The small container located below the gearshift lever popped open randomly (a common problem, see the forum at www.matrixowners.com). I fixed it with a little piece of foam and some tape.
This great looking little car does everything right and then some more.
Performance:
Handling is very good for a car this tall. Under serious lateral acceleration it rolls a bit, but it always feels safe, never "on the edge". Low-end acceleration is good, although not impressive; there's a band between 40 and 90 km/h where it feels really agile, and above 120km/h it feels "just barely right". Then again, I care about petrol consumption, so I don't usually go over that. The transmission does a very good job of keeping the engine almost perpetually under 3000 RPM (good for economy, I get 11km/liter over a week of city driving in some of the most crowded streets on earth), and cruising at a freeway speed of 110 km/h is achieved at a very relaxed 2400 RPM in overdrive. If you disable the overdrive, the engine immediately revs up and you have no trouble accelerating to overtake nearly anyone.
Where this little car really shines is unpaved roads: even the forward-drive version is very capable. I don't mean to say this is an off-roader, just that it handles really well in dirt/mud roads, either uphill or (especially) downhill.
Comfort and Space:
Absolutely huge. It's the only sub-minivan vehicle I've seen where I can comfortably sit behind someone my size. I'm not too tall, just 1.76 m, yet in most cars I cannot sit in the back seat with my legs stretched. Four adults and a child will ride with room to spare. However, if you put three adults in the back seat, they'll be rubbing shoulders with each other. Cargo space is very good, but when you fold down the seats you can carry matrimonial mattresses without a problem, and with absolutely no obstructions to your rearward view. The rear window itself could be a bit deeper, though.
Praise:
The brakes. Oh, the brakes! Don't be fooled by the rear drums, they're really good: strong and reliable, with a very nice, progressive feel.
The car's interior flexibility is commendable.
Sound system is great. Some people complain that the controls are somewhat complicated, but I find them logical.
Its looks are stunning.
Gripes:
The driver's seating position is very, very difficult to adjust: it took me a full two months to find a comfortable driving position, and then again, I think I might have adjusted to it rather than adjusting it. Maybe it's my proportions, but it seems that if the seat and seat back are forward enough for me to reach the steering wheel, either my shoulders or shin muscles tire out. I think this could be solved by making the bottom cushion a little bit longer and adding a telescoping steering column (which the Matrix sorely lacks).
I'm the original writer of this review, and after almost two years and 35000km more, there are a few things I think I should add.
Good:
-Toyota service in Mexico is absolutely fantastic. I had an emergency one day while my Matrix was in service, and when I told them, they sped up, had the car ready in less than a half hour and let me drive it out without any paperwork. While in strict legal terms that was wrong, it shows that as a company, they're genuinely convinced that their mission is looking after you. I'll be eternally thankful to them; they saved my family from a very dangerous situation. Being nice to service reps and mechanics pays!
-Toyota reputation for reliability is well deserved, as the Matrix is basically indestructible. It absorbs an enormous amount of punishment without a hitch: adulterated gas, 20cm deep potholes at 60km/h twice every single day, air conditioning perpetually turned on, completely soaking everything in the engine compartment in sewage while running (happened twice already, this is Mexico you know), huge rocks hitting the underside, etc., etc. Not a single problem.
-Tires: Factory Bridgestone Turanzas are great, and take serious abuse just as well.
Bad:
-Structurally unimpressive. That is, after two years of continuous use, chassis deformation is starting to show. Not only in the form of gaps and squeaks, but in the driving sensations too (tail slides out a very tiny bit when pushed). Not noticeable for most folks, but not good from an aeronautical engineer's point of view.
-Uninspiring. It may look pretty, and it certainly sounds very pretty too, but if you're looking for an exciting vehicle this is definitely not the car to buy. That's probably Toyota's only problem: satisfying, but forgettable.
Conclusion:
I like my Matrix, and I am extremely satisfied with the whole ownership experience. However, unless Toyota comes up with more exciting vehicles by the time I trade it, I'll probably be buying a similarly practical yet more exciting car from another Japanese automaker. Read: Suzuki Swift Sport, or Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.
In regard to the owner's comment that the Matrix is not exciting enough (e.g., vis-a-vis a Lancer Evo) : I bought a Matrix when I really wanted a Scion xA or a Mini Cooper, both of which are more "exciting." I'm very happy with the Matrix. It's just more practical. And regarding the writer's complaint about structural integrity after a couple of years -- given the beating he admits his Matrix is taking in Mexico, I'm surprised that HE is surprised if the car no longer seems like new. Finally, I think the Evo costs about twice the price of a Matrix, so remember that you get what you pay for. I paid $14k for my Matrix with 5 speed and all power options, and I think it's the best car buy I've ever made. Cheers!
This is the original writer again. I must admit I did go a bit far with the Trix vs. Evo comparison, hehehe. The point is, there are similarly practical and more exciting options in its price range. A more down-to-earth example: the Mazda3 hatchback. Here in Mexico, it costs almost exactly the same and has comparable interior space and flexibility, but also a better engine, better handling, better standard equipment, better interior finish and a nicer exterior design. After taking a test drive I can also confirm a VERY important point which has to do with my first complaint: its ergonomic design is much better and includes (THANK GOODNESS!) reach, rake and lumbar adjustment.
It may not be a Toyota, but I'm starting to think Toyota is charging too large a price premium for reliability these days; in my opinion, they overdo the cost cutting and that makes them look under equipped when compared to competitors. More importantly, for someone who visits sites like this one, it is apparent that there are some carmakers (Mazda among them) which are catching up to Toyota in terms of quality and reliability. My financing contract expires this December, and I WILL change Toyota for Mazda.
This is the original writer again. Well, my three year lease has expired and so I have taken the car back to the dealership. In the few months since my review, a few other details have sprung up:
-SUSPENSION. The Matrix is an absolutely bomb-proof car. The dampers will absorb an inordinate amount of abuse without a hitch. If it had independent rear suspension, it would be a great base for an amateur rally car.
-TIRES. The factory Bridgestone Turanza ER30 tires are definitely the best tires I have ever tried. Extremely high final grip, very resilient sidewalls; only problem is their quick wear under hot and fast conditions.
-STARTING GLITCHES. A known problem with these cars, in my case it manifested itself as a sudden drop in engine revs milliseconds after starting, to the point of almost shutting down. Not critical, and never actually failed to start, but probably a symptom of bigger engine problems down the road.
-BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. The Trix's weak point. The very day before returning it to the dealership, minutes after having driven it nonstop for 200km, the battery died and it refused to start. I knew the battery was dead because I recognized the buzz the relay made when trying to start with a dead battery; it had happened at least four times before, always under very odd circumstances, starting about a half year after driving it off the lot. This last time was by far the strangest, because right after jump starting it and a 15 minute drive home, it started just fine not once, but four times in 20 seconds! The windows rolled down at normal speed with only battery power, displays didn't dim... Almost as if it were fully charged. The factory battery on my Trix was a Delphi maintenance-free type, so there was no way of opening it to check electrolytes, there was no alternator belt squeal or play, no corrosion, no aftermarket electrical components, the fact that it happened over the whole three years instead of only in the last few months means that it wasn't the battery reaching the end of its normal service life... all of it makes that problem very odd and hard to troubleshoot. Deep discharge due to the DRL system and constant use of the cabin 115V outlet may be one cause, but that would just mean that the battery is not of the necessary specification for the warm climate of the country and the electrical load on the car. Needless to say, the next day I hastily took it to the dealership; I don't want the electrical system to die on me before the end of the lease!
-ERGONOMICS. The main reason why I don't want another Matrix; the car got progressively more uncomfortable over time. A telescopic steering column is the most critical omission in this car. Combined with the fact that my work entails sitting in front of the computer all day long, it seems to have caused chronic stress on my upper back, because I have been having perpetual shoulder blade pain as of late; I really hope it goes away now that I've stopped driving the thing.
-US ENGINEERED. I guess the fact that this vehicle has been engineered in the US does show as a tendency towards over-aggressive cost cutting in key components like the batteries and some brake and seating components, which are used in roles that would require higher grade parts. This also shows in other US-engineered Toyotas, like the well known brake, tire and damper problems in the Sienna, which we've owned for the same period of time.
Overall, I am now convinced that the legendary Toyota reliability is a thing of the past, and that other Japanese automakers like Mazda have caught up to them in that respect, and surpassed them in terms of vehicle design and equipment for money. In other words, they used to command a premium for their quality, but they are now starting to look expensive.
However, I have to say that they are ABSOLUTELY UNSURPASSED when it comes to attention and service, at least in Mexico. And I've experienced most of the other makes here. I'm actually reluctant to go with any other automaker even though I know Toyota cars are overpriced; it feels like betraying a friend. They're THAT good.
I own a 2003 Matrix XR. The car is bullet proof. over 70,000 miles and the car is still on the original drum brakes on the rear... they need to be replaced now however.
Gas mileage...unbelieveable. I rarely get less than 36 MPG. Have had gas mileage that almost reached 40! I have noticed that my mileage is higher than most peoples... this may be because I only use synthetic oil. I also check and replace the air filter regularily. The car has been abused... driven hard...driven on roads that would normally be considered 4*4 only terrain and it keeps ticking. The matrix has great clearance which allows it to access terrain that would not be accessible with a regular car due to clearance problems. The car sits high which is great for family moms that like the mini vans... storage is fantastic. I love this car!
I have been driving my 2003 Matrix XR 5-speed for close to 4 years. I love this car! Most of the issues that I have had are those that are fairly common – paint is lousy, body kit is flimsy and driver’s seat is not the most adjustable/comfortable seat in the world. Other than that this car has been indestructible! I drive about 90 miles r/t every day to work, so the car has 93,000 miles on it and the only service I have done is change the oil about every 7,500 miles (Mobil 1 synthetic), front brake pads (drum pads are still good!), new Iridium plugs at 85,000 miles and had to have some work done on the transmission at about 89,000 miles (this was probably due to the stop and go traffic that I sit in on almost a daily basis). In order to improve stability, I installed a new Progress rear sway bar and a TRD Strut Tower Brace. I also installed a K&N replacement air filter, which gave the car a little more “go” in 4th gear. Oh yeah, and I snipped the wire to disable the Daytime Running Lights. They were causing my headlights to burn out pretty frequently.
I plan on driving this car into the ground, so hopefully I’ll get a few more years out of it!
I recently bought a 2007 Matrix XR. I considered the Mazda3 hatchback when I was doing my search. It was a choice between the two. However, the Mazda3 has a poor side-crash rating. If I were to buy the Mazda3 I would have definitely needed the optional curtain airbags which are not widely available. Cars with this feature were $1000 more which, for me, put the Mazda3 out of my price range.
If your going to switch from Toyota, do not go Mazda. According to reliability statistics for the years of 2005-2006, Mazda had worse reliability stats than that of Ford or Chevy. Chevy is considered one of the worst manufacturers in regards to reliability, so I think that says something. If your going to make a switch go to Ford or Dodge. The Japanese reliability stereotype has only consistently stayed true with Toyota and Lexus. Where as Honda, Nissan, and Mazda have had more downs than ups.
I have not heard that Honda has had any down ups! Maybe the Passport or the SLX, but not any of their cars!! The transmissions were in a select few cars and it does not make them any worse than Toyota. If you are quoting for CR they said that Toyota products and Honda products are the reliable Japanese cars!! Sorry.
I would very much like to see those statistics that place Mazda below GM with regards to reliability. No source, no cred.
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