With five-door compact cars now being positioned as sporty hatchbacks rather than budget wagons, Toyota had to change the mission of the 2009 Matrix. That was no easy task, given that the Matrix is on the same platform as the plain-Jane Corolla sedan.
The basics: The new Matrix is a half-inch longer and a half-inch lower than the first generation. The nose of the car is stubby, the glass area is narrower and the C-pillar is more substantial, giving the hatchback a hunkered-down appearance.
Powering the base model is a new, 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing. Unlike the previous generation's one-engine-fits-all strategy, the new Matrix also offers a peppier 2.4-liter four-cylinder as an option.
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2009 Toyota Matrix
Wheelbase/length: 102.4/171.9 inches
Base engine: 132 horsepower, 1.8-liter inline-4
Optional engine: 158 hp, 2.4-liter I-4
Curb weight: 2,865 pounds
On sale: February; pricing to be announced
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The small engine comes with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. The larger engine can be mated to a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. The all-wheel-drive model uses the 2.4-liter engine and four-speed automatic.
Notable features: The front suspension is a MacPherson strut system. The basic Matrix models get a torsion-beam rear suspension, while the sporty models have double wishbones in the rear.
The optional “active torque control” all-wheel-drive system electronically distributes torque to the rear wheels rather than using the viscous coupling unit on the previous model. The new system is borrowed from the RAV4.
Despite the new look, cargo hauling is still at a premium. The front passenger seat folds flat. The cargo area and the backs of the seats are covered with nonskid materials. Bag hooks and tie-down rings abound. The rear-cargo privacy cover unfolds and collapses like a photographer's scrim into a tiny circular pouch.
Standard features include 16-inch wheels, intermittent wipers, engine immobilizer, air conditioning, power steering, power windows, daytime running lights, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, CD player with iPod connectivity, tilt/telescoping steering wheel and power color-keyed mirrors.
What Toyota says: “Matrix is the result of listening carefully to what is most important to young new-car buyers,” said Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager. “They want vehicles that are high in image and high in functional utility.”
Compromises and shortcomings: Function loses out to form in interior volume. By pulling forward the top of the C-pillar, rear cargo space is pinched. Rear seat room will feel cramped for larger occupants. Despite aiming in a sportier direction, the car gained 200 pounds in its redesign.
The market: Toyota hopes to sell about 75,000 units annually.
The skinny: Is it a hatchback or small wagon? Younger buyers have been flocking to the Mazda3 five-door, and no one is calling that a wagon. Because Toyota is on a youth quest, call the Matrix a hatchback.
