2003 Hyundai Matrix GLS from Malaysia - Comments

The fog light doesn't seem to be working.

I own a 1.8L Matrix and I feel that the average petrol consumption is very high when one is driving in city. It drink like you're driving a 2.5L car maybe due to it heavy weight and under perform engine (generation old engine from Mitsubishi).

1. After 2 weeks driving the car, I notice that some clicking sound from both front door panel and sent it back to the dealer. Dealer can't find any problem maybe it because of the cheap material use.

2. The right signal indicator will always turn off before you actually make a right turn or when one slightly adjust the steering. Another manufactured failure as this is dangerous for the car behind us.

3. Another manufactured / design failure from Hyundai and all Matrix owner should beware is that the right side mirror is too short that the driver will NEVER notice that if there's a car on your right side. I narrowly missed two accident cause I couldn't see that there's a car on my right side.

4. The Hyundai Matrix is also known as Mr. Bumpy Car. Why? Because the car will deal admirely when you drove thru a small hump or uneven road surface. Complaint to the dealer and the dealer suggest to change to a soft compound tyre and imaging I had changed 3 sets of tyre from Michelin MXV8 to Toyo and now I'm using Dunlop latest design tyre "Blade" but the car still bumpy especially when one drive thre a strip of yellow line. Last word from the dealer about this problem is perhaps the car design (high & short wheel base)

I totally agreed with the owner. All the while I have been driving European, American and Japanese made car, but when I actually own a Korean made car, you will feel the different. Most of my friend feels that Korean made car consume more petrol than Japanese car. The specification about the engine performance written is somehow not truth. Korean car is no better than Proton, the only different is the car is design by Italian.

The car is soo bad on fuel consumption. But proton is the worst.

Generally, I agree with the comments. Fuel consumption is bad even on highway driving with a light foot - even worse than the Proton Perdana V6. The consumption problem is due partly to lack of cold air intake (compare with other cars where the intake is from outside the engine compartment. Secondly, it is due to a lack of a regulator for the air-cond. Cabinet temperature is adjusted through mixture of cold and hot air rather than a thermostat that controls the compressor. This means even when the temperature dial in on hot (red section) and you have hot air blowing in, the compressor is still engaged. Every one knows aircond consumes at least 10% of engine power!

I wanted to add a thermostat, but was told that it would negate the warranty.

However I feel the ride is OK for family sedan, but the local tires used generate a lot of road noise.