2011 Toyota Matrix Review and Prices

Styling: 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.              

Mechanical: Every 2011 Toyota Matrix will have the brake-override system, which is designed to cut engine power if the accelerator and brake pedals are applied simultaneously.  Toyota is poised to make some changes beneath the hood of the 2011 Corolla, and since Matrix shares the same selection of four-cylinder engines, it should receive similar treatment. The entry-level 2011 Matrix is likely to again be called the Matrix Standard and should carry on with a 132-horsepower 1.8-liter engine rated at 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque (Think of torque as the force that gets you moving, horsepower as the energy that sustains momentum.) However, the 2011 Toyota Matrix S and sporty 2011 Toyota Matrix XRS models are apt to exchange a 158-horsepower 2.4-liter for a 169-horsepower 2.5-liter. Already used in the midsize Toyota Camry, the 2.5-liter would have only marginally more torque than the 2.4, 167 pound-feet to 162. But the 2.5 is a newer design that should deliver better gas mileage. Fuel economy would further improve if Toyota upgrades the automatic transmission available in the Matrix S and XRS models, from a five-speed to a more efficient six-speed, as in the Camry. The automatic used in the 2011 Matrix with the 1.8-liter engine will almost certainly remain a four-speed, for cost-savings. All these models will likely continue with a five-speed manual transmission as standard. They’ll also come with front-wheel drive, which places the weight of the engine over the driven wheels to the benefit of traction in wet conditions. AWD is an alternative exclusive to the Matrix S model. Not intended for off-road use, the system is designed to maximize traction on wet or snowy pavement. It automatically reapportions power to the rear wheels when the fronts begin to slip, then reverts to front-wheel drive when grip is restored. A four-speed automatic has been the only transmission available on AWD Matrix S models. Toyota will need to determine if fuel-efficiency gains would offset the added cost of any 2011 Matrix powertrain revisions. But upgrades would help performance, too. Currently, the Standard model can feel slightly underpowered and driving a Matrix really is entertaining only when you combine the XRS with manual transmission. Toyota already enhanced Matrix’s safety equipment for model-year 2010, making an antiskid system – also known as stability control -- standard on every model, not just the XRS.

Features: 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.