There have been a number of tweener cars that have hit the market within the past few years. That's not to say they're Justin Bieber enthusiasts with their fingers and eyes glued to a smartphone. These are cars that don't easily fall to definition, existing somewhere between a hatchback, a wagon and a crossover. The Toyota Matrix was one of the very first of these 'tween cars and continues to be one of the more desirable.
The 2011 Toyota Matrix stacks up against a rather odd clique of 'tweens. The Chevy HHR looks like a miniaturized version of a Truman-era Suburban; the Kia Soul looks like a roller skate; the Nissan Cube is, well, you know, a cube; and the Scion xB is styled after a box. It's truly a segment that caters to those with quirky design tastes. Yet it also boasts entries with an impressive amount of cargo and passenger space relative to their exterior footprints, so there's a practical side to them as well. For consumers more interested in practicality than attitude, the Matrix should have definite appeal with its more conventional styling.
Another benefit is that the Matrix boasts rock-solid mechanicals from the Toyota Corolla. With the available 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, acceleration is brisk for this class, and the Matrix is also available with all-wheel drive. Unfortunately, neither the 2.4-liter engine nor the base 1.8-liter is especially fuel-efficient given their output.
Of course, since the 2011 Toyota Matrix is a 'tween, there are more vehicles to consider than just its oddball brethren. Among hatchbacks, there's the versatile Honda Fit, the upscale Mazda 3 and the dynamic Nissan Juke. The VW Jetta Sportwagen is a top wagon alternative. Then there are several inexpensive compact crossovers like the Hyundai Tucson and Kia Sportage. But for those who like the idea of a car that does a little bit of everything well (without looking weird while doing it), the Toyota Matrix is an excellent choice.
The 2011 Toyota Matrix would catch the competition and gain credibility with younger buyers by finally incorporating USB iPod connectivity instead of just an auxiliary jack. Matrix is otherwise pretty up to date. It’s available with Bluetooth phone linking and a navigation system with real-time traffic information. The 2011 Matrix should also continue to offer a fine JBL sound system, satellite radio, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, and remote keyless entry. In addition to antiskid control, standard safety equipment will again include four-wheel antilock disc brakes and head protecting curtain side airbags. Among convenience features again included with every 2011 Matrix will be air conditioning, power mirrors, a tilt/telescope steering wheel, height-adjustable driver’s seat, and a front-center armrest/storage console. Toyota could up the comfort ante by making the 2011 Matrix available with leather upholstery as an alternative to cloth. Utility is already a high point. Every Matrix has a 70/30 split rear seatback that folds to form a flat load surface while opening 61.5 cubic feet of cargo volume, a figure that nips at the heels of compact SUVs.
The Matrix S offers an S Sport Package with 17-inch alloy wheels, front and rear underbody spoilers, color keyed rear spoiler and a unique S badge. The Premium Package offers a power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade, AM/FM CD player with MP3/WMA playback capability, six speakers, XM radio, auxiliary audio jack, USB port with iPod connectivity, CD text display function, auto sound leveling and hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology.
The 2011 Toyota Matrix will likely receive slight modifications to its grille and front fascia, minor changes to its taillamps, and perhaps new wheel designs. . Revisions to passenger-compartment textures and graphics would be welcome, too. Otherwise, this 2011 Toyota will retain the shape and size the second-generation Matrix sported when it debuted as a 2009 model. That means a slightly disheveled collection of arcs and angles on a vehicle that’s taller than the typical compact car but not as long overall. Matrix’s shape translates to great head room and lots of cargo space, though rear-seat knee clearance is modest. Newer arrivals to the category of hard-to-define mobility boxes tend to be less lengthy still, and taller, too. These include the Kia Soul, Nissan Cube, and, from Toyota’s own youth brand, the Scion xB. Matrix’s competitive set, however, is broad enough to include compact four-door hatchbacks like the Mazda 3 and true compact wagons, like the Hyundai Elantra Touring. None of these rivals offers AWD, though. Just 10 percent of Matrix buyers choose it over the standard front-wheel-drive, but having AWD available does qualify Matrix as a sensible on-road alternative to bulkier compact SUVs. One competitor the 2011 Matrix won’t have to contend with is the very vehicle more like it than any other: the Pontiac Vibe. A Matrix with different (and nicer-looking) sheet metal, the Vibe has been discontinued along with the Pontiac brand.
ENGINE
The 2011 Matrix will be available in two trim levels, base and sport-minded “S,” with each featuring its own four-cylinder engine. The base model comes with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that produces 132 horsepower at 6,000 rom and 128 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. This engine will be mated to either the standard five-speed manual, or a four-speed automatic transmission.
The Matrix base model has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway with the five-speed manual transmission, or 26 mpg city and 32 mpg highway for the 1.8-liter paired with the four-speed automatic transmission.
Matrix S
Should buyers step up to the Matrix S, they will start off with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that is rated at 158 horsepower at 6,000 rom and 162 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. While the S still comes standard with a five-speed manual, those seeking an automatic will gain an extra cog over the 1.8-liter model as the S features a five-speed automatic transmission in front-wheel drive form.
Matrix S also has available all-wheel drive, but if one opts for the benefits of AWD, Toyota switches the five-speed automatic for a four-speed automatic transmission. Toyota says the Matrix S AWD does allow for a “sport” mode on the transmission that will suggest to the transmission that it hold its gears longer for a more engaging experience.
The Matrix S powered by the 2.4-liter engine with five-speed manual transmission achieves an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. With the five-speed automatic transmission, it earns 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The Matrix S AWD with the four-speed automatic achieves 20 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
The 2011 Toyota Matrix comes standard with stability and traction control, antilock disc brakes, brake assist, active front head restraints, front side airbags and side curtain airbags.
The Matrix has not been rated using the government's new, more strenuous 2011 crash-testing procedures. Its 2010 ratings (which aren't comparable to 2011 tests) saw it earning a perfect five stars for frontal and front-seat side impacts, dropping to four stars for rear-seat side impacts. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the Matrix its highest rating of "Good" in both frontal-offset and side-impact crash testing.
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