 1/2 the fuel.

Only criticisms are lack of cover on passenger's vanity mirror and lack of rear wheel disc brakes, but we'll go along with that as the rest of the car is great.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th July, 2003