What did you think of the Matrix?

[Kalispel]

It seems like if you liked the Yaris hatchback, the Matrix might have been on your short-list also. What did you think of the various generations?

The pre-2009 Matrix' that I see on the road doesn't seem much larger than my 2015 Yaris. The overall styling/proportions are awkward compared to any Yaris though (in my opinion). Still, not really bad looking or anything.

I like the look of the 2009/2010 XRS version Matrix. It is still a good-looking, well-rounded hatchback, and those 17" wheels make the car look sharp/proportional. Smaller wheels on that boxier chassis (from any year version really) just make the car look awkward and low-rent - the same complaint that I have with the 2012+ version Yaris and wheels smaller than 16". It just looks off to me.

I also liked the look of the 2012+ (2011?) front/rear refresh of the Matrix, overall, though the lack of 17" wheels on any available trim level sort of ruined the look (as noted above).

[NYC-SE]

I'm partial to the first gen Matrix, just like the way it looks. But I'll keep the Yaris!

[Exiwolfman]

Originally Posted by Kalispel

It seems like if you liked the Yaris hatchback, the Matrix might have been on your short-list also. What did you think of the various generations?

The pre-2009 Matrix' that I see on the road doesn't seem much larger than my 2015 Yaris. The overall styling/proportions are awkward compared to any Yaris though (in my opinion). Still, not really bad looking or anything.

I like the look of the 2009/2010 XRS version Matrix. It is still a good-looking, well-rounded hatchback, and those 17" wheels make the car look sharp/proportional. Smaller wheels on that boxier chassis (from any year version really) just make the car look awkward and low-rent - the same complaint that I have with the 2012+ version Yaris and wheels smaller than 16". It just looks off to me.

I also liked the look of the 2012+ (2011?) front/rear refresh of the Matrix, overall, though the lack of 17" wheels on any available trim level sort of ruined the look (as noted above).

Nothing but problems , avoid the XRS that motor burns oil like crazy and the rear disk brakes if not maintain all the time seize up...just not a good car I would take a Yaris over Matrix anytime .

[brushforhire]

I always wanted to build a boosted AWD matrix.

However, I will agree that they seemed to have some weird problems. I know when I was at out Toyota dealer, we saw problems with almost all of the AWD models that were in our area, and there really wasn't a whole lot of them out there.

[kimona]

Never liked the original Matrix, especially that flying roof design... which has suddenly become so darn popular. The final Matrix design (before it was discontinued) has actually grown on me recently. I wouldn't mind a later model Matrix L (1.8 litre) in white.

[tarkus]

I've always had difficulty trusting a Toyota that shares DNA with a GM vehicle.

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[Kar98]

My wife had a red 2005 Matrix with all-wheel drive. 130 hp, automatic. It had many conveniences the Yaris is still lacking, but was kinda sluggish, thirsty (for the power it had) and the driver position was kinda cramped for me.

The neatest thing was you could fold down ALL the front and rear passenger seat to form one flat, hard surface. She traded it in on a '12 Scion iQ which she traded in on a '13 Hyundai Veloster a couple of months ago.

[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by tarkus

I've always had difficulty trusting a Toyota that shares DNA with a GM vehicle.

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I wasn't aware that the Matrix was a Toyota/GM shared-platform venture. That would definitively be a deal breaker for me - along with the engine oil consumption problems someone mentioned above.

[tarkus]

Yes, it's the same car as the Pontiac Vibe.

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[NYC-SE]

True but the mechanicals were all Toyota, albeit assembled in US.

[WeeYari]

Originally Posted by tarkus

I've always had difficulty trusting a Toyota that shares DNA with a GM vehicle.

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Originally Posted by Kalispel

I wasn't aware that the Matrix was a Toyota/GM shared-platform venture. That would definitively be a deal breaker for me - along with the engine oil consumption problems someone mentioned above.

It is still all Toyota. The Matrix was built in the same Toyota Manufacturing Plant in Cambridge, Ontario that assembles the North American market Corolla, until Toyota announced a year ago it would be moving the Corolla to its plant in Mexico. The Vibe was built in a joint venture plant in California.

From 1985-1988, GM also sold the Corolla rebadged as the Chevy Nova. That truly was a failure and an insult to the Nova heritage.

[Kalispel]

If my Yaris was wrecked beyond the window to replace it with a 2015/2016 "Non-Mazda" Yaris SE (even as low-mileage used auto/man one), probably the only Toyota I would consider would be a 2017+ Toyota Corolla iM (the new Matrix!). It would definitely have to be black though, since that is the only way to make the iM front bumper design look decent on that car.

[tarkus]

The further away from Japan they're built, the less I trust them.

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[Kalispel]

Originally Posted by tarkus

The further away from Japan they're built, the less I trust them.

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I agree somewhat, but I tend not to trust any completely new design in its first 1-2 year release cycle, before refreshes/fixes are made to the initial release version. The 2007-2008 Yaris, for example, had more intrinsic issues versus the 2009-2011 versions, even though both were built in Japan. The 2006-2008 Civic has a LOT more issues than the 2009-2011 refresh (namely fixing the cracked engine block issue, the flaw with the manual 6-speed on the Si, etc.). Heck, it took Toyota until 2015, on the 3rd refresh cycle (2007 - 2009 - 2012 - *2015*), to finally put a decent clutch into the Yaris.

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by NYC-SE

True but the mechanicals were all Toyota, albeit assembled in US.

Nope! All the Matrixes were made in Canada! NUMMI in California built the American market Vibes and strangely, the Japanese market Toyota Voltz.

[WeeYari]

Originally Posted by Kar98

Nope! All the Matrixes were made in Canada! NUMMI in California built the American market Vibes and strangely, the Japanese market Toyota Voltz.

I believe he was talking about the Vibe. How it is essentially, under the skin, a Toyota.

[Kalispel]

Weren't Matrix sales pretty dismal also, especially on the 2009+? I don't see many on the road at all, and when I do it is usually the earlier pre-2009 model. Seems like Toyota buyers just don't like hatchbacks/wagons (if the Matrix/Yaris are any indication), or Toyota dealers are skilled at herding buyers to the Corolla or Camry when it come to car purchases.

[Kar98]

Originally Posted by WeeYari

I believe he was talking about the Vibe. How it is essentially, under the skin, a Toyota.

The Vibes were identical to the Matrixes, except for the badges. And of course for the difference that all the Vibes were built in California and all the Matrixes in Canada.