TEST DRIVE: 2010 Toyota Matrix

For some time now General Motors and Toyota have been battling it out, trying to be the #1 auto maker in the world, in terms of overall sales.  Despite the obvious competitive nature of the fight, there have been notable examples where the two have worked together.  One such example lies in story of the Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix.

The two auto giants collaborated with each other to create a car plant in California that manufactured both models.  This arrangement began in 2003 and continued until 2009 when General Motors announced it was eliminating the entire Pontiac brand.  The last Vibe was produced in August, of 2009 while the Toyota Matrix continues on.  The Toyota Matrix is now exclusively manufactured in Canada at one of Toyota’s two assembly plants in Cambridge, Ontario.

When I was offered the chance to test the 2010 Toyota Matrix, I was looking forward to conducting a unique personal comparison.  Back in 2008, I had the chance to participate in the media launch of the next generation Pontiac Vibe.  If you want to watch the video of that review, please click here.  The chance to take the Matrix out for a week would give me a first hand opportunity to compare notes and thoughts about the two different branded versions of the same vehicle.

FIRST IMPRESSION

While I have never been a huge fan of hatchback models, there are some attractive styling elements to the newest generation of the Matrix (MSRP $21,930 as tested).  This vehicle would compete directly against a number of different other models including The Kia Rio, Nissan Versa, Ford Focus, VW Rabbit, Honda Fit and even the Chevrolet HHR.  Of these competitors I find the styling of the Matrix to be a bit more sleek and stylish, with sharper lines and a more visually appealing hatchback design.  I think the look of this latest generation of Toyota Matrix is an improvement over its original designs.

Inside the vehicle, my eyes were immediately drawn to the unique shapes that made up the instrument cluster.  The Automatic transmission was situated par way up the middle console as opposed to lower down which also caught my eye.  Otherwise the interior was rather indicative of what an entry to mid range hatchback would look like.

DRIVE

The Toyota Matrix is a smaller and lighter vehicle than what I’m used to driving.  With both a minivan and a mid-sized sedan typically sitting in my driveway, I was immediately struck by how different the Matrix felt to drive.  This seems to be a much easier car to drive than would be something larger which makes me believe this is a great car for someone who isn’t a fan of driving.

Under the hood one will find a basic 4 cylinder engine that puts out about 132 horsepower.  Given that the vehicle is rather light, I never got the sense that it was under-powered.  That said, one would never suggest that this vehicle is quick either.  Toyota does offer a 158 horsepower engine on its upper end versions, so if you need it to be quick, be sure to look at all the options available.

The Matrix is built on the same platform as the incredibly popular Corolla, so anyone with prior experience in one will likely feel right at home in the other.  This isn’t a luxury car so you will feel bumpy roads more than you would in higher end vehicles, but I didn’t read anywhere that the Matrix was claiming to be a luxury car either.

GADGETS AND GIZMOS

I’ve always found vehicles in this category to be a bit frustrating when it comes to Gadgets and Gizmos.  I say this because you tend to not get much with a base model, especially when compared to base models of higher end vehicles.  My tester came with a CD player with MP3 inputs and a very basic speaker package.  Cruise control was absent (upgrade, I guess) as were other things I guess I’ve come accustomed to such as a compass and power lumbar/seat controls.  While various options exist with higher end versions of the Matrix, one should not be purchasing this vehicle if they are looking to be all decked out with the latest techie car toys.

INTERIOR COMFORT

Fabric or Sport Fabric are the two interior seating options that are available in the Matrix.  Leather is not available nor is it expected.  Cup holders were plentiful with options being found on the console as well as in the door side panels.  I found that anything larger than a typical take out beverage would need to go in the door side panels as my stainless steel travel mug wouldn’t fit in the console holder.

Front seats are not spectacular, but comfortable.  My suspicion though is that larger individuals may not find the front bucket seats particularly wide enough.  I stand 5’11” and found myself fitting in the seats with little room to spare.  The back seats however seemed a bit more spacious than one might have expected.  With a higher rooftop there seemed to be ample head room and leg room would be sufficient for anyone under 6 feet tall.

STORAGE

The Toyota Matrix offers just less than 20 cubic feet of storage space in its hatchback design.  In real terms my guess is that it would easily fit groceries for a family of 4 or 5.  It would also be suitable for 2 or 3 sets of golf clubs (4 sets if you are really good at packing them) or a couple of hockey bags.

Storage is above, as is typical with hatchback designs, and can be concealed by a Tonneau cover which is kept below the hard floor of the storage area, near the spare tire when not in use.  The storage area is covered in a hard plastic with some traction strips and would seem quite resilient to a fair amount of use and abuse.

IN THE END

The Toyota Matrix, with a 7 year history of production has been a valuable and popular member of the Toyota line up of cars.  I think to their credit, the designers at Toyota have not tried to blur the lines with what the Matrix is designed to be and what its not.  This is an entry to mid level car that is reliable and good on gas, with extra space for cargo and families that need it.

To my mind, this is a car better suited for urbanites than it is for those residing in more rural settings.  It’s also not designed for larger families, so for anyone with more than 2 children, I would think you will need to look beyond this vehicle if you are looking at the Toyota line up.  I think this would also make for an excellent second car for a family where one car isn’t always enough and the first is well suited to family use.  It’s likely not to be considered the star of the driveway, but perhaps a reliable and economical stable mate instead.

As for the comparison I noted at the beginning between the Pontiac Vibe and the Matrix, with some small preferences here and there between the two, I’d say that I’ve have to render that contest as a tie.

ENVIRO DAD TEST DRIVE RATINGS:

STYLE: 3.5 out of 5

COMFORT: 3 out of 5

FEATURES: 2.5 out of 5

STORAGE: 4 out of 5

DRIVE: 3 out of 5

OVERALL: 3.5 out of 5