Toyota Matrix Review

How the Toyota Matrix stacks up against the competition - by Nigel Cooper, Topanga CA

2009 Toyota Matrix

Price Range: $15,510 - $20,760

Performance
When it comes to horsepower, the typical sport wagon packs quite a punch and will knock the Toyota Matrix down a few rungs. On the flip side, keep in mind that high horsepower engines often command higher insurance premiums. The Toyota Matrix is likely to feel a bit slow because of its high horsepower-to-weight ratio compared to the average sport wagon.

Handling
The average sport wagon and the Matrix have roughly comparable tires. With their similar turning radiuses, the Matrix and the average sport wagon definitely handle roughly the same into and out of tight spots.

Drivetrain
The Toyota Matrix's engine is tremendously smaller than the average sport wagon's. Keep in mind that smaller engines can be stressed more; on the flip side, smaller engines are often cheaper to fix. Torque is roughly equivalent to acceleration, and in this respect, the average sport wagon is tremendously more powerful than the Toyota Matrix.

Utility
The average sport wagon's more sizeable trunk will accommodate more massive objects than the Toyota Matrix. The Matrix and the average sport wagon can accommodate the same number of passengers.

Convenience
You'll definitely take the average sport wagon for a fill-up approximately as often as the Matrix.

Comfort
Taller drivers will considerably enjoy the extra head room in the Toyota Matrix's front cabin compared to the average sport wagon. The average sport wagon is not particularly roomier for your passengers than the Toyota Matrix.

Dimensions
The average sport wagon is markedly heavier than the Toyota Matrix. Your wallet will hurt more every time you fill up the average sport wagon than the Toyota Matrix because of its more capacious tank. The Matrix and the average sport wagon compete for the same parking spaces. The Toyota Matrix's shorter wheelbase may produce a less-settled highway ride but a more agile feel in daily traffic than the average sport wagon.

Cost
The destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs roughly the same to get the Matrix to the dealership as the average sport wagon. The average sport wagon won't tax your gasoline budget significantly more than the Toyota Matrix will. Producing an exact gas mileage evaluation is so difficult that some think not even the federal government can do it, but it looks as though both the Matrix and the Matrix perform about comparably as far as fuel economy. The Matrix is quite a bit less costly than the typical sport wagon when it comes to MSRP.

Overview
Although the basic warranty that comes with the average sport wagon is slightly longer than the Toyota Matrix's, the difference isn't too marked.

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