2010 Toyota Matrix Review and Prices

by Chuck Giametta

Table of Contents
2010 Toyota Matrix Review and Pricing
2010 Toyota Buying Guide
2010 Compact Car Buying Guide
2009 Toyota Matrix Quote

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX BUYING ADVICE

• The 2010 Toyota Matrix is the best car for you if a versatile little wagon that sips gas and has a reputation for reliability appeals more than one with smooth styling and refined engineering.

• The 2010 Toyota Matrix continues as a four-door wagon version of the 2010 Toyota Corolla compact sedan. Matrix has different styling than Corolla and a taller roof than the typical station wagon. It also offers all-wheel drive (AWD) in addition to front-wheel drive. The least-expensive 2010 Matrix, called the Standard model, accounts for more than half of Matrix sales. It starts at a palatable $17,270 and like every 2010 Matrix, now comes with traction control and an antiskid system. Still, the Matrix Standard isn’t as enjoyable to live with or as well-equipped as some similarly priced competitors. The smartest Matrix buy is the middle-of-the-lineup S model. It’s priced from $19,180 -- not too far off what a Standard goes for when optioned to the same level – but has the stronger engine Matrix needs for adequate performance.

• Should you buy a 2010 Toyota Matrix or wait for the 2011 Toyota Matrix? There’s little reason to wait for the 2011 Matrix. The 2010 Matrix is on sale now, in the midst of economic conditions friendly to new-car purchases -- conditions that may not last. The 2011 Matrix isn’t likely to get meaningful styling or equipment changes. And it’ll be a year closer to “mid-cycle” updates that could make today’s Matrix look slightly dated.

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX CHANGES

• Styling: The 2010 Toyota Matrix carries over visually unchanged from the all-new Matrix that debuted for model-year 2009. It’s the same size as the first-generation 2003-2008 Matrix, but its body is rife with lumpy forms and odd angles. Depending on your taste, it’s either pleasingly organic or just plain odd. Trend-sensitive Toyota marketers label Matrix a “crossover utility vehicle.” That’s a slight stretch. It’s loosely defined, granted, but “crossover” is more typically associated with larger vehicles that have a high seating position and other SUV airs, such as Toyota’s own Venza. Still, if a crossover is somehow more than a conventional car but has car-type “unibody” engineering instead of a truck-type design in which the frame and body are separate, then Matrix probably qualifies. Matrix’s smoother-styled cousin, the Pontiac Vibe has gone from crossover to crossed-off. It was killed along with the Pontiac brand. Matrix and Vibe shared underskin components and were assembled from a Toyota design a joint General Motors-Toyota plant in California.

• Mechanical: Tried and true are the watchwords here. Toyota isn’t fiddling with Matrix’s proven powertrains. The 2010 Matrix Standard continues with a 132-horsepower 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. The 2010 Toyota Matrix S and sporty 2010 Toyota Matrix XRS have a 158-horsepower 2.4-liter. Both engines come with a five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed automatic is available on the Standard and mandatory for the Matrix S AWD. A five-speed automatic is available on front-drive S models and on the Matrix XRS. With front-wheel drive, Matrix places the weight of the engine over the wheels that power the car. This helps grip in slippery conditions, an advantage further bolstered by traction control, which automatically limits tire spin on take-offs. The Matrix S AWD model isn’t intended for off-roading; it doesn’t have elevated ground clearance or skid plates. Its AWD system is essentially an all-weather assist that automatically reapportions power to the rear tires when the fronts lose traction. It returns to front-drive mode when grip is restored. All Matrix models come with four-wheel disc brakes and have an antilock braking system (ABS) that automatically “pumps” the brakes to sustain control in emergency stops. Also known as stability control, an antiskid system can keep a car on course by automatically modulating engine power and activating individual brakes when sensors detect a sideways skid. The antiskid system and traction control had been standard on the Matrix XRS and a $250 option on other Matrix models; for 2010, they’re standard on all models.

• Features: Today’s lower-priced cars need to dabble in upscale features to satisfy tech-savvy younger buyers, and Matrix is available with remote keyless entry, leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls, satellite radio, Bluetooth phone link, a navigation system with real-time traffic info, and a great-sounding nine-speaker JBL sound system. Toyota also offers a variety of factory-designed, dealer-installed accessories, including rooftop attachments for a bicycle, snowboard, or skis.

• Every 2010 Toyota Matrix comes with head protecting curtain side airbags, air conditioning, a tilt/telescope steering wheel, power mirrors, and cloth upholstery. The driver’s seat is height-adjustable and the rear seatback’s splits 70/30 sections fold to create a flat load floor. A center console and rear cargo cover are included. The base audio system has an auxiliary jack for digital devices, but USB iPod connectivity isn’t available.

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX PRICES

• The 2010 Toyota Matrix Standard model is priced from $17,270 with manual transmission and from $18,080 with the four-speed automatic. (Prices listed in this review include the manufacturer’s mandated destination fees. Toyota’s fee is $720 for cars, though Toyotas in some southeastern states are delivered by independent distributors and may carry different destination fees.)

• The 2010 Matrix S model starts at $19,180 with manual transmission, $20,370 with the five-speed automatic. To the Standard model the S adds the 2.4-liter engine, power windows and locks, remote keyless entry, fog lamps, and a household type power outlet in the dashboard. The steering wheel gets audio controls and its rim and the shift lever are leather-covered. The S also gets a front passenger seatback that folds forward to create additional storage opportunities.

• The 2010 Toyota Matrix S AWD starts at $21,480. It includes the four-speed automatic transmission and heated power mirrors. The 2010 Toyota Matrix XRS lists for $21,490 with manual transmission and $22,680 with the five-speed automatic. The XRS is pitched as a sporty model and includes a strut tower brace to stiffen the front structure and 18-inch tires on alloy wheels. The XRS and the Matrix S AWD are the only models that have an independent rear suspension. Other Matrixes use a less-sophisticated torsion-beam rear suspension. The XRS also has a rear spoiler and “sport” cloth upholstery.

• Among notable options for the 2010 Matrix, a Power Package for the Standard version includes power windows and locks and remote keyless entry; it costs about $1,000. Adding cruise control to a Standard or S model costs $250. A power sunroof is an option on all models at around $900. The navigation system is available on the S model, where it adds about $1,800, and on the XRS, to which it adds around $1,300. All but the XRS model comes with 16-inch tires and steel wheels, but 17s on alloys are an S- and AWD-model option at around $900.

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX TEST DRIVE

From behind the wheel:

• Mellow out in a 1.8-liter Matrix ‘cause you’re not going anywhere in a hurry. Don’t being to pass on a two-lane or merge onto a fast-moving freeway without a Plan B in the event something faster, like a diaper delivery truck, sneaks into the opening you hoped occupy. With the 16-inch tires, you’ll noseplow through fast turns, body keeling. Low-speed maneuverability is a Matrix asset, but don’t pine for more steering precision because wishing won’t make it happen.

• Matrix S and XRS models get the 2.4-liter engine, which is actually more vibratory than the 1.8 in the Standard. But come to terms with the automatic transmission’s slightly lazy shifting, don’t be shy with the throttle, and the 2.4 will keep Matrix on the move with little stress. Row the manual transmission, and you’ll discover a willing little wagon. That’s most vivid in XRS guise, where fatter tires and a good suspension setup deliver enough grip and agility to entertain on a twisty road.

• The 2010 Matrix S AWD has done society a service if it keeps one buyer from purchasing a larger SUV they don’t really need. Its AWD system keeps you going in light-to-medium snow and pays off in unexpected ways: you’ll learn to zip out from a rain-slicked side street onto a busy thoroughfare without worrying that tire spin will leave you vulnerable to oncoming cross traffic.

Dashboard and controls:

• The main instrument binnacle contains a nice pair of near-circles for the tachometer and speedometer -- then randomly inserts a flattened oval for fuel, coolant, and trip information. It’s typical of a willy-nilly layout that’s as amorphous as Matrix’s exterior design. The center of the dashboard is a huge slope of silver-painted plastic that houses audio and navigation systems, climate controls, even the gear-shift lever. The design is contrived to create a “cockpit” ambience, but serves mostly to squeeze the driver’s leg room.

• All this does a disservice to the controls themselves, which are conveniently placed, clearly identified, and generously sized. The navigation system is a slightly simplified unit – it lacks voice recognition capability, for example – but it’s quick to learn and easy to like.

• Toyota won over a generation of American-brand buyers by consistently delivering more interior quality than prices suggested. Those days are gone, as evidenced by the Matrix cabin’s amalgam of hollow-to-the-touch panels and hard surfaces – even the front center armrest is unpadded.

Room, comfort, and utility:

• The long, tall roof creates lots of head room and fine cargo space, but the body’s high beltline and pinched side windows detract from outward visibility and impose on the cabin a closed-in feel. The front seats are large and cushy. The rear seat may feel too firm to some, and space for legs and feet is at a premium unless the front seats are fairly well forward.

• Matrix’s ride quality has a dual personality. Small bumps and divots are easily soaked up, but tar strips and expansion joints can send a shudder through the car’s structure. The 18-inch tires on the XRS patter more than the 16s or 17s but they don’t compromise comfort significantly. They do generate more road noise, something Matrix doesn’t need. Tire roar and wind rush are intrusive when speeds increase or the pavement is coarse. And turbine smoothness would not describe either engine.

• Redemption arrives when you treat Matrix as a utility vehicle. Even with the rear seatbacks in place, the tall, wide cargo bay holds 19.5 cubic feet of stuff – not bad for a car with 5 inches less body length than a Honda Civic sedan. Drop the rear seatbacks and Matrix extends a gaping 61.5-cubic-foot invitation to load a couple of bikes (remove those front wheels), a love seat, your girlfriend’s dinette set. The forward section of the floor isn’t covered by a carpeted mat, so your cargo may slide around on its plastic surface.

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX FUEL ECONOMY

• The 1.8-liter engine in the Matrix Standard pays off in good mileage ratings. The 2.4 in the Matrix S and XRS models makes them look thirsty compared to other compact cars, but not compared to other compact utility crossovers.

• The 2010 Toyota Matrix Standard has EPA ratings of 26/32 mpg (city/highway) with manual transmission and 25/31with automatic. The 2010 Toyota Matrix S and XRS are rated at 21/28 with manual, 21/29 with automatic. The 2010 Matrix S AWD is rated at 20/26.

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX SAFETY AND RELIABILITY

• The 2010 Toyota Matrix scores well in government crash-test ratings that award up to five stars for occupant protection (www.safecar.gov). Matrix earns the maximum five stars for driver and front passenger protection in a frontal impact. In the side-impact test, Matrix scores five stars for driver protection and four stars for rear-passenger protection. These results match those of most similarly sized vehicles tested by the government.

• J.D. Power and Associates, the leading automotive consumer-survey firm (jdpower.com), ranks the Toyota brand slightly above the industry average in overall initial quality in the first 90 days of ownership. It ranks the Toyota brand among the best for dependability in surveys measuring problems experienced by original owners of three-year old (2006 model year) vehicles.

• The current Toyota Matrix, however, scored below average in J.D. Power surveys of overall initial quality. Owners give it average marks for mechanical, powertrain, and accessories quality, but ranked it below average for the quality of body and interior materials.

• The current Matrix design, introduced for model year 2009, is too new to be included in J.D. Power surveys that measure long-term reliability. The 2006 Toyota Matrix, however, earned the highest possible marks for overall dependability in J.D. Power ownership surveys.

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX RELEASE DATE

• The 2010 Toyota Matrix is on sale now.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE TOYOTA MATRIX

• The Toyota Matrix was actually being outsold by its underskin twin, the Pontiac Vibe. It’s possible Matrix could absorb some Vibe intenders orphaned by the demise of Pontiac. Toyota would be happy to have them, but in the short term it isn’t likely to alter Matrix’s design to get them. It remains to be seen how going it alone might affect planning for the next-generation Matrix, due likely as a 2014 model.

• Meanwhile, look for a mid-cycle Matrix freshening for model-year 2012. Such work typically involves appearance updates to the grille and front fascia, and sometimes the tail lamps and rear bumper. New wheel designs and possibly revised interior surfaces are also possibilities. No change to the overall shape or size of the Matrix would be made, and Toyota isn’t apt to alter the engine lineup unless it also does so for the Corolla, which accounts for more than 75 percent of the vehicles built on this platform.

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX COMPETITION

• Scion xB: It doesn’t offer AWD, but this front-wheel-drive box beats Matrix for refinement and road manners and matches if for unusual styling. The xB has 158 horsepower, seats five, and boasts 69.9 cubic feet of cargo volume with the rear seats folded. It’s rated at 22/28 mpg and prices start under $17,000. The xB hails from Toyota’s youth-oriented division and won’t change much before model-year 2011.

• Hyundai Elantra Touring: This front-drive four-door wagon flies below the radar but offers far better handling and vastly smoother styling than the Matrix. A European-tuned suspension, terrific build quality, and 65.3 cubic feet of storage with rear seats folded are part of the deal; powertrain refinement is not. Base prices start around $18,500, horsepower is 141, and economy is 23/31 with manual transmission, 23/30 with automatic. The Elantra Touring also boasts Hyundai’s generous warranty coverage. It won’t be changed significantly until after model-year 2013.

• Suzuki SX4 Crossover: Another little secret among fans of small, tall wagons, this four-door five seater isn’t quite as roomy as the Matrix. But the SX4 Crossover has genuine Italian styling, a rugged feel, and is the lowest-priced all-wheel drive vehicle sold in the U.S. Rated fuel economy compares to the AWD Matrix, at 21/28, though with 143 horsepower, the SX4 Crossover isn’t quite as fast. This Japanese-built compact won’t get any significant changes before model-year 2013.