2009 Toyota Matrix - Expert Reviews
Expert Reviews from Around the Web
We have scoured the web for expert reviews of this car and found the best ones for you to read. Found 11 reviews. This list is displayed in ranked order based the reviews we think are the best.| Ranking | Details |
|---|---|
| #1 |
2009 toyota matrix Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...City mileage takes a dive if you opt for the larger engine: Ratings are 21/28 with the manual, 21/29 with the automatic and 20/26 with AWD. Safety: Every 2009 Toyota Matrix comes with antilock disc brakes, though the S and XRS have larger discs all around. Also standard are front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Stability control is included on the XRS and optional on the lower trim levels. Interior Design and Special Features: Inside, the redesigned Matrix looks and feels much like the original car, though obviously updated. It continues to offer a sportier ambience... |
| #2 |
2009 Toyota Matrix Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Most likely owing to the AWD system, fuel economy was nothing to brag about: 22.1 miles per gallon, overall. On the road, the Matrix still reflects its basic Corolla roots. It has just a bit of body roll if pushed into corners, but that sort of pushing is not why someone would be likely to buy this car. It is stable and smooth on the highway, passing with only moderate effort at highway speeds. On hills and winding back roads, its power was adequate. Stability, with sensible hands at the wheel, was rock-solid. Even when pushed, the Matrix felt like a car you would feel safe handing over to a... |
| #3 |
2009 Toyota Matrix Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...whose members include as many buyers in their 40s and 50s -- and older -- as in their teens and 20s. For that primary audience, putting a zoot suit on a small economy commuter is a bit of a laugher. At least, that was the case with my crew: vehicle evaluations associate Ria Manglapus and my wife, Mary Anne. We loved the high utility of the Matrix XRS, largely represented by its perfectly flat load floor. Its 2.4-liter, in-line four-cylinder, 158-horsepower engine was great for city driving and cruising highways in the middle and right lanes. But the zoot-suit bits, particularly its more firm... |
| #4 |
Flash Drive: 2009 Toyota MatrixSource: MSN Autos...Driving the Matrix doesn’t disappoint, but neither does it surprise or impress. Not much fun for spirited driving – the steering seems a tad slow in sharp turns – the Matrix is certainly a good choice if you just want something to get you there. – Paul HaggerWith big SUVs quickly losing favor in the market, consumers are looking to make do with small cars. Luckily there are cars like the redesigned Matrix, which make great alternatives to the traditional SUV. While its outward appearance is quite compact, the Matrix is surprisingly roomy inside. The rear seat is usable for two adults... |
| #5 |
2009 Toyota Matrix Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...There's ample cargo space behind the rear seat. If you need more room, rear seat backs fold after you remove the headrests. There's also some hiding space under the cargo floor. Nice touches include a power plug plus cell-phone/iPod holders in the center console along with cupholders with a slit for handles, a small storage area below the center armrest, a coin box in the dash left of the steering wheel, a shopping bag hook low on the instrument panel on the passenger side, plastic grocery bag holders along the rear cargo walls, tie down hooks in the cargo floor and holders for 20-ounce water... |
| #6 |
CarGurus' Review for 2009 toyota matrixSource: CarGurus
...Street-chic looks with all the bells and whistles won’t make the 2009 Toyota Matrix anything more than what it is. |
| #7 |
2009 Toyota Matrix Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...The steering wheel audio controls are a good idea, but I found them to be poorly placed, because each time I had to blow the horn, I accidentally hit one of the audio controls. At one point, this turned the system on unexpectedly, startling me because the volume was way up. Among the safety features are front seat-mounted side air bags on all models, along with roof-mounted side-curtain air bags for both rows of seats. Active headrests are standard on the front seats, and a tire-pressure monitoring system comes on all versions. Electronic stability control and traction control are standard on... |
| #8 |
2009 Toyota Matrix Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Now you can haul those long planks for that deck project you've been putting off, right? So go ahead and check out the Matrix if you're considering a small car. The hiccup is you're going to pay a bit more for the Toyota (especially with the kind of sound system I had in my test car). If you keep the options to a minimum, you'll be better off budget-wise. She's fun around town - a good commuting car, really. But in the end, my hard, hard heart wasn't completely sold on the Matrix. *For more information on the 2009 Toyota Matrix and its safety features, visit Cars.com. With questions or... |
| #9 |
2009 Toyota Matrix Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...The Matrix handles city traffic with ease. The 2.4-liter engine has good low-speed torque, so it merges into traffic smoothly, pulls hills without downshifts and can carry five people without breathing hard. The test car's shift linkage was light and direct, requiring only the lightest touch to make shifts. Mash the throttle and the engine was quick to zip up to redline with very little noise or vibration. Anti-lock brakes are standard. Vehicle stability control and traction control are optional and well worth the $250 price. Front, side and side-curtain airbags are also standard. Price The... |
| #10 |
2009 Toyota Matrix Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Standard features include power mirrors, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and intermittent windshield wipers. Choose the S model and you get power windows and locks, cruise control, a fold-flat front passenger seat, keyless entry and a CD stereo. The XRS adds a leather-trimmed steering wheel with radio controls. A navigation system is optional. Under the Hood The standard engine in the Matrix is a 1.8-liter four-cylinder that makes 132 horsepower. With this engine, buyers have a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. The optional 2.4-liter four-cylinder... |
Toyota Matrix Related News
2011 Chicago Auto Show: 2011 Toyota Matrix
The 2011 Toyota Matrix will be on display at the Chicago Auto Show this week, featuring a range of small updates and the same familiar Matrix face we've all come to know... February 8, 2011 by Nelson Ireson 2
GM ends 25-year NUMMI partnership with Toyota
General Motors has confirmed that it will dump its ownership stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. (NUMMI) joint venture that it established with Toyota more than... June 30, 2009 by Ralph Hanson 3
GM denies any plans to license Toyota's hybrid Synergy Drive system
Earlier this week news broke that General Motors would in fact be discontinuing the Pontiac Vibe, built alongside the Toyota Matrix at the California New United Motor... June 19, 2009 by Nelson Ireson 2
GM in talks with Toyota to source replacement for Pontiac Vibe
General Motors revealed in its latest viability plan that it will cut more than 21,000 jobs and reduce its total number of assembly, powertrain, and stamping plants in the... April 27, 2009 by James Martinez 1
IIHS small car crash tests reveal improved safety across the board
We've all heard the argument for why someone drives that big SUV instead of a fuel-sipping mini-car on their epic two-hour commute: crash safety. And while there's a good bit... December 17, 2008 by Ralph Hanson 1
Why should I also consider these?
Though mechanically similar to the Pontiac Vibe, the 2009 Toyota Matrix has different styling inside and out, as well as some minor differences in equipment.
Its exterior styling in particular is smoother and cleaner, without overtly flared wheel wells like the Vibe.
In nearly all other attributes, the two vehicles are virtually identical.
The Spectra5 and Mazda3 are arguably more fun to drive than the Matrix, with peppy engine response and a tighter suspension, and similar in overall space—though the Mazda3 has a very tight backseat.
The Spectra also stands out for its long warranty, especially its ten-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.
The Subaru Impreza hatchback is also a worthy alternative to the Matrix; though it's somewhat more expensive, the Impreza has standard all-wheel drive, a torquey flat-four engine, and an enviable safety and reliability record.
