2006 Toyota Matrix 1.8L from North America

Summary:

We feel we have gotten a fantastic car for a great price!

Faults:

Really nothing has gone wrong in that the car is still pretty new. We did bring it back to get the passenger side front window track greased in that it made a rather disconcerting "click" when it was reversed from up to down or down to up. The sudden change seemed to generate the noise. At any rate the dealership promptly fixed and it has been fine ever since.

General Comments:

We were amazed at how much space there actually is in the Matrix. We used to camp with a pop-up trailer and our Nissan Quest. Since the Matrix isn't really a vehicle for towing, we've downsized to camping with a tent. Going from a trailer with the room inside the van for packing was something we were worried about, but the Matrix actually has a LOT of room inside; we managed a couple trips so far and it's been great!

The seats are OK... a little uncomfortable, but not that bad at all. We took it on a trip from NY to KY to WV and back to NY and it performed very well in the mountains and on the highways.

We definitely feel we have gotten a good buy for a great price on a fantastic car!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st August, 2006

26th Sep 2009, 22:09

The 2006 Matrix is pretty good, however quality is not impressive; I had to replace front brakes and belt at 35,000 miles... where is the famous Toyota quality?

27th Sep 2009, 09:58

Well, the belt is a wear item, and so are your brakes. So neither one is a quality issue.

2006 Toyota Matrix XR from North America

Summary:

Fun and Economical... oh yea!

General Comments:

I love my new Matrix. It is stylish and roomy for its cost.

The gas mileage is great at about 35 mpg.

I am a previous Honda owner and compared the Matrix to the Honda Fit before purchasing. To me there really is no comparison, the Matrix seemed to be a higher quality vehicle.

The only flaw I have found is that when lowering the visor it tends to hit the rear-view mirror.

After having the car less than 24 hours I was rear ended at a red-light. I emerged from the car surprised to find that there was no damage to my bumper.

I would recommend the Matrix to anyone who is fuel consious, yet needs the versatility of an SUV.

Keep up the great work Toyota!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 8th July, 2006

9th Jul 2006, 18:42

I can see comparing the Yaris to the Fit... but the Matrix? Of course there is no comparison... they're completly different leagues! Maybe the Element to the Matrix next time...

19th Aug 2006, 17:00

I'd opt for the Pontiac Vibe, which is the exact same vehicle sold by GM. The GM dealers will honor the warranty, whereas with Toyota you are often left holding the bag if you have a problem.