2009 Toyota Matrix

The new Matrix offers the functionality of an SUV, the style and performance of a sports car, and the affordability of a subcompact sedan

by Gary Witzenburg

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Not long ago, as part of a review of Toyota's new 2008 Sequoia full-size SUV, we reported that Toyota offered no fewer than six SUVs and car-based crossovers ranging from compact RAV4 through the mid-size Highlander, 4Runner and FJ Cruiser and full-size Sequoia and Land Cruiser.

Ooops! We completely forgot the seventh and smallest member of Toyota's extended family, the Corolla-based Matrix, which arrived in 2003 before "crossovers" were in vogue and hordes of practical-minded Americans began rushing to them.

We could be forgiven for forgetting it, though, since the previous generation Matrix was, let's be frank, a fairly forgettable vehicle. It was mostly a somewhat aggressively styled small tall wagon offering a cooler, more youthful look and more cargo capability than its supremely boring compact Corolla siblings.

There was a sporty XRS version powered by a high-revving but torque-challenged (Yamaha-built) higher-horsepower 1.8-liter four, which most reviewers drove and wrote, then quickly forgot. That was discontinued after 2006, leaving just the standard 126-hp 1.8-liter four that (under) powered ordinary Corollas.

The Gen I Matrix was notable as the mechanical twin of Pontiac 's Vibe, which was being built (along with Corollas) at the California GM/Toyota joint-venture assembly plant known as NUMMI. While we personally preferred the Pontiac's styling, the Matrix outsold it due mostly (we believe) to Toyota's much stronger brand image.

This new Canadian-built, Gen II Matrix benefits from a welcome restyling and numerous upgrades and improvements throughout. Most important are first time availability of a 2.4-liter four and all-wheel drive.

"The Matrix concept is based on blending the functionality of an SUV, the style, image and performance of a sports car and the affordability of a subcompact sedan," says Toyota Marketing Manager Tim Morrison. "It may have the body of a five-door hatch, but it comes with the soul of a two-door sports car."

Really? We'll see.

A coupe in wagon duds?

Toyota says the '09 Matrix offers "coupe-like styling with enhanced interior utility and improved dynamic performance." It is lower and wider than the previous model with virtually the same interior space, meaning reasonably comfortable room for four. You can squeeze in a third rear-seat occupant, but make it a smallish one. In side view, the new look is distinguished by a full-length, wave-shaped shoulder swelling over its wheels, ebbing along its doors.

When the Gen II Matrix hits the streets in early 2008, it will be offered in three grades: Standard, S and sporty XRS, with the option of all-wheel drive (AWD) on the mid-range S. Both S and XRS sport a front chin spoiler with a large mesh fog lamp bezel and a rear underbody spoiler, and the XRS wears a rear deck spoiler as well.

The redesigned interior offers improved appearance, comfort and utility with more comfortable seats, which are lowered slightly to maintain the previous amount of headroom within the lower-profile cabin. Dash, door and headliner materials seem better than before, though still somewhat cheap in look and feel in some places. The new three-spoke steering wheel has good size and feel, and the XRS version is leather-trimmed with spoke-mounted audio controls and available Bluetooth capability. A new, high-efficiency air-conditioning system offers reduced power consumption and larger vents for improved directional accuracy.

On all but the base model, the right-front seatback folds flat, a cup support section on the console is movable and removable, and the cup holder area can be used as a tray when the divider is removed. Importantly for that (small) fifth passenger, the 60/40 split folding rear seat includes a middle-seat headrest.

Good economy, mediocre speed

While the standard 16-valve, DOHC 1.8-liter four-thanks mostly to addition of Toyota's Dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing with intelligence) on both intake and exhaust sides-puts out six more horses and six more lb-ft of torque than before at 132 hp and 128 lb-ft, that seems barely adequate to haul around the 2800-lb Matrix.