Toyota Matrix
Encyclopedia
The Toyota Matrix, sometimes officially referred to as the Toyota Corolla Matrix, is a compact
hatchback manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation
in Canada
, to be sold in the United States
, Canada, and Mexico
. It is considered to be the sporty hatchback counterpart of the North American Corolla
and is counted as a variant of it in Toyota's sales figures.
The Matrix is the Toyota version of a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors
; the GM version being the Pontiac Vibe
, which was assembled by New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI
) in Fremont, California
. A third version, also assembled at NUMMI, was sold in Japan from 2002 to early 2004 as the Toyota Voltz
. Almost 2000 cars were produced before production ceased. Although the Voltz was sold under the Toyota brand there, the vehicle had the same exterior as the Vibe.
Identical mechanically, and nearly as much internally, the Matrix and Vibe are clothed in different sheetmetal designed by their respective brands. Both vehicles are narrow, yet tall station wagon
s styled in a quasi-SUV
fashion (called a crossover utility vehicle
or "CUV" by Toyota) and marketed to a fairly youthful market segment. This type of car is also commonly referred to as a sport wagon.
First sold in February 2002, the Matrix saw a minor facelift for the 2005 model year
, and was redesigned completely in 2007, following the new tenth generation Corolla
.
in place of the previous GM
-sourced radio.
Two 1.8 L four-cylinder engines
were offered in the Matrix: the 1ZZ-FE
used in the Corolla, which originally made 130 hp in 2003 through 2005 models, but was reduced to 126 hp in 2006, and the performance-oriented 2ZZ-GE taken from the Toyota Celica
GT-S, which produced 164 hp (previously 180 hp in 2003, 173 hp in 2004, and 170 hp in 2005). The 2006 drop in power was due to new testing standards, and not a change in the engine's actual performance.
In late 2006, Toyota discontinued use of the 2ZZ-GE engine and dropped the XRS from the Matrix lineup to be temporarily replaced by the M-Theory edition. Like each year of the XRS model, the M-Theory was a limited production run of 2500 cars. All wheel drive was also available from 2003–2006 when coupled to the 1ZZ engine and automatic transmission, but was dropped at the same time as the XRS.
, and rear window wiper were also stricken from the options list by Toyota, forcing buyers to go with an XR or XRS model if they wished to have these features, as well as six-way adjustable seats and variable intermittent windshield wipers. However, one option the base model could be had with was AWD for an additional $1465 (although the actual increase was $2445, since AWD only came with an automatic transmission). Adding AWD brought the car's curb weight of 2679 lb (1,215.2 kg) up to 2943 lb (1,334.9 kg) and decreased power by 7 hp and 7 lbft. In 2004, the price of a base model remained unchanged, but by the last year of production, 2008, it had risen to $15,510.
, body kit, and 16 inches (406.4 mm) alloy wheel
s. A 2003 XR started at $16,180 and 2701 lb (1,225.2 kg), but when equipped with AWD cost at least $18,445 (only $305 less than an XRS) and weighed in at 2965 lb (1,344.9 kg). Like the base model, the XR's AWD engine was detuned. Again, the car's price for its sophomore year stayed the same, but in the four years after that, it rose to $16,990.
, 16-inch alloy wheels, and cruise control
. In 2003, 17-inch wheels could be had, but only on cars without a sunroof. An option combining 17 inches (431.8 mm) wheels and a sunroof became available the second year of production. In 2005, an XRS started out at $18,850, and for its last year, it went for at least $19,250.
The pièce de résistance
, however, was Toyota's high-tech 2ZZ-GE engine – the Matrix's namesake because of the metal matrix composite
(MMC) used to line the cylinder walls. Displacing 1796 cc, or 109.6 cubic inches, it produced 180 hp and 130 lbft – a rare 100 horsepower-per-liter
. While its 11.5:1 compression ratio
was a large factor in its performance, what set the engine apart was its ability to alter timing and valve lift through Toyota's VVTL-i. Because it could manipulate its valvetrain, the 2ZZ was capable of reaching 8500 rpm. Despite the technology, however, the engine's high compression necessitates "premium" gasoline (91 octane or above in the (R+M)/2 scale). With the exception of an available automatic in 2003, a six-speed manual transmission has been the only option for the XRS. A Transitional Low Emission Vehicle (TLEV) its first year of production, the 2ZZ was retrofitted in 2004 with a smog pump and reclassified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
(ULEV).
A testament to Toyota's engineering, the Matrix was able to come to a full stop from 60 mi/h in only 114 feet (34.7 m). On a skidpad
, the car achieved .83 g
, only .03 g less than the Celica GTS, during testing by Motor Trend
and Sport Compact Car
. Due to being front wheel drive, the XRS has a weight distribution
of 59/41 (front/rear), which may result in understeer
when driven hard. It weighs in at a relatively light 2800 lb (1,270.1 kg).
Up front, the passenger seat also folds flat, accommodating long items like surf boards or allowing drivers to use the tray in its back to hold items like a laptop computer. An electronic device can be charged with the 115 volt/100 watt power inverter. The first year of production (2003), the instrument cluster was completely red. However, the next year, Toyota made the numbers white while keeping the rest of the gauges red. When the car was updated in 2005, a digital clock was added to the radio bezel.
crash test ratings (2003):
for 2003 and 2004 model year Corollas and Matrixes. The recall notice cites two bolts in each of the front doors as potentially causing the window to come off the track and break. This recall only applies to models equipped with power windows. General Motors issued a recall for the same problem on 2003 and 2004 Pontiac Vibes with power windows at the same time.
On August 26, 2010, Toyota issued a recall
for 2005 to 2008 model year Corollas and Matrixes, equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive. The recall notices states that an improperly manufactured Engine Control Module (ECM) can develop a crack in its circuitry, potentially causing the "Check Engine" light to illuminate, harsh shifting, and stalling and/or failure of the engine to start.
) show in Las Vegas
, and was first available at dealerships in February 2008, as a 2009 model.
In the United States, three trim grades (Standard [base], S, and XRS) are offered, as well as two I4
engines: a 1797 cc 2ZR-FE
for the base model (chassis code ZRE142) and a 2362 cc 2AZ-FE
for the S and XRS grades. The former is offered with either a five-speed manual
or four-speed automatic transmission
, while the larger engine is equipped with either a manual or automatic five-speed transmission. In addition, the S grade can be equipped with a four-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
Canadian buyers are offered four trim levels: a 1.8 L-powered base model and the XR, AWD, and XRS models with a 2.4 liter engine.
This Toyota Matrix generation marks it the first time it is sold in Mexico
. The Toyota Matrix comes only in two trim levels to Mexico: Base and XR.
Its Pontiac Vibe sibling was discontinued after the 2010 model year due to General Motors phasing out the Pontiac
brand.
For the 2011 model year, the Matrix received redesigned exterior and interior elements, including front and rear fascias, wheels, and seat fabrics.
s, but only XRS models and cars equipped with all-wheel drive and 158 horsepower, feature an independent rear suspension using double wishbones instead of a semi-independent torsion beam. The 2009 models have less interior space than the preceding years, with a total of 48.9 cu ft (1.4 m³) compared to the original 53.2 cu ft (1.5 m³)..
The XRS grade was dropped from the U.S. lineup for the 2011 model year.
. For the 2010 model the previously optional Vehicle Stability Control and traction control
systems became standard.
Toyota's Smart Stop Technology was added to the Matrix for the 2011 model year.
The Matrix is rated "Good" in both frontal and side Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS) crash tests.
NHTSA
crash test ratings (2009):
regarding floor mat and accelerator pedal replacement.
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
hatchback manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota Motor Corporation
, , , commonly known simply as Toyota and abbreviated as TMC, is a multinational automaker headquartered in Toyota, Aichi, Japan. In 2010, Toyota Motor Corporation employed 317,734 people worldwide, and was the world's largest automobile manufacturer by production.The company was founded by...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to be sold in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada, and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. It is considered to be the sporty hatchback counterpart of the North American Corolla
Toyota Corolla
The Toyota Corolla is a line of subcompact and compact cars manufactured by the Japanese automaker Toyota, which has become very popular throughout the world since the nameplate was first introduced in 1966. In 1997, the Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world, with over 35 million...
and is counted as a variant of it in Toyota's sales figures.
The Matrix is the Toyota version of a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
; the GM version being the Pontiac Vibe
Pontiac Vibe
The Pontiac Vibe is a compact hatchback car that was produced in Fremont, California, in the United States by NUMMI , a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, and marketed under General Motors' Pontiac brand...
, which was assembled by New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI
NUMMI
New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. was an automobile manufacturing plant in Fremont, California, opened in 1984 and closed in 2010. On October 27, 2010 it reopened as a 100% Tesla Motors-owned production facility, known as the Tesla Factory...
) in Fremont, California
Fremont, California
Fremont is a city in Alameda County, California. It was incorporated on January 23, 1956, from the merger of five smaller communities: Centerville, Niles, Irvington, Mission San Jose, and Warm Springs...
. A third version, also assembled at NUMMI, was sold in Japan from 2002 to early 2004 as the Toyota Voltz
Toyota Voltz
The Toyota Voltz was a tall station wagon sold from 2002 to 2004. It was assembled by NUMMI in Fremont, California and marketed by Toyota in its home market of Japan, but curtailed after a disappointing sales volume of just over 10,000 units...
. Almost 2000 cars were produced before production ceased. Although the Voltz was sold under the Toyota brand there, the vehicle had the same exterior as the Vibe.
Identical mechanically, and nearly as much internally, the Matrix and Vibe are clothed in different sheetmetal designed by their respective brands. Both vehicles are narrow, yet tall station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
s styled in a quasi-SUV
Sport utility vehicle
A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel...
fashion (called a crossover utility vehicle
Crossover SUV
A crossover SUV is a vehicle built on a car platform and combining, in highly variable degrees, features of a sport utility vehicle with features from a passenger vehicle, especially those of a station wagon or hatchback.Using the unibody construction typical of passenger vehicles, the crossover...
or "CUV" by Toyota) and marketed to a fairly youthful market segment. This type of car is also commonly referred to as a sport wagon.
First sold in February 2002, the Matrix saw a minor facelift for the 2005 model year
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
, and was redesigned completely in 2007, following the new tenth generation Corolla
Toyota Corolla E140
The Corolla E140 is the tenth generation of cars sold by Toyota under the Corolla nameplate. For the Corolla Hatchback sold in Japan, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, see Toyota Auris.-Chassis:E140 and E150 are based on Toyota MC platform.-Engines:...
.
First generation (E130; 2003–2008)
The Matrix was first introduced in the 2003 model year and based on the Toyota Corolla platform. Relatively unchanged in 2004, a facelift for 2005 brought minor revisions to the exterior – mainly revised styling to the front fascia due to complaints of rubbing the ground on the previous incarnation and replacing the red lenses on the taillamps with clear ones. Also, the center instrument panel was slightly redesigned and featured a Toyota head unitHead unit
A head unit, sometimes referred to as a "deck", is a component of a stereo system either in a vehicle or home cinema system which provides a unified hardware interface for the various components of an electronic media system. An antiquated name for a head unit is a receiver; this article focuses...
in place of the previous GM
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
-sourced radio.
Two 1.8 L four-cylinder engines
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
were offered in the Matrix: the 1ZZ-FE
Toyota ZZ engine
The Toyota ZZ engine family is a straight-4 piston engine series. The ZZ series uses an aluminum engine block and aluminum DOHC 4-valve cylinder heads, a first for Toyota. The camshafts are chain-driven. The two 1.8 L members of the family, the 1ZZ and 2ZZ, use different bore and stroke...
used in the Corolla, which originally made 130 hp in 2003 through 2005 models, but was reduced to 126 hp in 2006, and the performance-oriented 2ZZ-GE taken from the Toyota Celica
Toyota Celica
The Toyota Celica name has been applied to a series of coupes made by the Japanese company Toyota. The name is ultimately derived from the Latin word coelica meaning "heavenly" or "celestial"....
GT-S, which produced 164 hp (previously 180 hp in 2003, 173 hp in 2004, and 170 hp in 2005). The 2006 drop in power was due to new testing standards, and not a change in the engine's actual performance.
In late 2006, Toyota discontinued use of the 2ZZ-GE engine and dropped the XRS from the Matrix lineup to be temporarily replaced by the M-Theory edition. Like each year of the XRS model, the M-Theory was a limited production run of 2500 cars. All wheel drive was also available from 2003–2006 when coupled to the 1ZZ engine and automatic transmission, but was dropped at the same time as the XRS.
Standard (2003–2008)
Starting out at $14,670 in 2003, the no-frills base model came with few options. While it did have standard air conditioning, it left out such niceties as color-keyed mirrors and door handles, blacked out window frames, and power windows, locks, and mirrors. Alloy wheels, a body kitBody kit
A body kit or bodykit is a collection of exterior modifications to a car, typically composed of front and rear bumpers, side skirts, spoilers,paint jobs, and sometimes front and rear side guards and roof scoops. There are many companies that offer alternatives to the original factory appearance of...
, and rear window wiper were also stricken from the options list by Toyota, forcing buyers to go with an XR or XRS model if they wished to have these features, as well as six-way adjustable seats and variable intermittent windshield wipers. However, one option the base model could be had with was AWD for an additional $1465 (although the actual increase was $2445, since AWD only came with an automatic transmission). Adding AWD brought the car's curb weight of 2679 lb (1,215.2 kg) up to 2943 lb (1,334.9 kg) and decreased power by 7 hp and 7 lbft. In 2004, the price of a base model remained unchanged, but by the last year of production, 2008, it had risen to $15,510.
XR (2003–2008)
The Matrix's mid-grade trim level, the XR was designed to combine the cheapness of the base model with the looks and features of the XRS. By checking this option on the order sheet, customers received standard features like color-matched mirrors and door handles, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a panic button on the key fob. Options now available included a sunroofSunroof
An automotive sunroof is a fixed or operable opening in an automobile roof which allows light and/or fresh air to enter the passenger compartment. Sunroofs may be manually operated or motor driven, and are available in many shapes, sizes and styles...
, body kit, and 16 inches (406.4 mm) alloy wheel
Alloy wheel
Alloy wheels are automobile wheels which are made from an alloy of aluminium or magnesium. They are typically lighter for the same strength...
s. A 2003 XR started at $16,180 and 2701 lb (1,225.2 kg), but when equipped with AWD cost at least $18,445 (only $305 less than an XRS) and weighed in at 2965 lb (1,344.9 kg). Like the base model, the XR's AWD engine was detuned. Again, the car's price for its sophomore year stayed the same, but in the four years after that, it rose to $16,990.
XRS (2003–2006)
For $18,750, the top-of-the-line model came standard with four-wheel disc brakes and six speakers. Also included on all XRSes were anti-lock brakes with Electronic Brakeforce DistributionElectronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
, 16-inch alloy wheels, and cruise control
Cruise control
Cruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
. In 2003, 17-inch wheels could be had, but only on cars without a sunroof. An option combining 17 inches (431.8 mm) wheels and a sunroof became available the second year of production. In 2005, an XRS started out at $18,850, and for its last year, it went for at least $19,250.
The pièce de résistance
Pièce de résistance
Pièce de résistance is a French term , translated into English literally as "piece of resistance," referring to the best part or feature of something , a showpiece, or highlight. It can be thought of as the portion of a creation which defies Pièce de résistance is a French term (circa 1839),...
, however, was Toyota's high-tech 2ZZ-GE engine – the Matrix's namesake because of the metal matrix composite
Metal matrix composite
A metal matrix composite is composite material with at least two constituent parts, one being a metal. The other material may be a different metal or another material, such as a ceramic or organic compound. When at least three materials are present, it is called a hybrid composite...
(MMC) used to line the cylinder walls. Displacing 1796 cc, or 109.6 cubic inches, it produced 180 hp and 130 lbft – a rare 100 horsepower-per-liter
Volumetric efficiency
Volumetric efficiency in internal combustion engine design refers to the efficiency with which the engine can move the charge into and out of the cylinders. More specifically, volumetric efficiency is a ratio of what quantity of fuel and air actually enters the cylinder during induction to the...
. While its 11.5:1 compression ratio
Compression ratio
The 'compression ratio' of an internal-combustion engine or external combustion engine is a value that represents the ratio of the volume of its combustion chamber from its largest capacity to its smallest capacity...
was a large factor in its performance, what set the engine apart was its ability to alter timing and valve lift through Toyota's VVTL-i. Because it could manipulate its valvetrain, the 2ZZ was capable of reaching 8500 rpm. Despite the technology, however, the engine's high compression necessitates "premium" gasoline (91 octane or above in the (R+M)/2 scale). With the exception of an available automatic in 2003, a six-speed manual transmission has been the only option for the XRS. A Transitional Low Emission Vehicle (TLEV) its first year of production, the 2ZZ was retrofitted in 2004 with a smog pump and reclassified as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
Ultra Low Emission Vehicle
An ultra-low-emission vehicle is a motor vehicle that emits extremely low levels of motor vehicle emissions compared to other vehicles...
(ULEV).
A testament to Toyota's engineering, the Matrix was able to come to a full stop from 60 mi/h in only 114 feet (34.7 m). On a skidpad
Skidpad
A skidpad or skidpan is a large, circular area of flat pavement used for various tests of a car's handling. The most common skidpad use is testing lateral acceleration, measured in g....
, the car achieved .83 g
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
, only .03 g less than the Celica GTS, during testing by Motor Trend
Motor Trend
Motor Trend is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line "The Magazine for a Motoring World". Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen...
and Sport Compact Car
Sport Compact Car
Sport Compact Car was an American car magazine that lasted from 1988 to 2009. Sport Compact Car focused on modifying and racing sport compacts, usually import model cars. This publication was known for having a more technical approach than most other typical import car magazines and for the...
. Due to being front wheel drive, the XRS has a weight distribution
Weight distribution
Weight distribution is the apportioning of weight within a vehicle, especially cars, airplanes, and trains.In a vehicle which relies on gravity in some way, weight distribution directly affects a variety of vehicle characteristics, including handling, acceleration, traction, and component life...
of 59/41 (front/rear), which may result in understeer
Understeer
Understeer and oversteer are vehicle dynamics terms used to describe the sensitivity of a vehicle to steering. Simply put, oversteer is what occurs when a car turns by more than the amount commanded by the driver...
when driven hard. It weighs in at a relatively light 2800 lb (1,270.1 kg).
M-Theory (2007)
Not a trim level, the M-Theory edition was a 2007-only appearance package with an exclusive "Speedway Blue" color. For $1500, a customer got 17-inch Caldina wheels, a chrome exhaust tip, a numbered plaque (1 of 2500), four wheel disc brakes, and a spoiler. To improve handling, a "sport tuned suspension" and strut tower brace were included.Interior
One of the Matrix's unique design features is its interior, particularly the rear 60/40 seats and cargo area. Made with rigid plastic backs, the rear seats fold flat, creating a 53.2 cu ft (1.5 m³) cargo area. In a practicality test, however, Motor Trend was able to haul more cargo in the Matrix than in a Subaru WRX wagon with 61.1 cu ft (1.7 m³) of space. In addition to the eight tie-downs in the back for attaching the included cargo nets and tonneau cover, the seats and rear floor have integrated rails for installing extra tie-downs.Up front, the passenger seat also folds flat, accommodating long items like surf boards or allowing drivers to use the tray in its back to hold items like a laptop computer. An electronic device can be charged with the 115 volt/100 watt power inverter. The first year of production (2003), the instrument cluster was completely red. However, the next year, Toyota made the numbers white while keeping the rest of the gauges red. When the car was updated in 2005, a digital clock was added to the radio bezel.
Crash testing
NHTSANational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
crash test ratings (2003):
- Frontal Crash Test – Driver:
- Frontal Crash Test – Passenger:
- Side Impact Rating –
- Side Impact Rating – Rear:
- Rollover Rating:
Recalls
In May 2008, Toyota issued a recallProduct recall
A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
for 2003 and 2004 model year Corollas and Matrixes. The recall notice cites two bolts in each of the front doors as potentially causing the window to come off the track and break. This recall only applies to models equipped with power windows. General Motors issued a recall for the same problem on 2003 and 2004 Pontiac Vibes with power windows at the same time.
On August 26, 2010, Toyota issued a recall
Product recall
A product recall is a request to return to the maker a batch or an entire production run of a product, usually due to the discovery of safety issues. The recall is an effort to limit liability for corporate negligence and to improve or avoid damage to publicity...
for 2005 to 2008 model year Corollas and Matrixes, equipped with the 1ZZ-FE engine and two-wheel drive. The recall notices states that an improperly manufactured Engine Control Module (ECM) can develop a crack in its circuitry, potentially causing the "Check Engine" light to illuminate, harsh shifting, and stalling and/or failure of the engine to start.
Second generation (E140; 2009–present)
Initially rumored by Toyota and auto news media as a Matrix replacement named the Blade, the second generation Matrix was unveiled on October 31, 2007, at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMASEMA
Specialty Equipment Market Association of the automobile aftermarket was formed in 1963 by Roy Richter, Ed Iskenderian, Willie Garner, Bob Hedman, John Bartlett, Phil Weiand, Jr., Al Segal, Dean Moon, and Vic Edelbrock, Jr...
) show in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, and was first available at dealerships in February 2008, as a 2009 model.
In the United States, three trim grades (Standard [base], S, and XRS) are offered, as well as two I4
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engines: a 1797 cc 2ZR-FE
Toyota ZR engine
The ZR engine family, introduced in 2007 by Toyota Motor Corporation, uses a DOHC 16-valve cylinder head with a 4-cylinder die-cast block. Engines displace either 1.6 liters, 1.8-liters or 2.0-liters. All engines in this family are equipped with Toyota's dual VVT-i technology that optimizes both...
for the base model (chassis code ZRE142) and a 2362 cc 2AZ-FE
Toyota AZ engine
The Toyota AZ engine family is a straight-4 piston engine series. The AZ series uses an aluminium engine block with cast iron cylinder liners and aluminium DOHC cylinder heads. The engine series features many advanced technologies including slant-squish combustion chambers,offset cylinder and...
for the S and XRS grades. The former is offered with either a five-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
or four-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
, while the larger engine is equipped with either a manual or automatic five-speed transmission. In addition, the S grade can be equipped with a four-speed automatic and all-wheel drive.
Canadian buyers are offered four trim levels: a 1.8 L-powered base model and the XR, AWD, and XRS models with a 2.4 liter engine.
This Toyota Matrix generation marks it the first time it is sold in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The Toyota Matrix comes only in two trim levels to Mexico: Base and XR.
Its Pontiac Vibe sibling was discontinued after the 2010 model year due to General Motors phasing out the Pontiac
Pontiac
Pontiac was an automobile brand that was established in 1926 as a companion make for General Motors' Oakland. Quickly overtaking its parent in popularity, it supplanted the Oakland brand entirely by 1933 and, for most of its life, became a companion make for Chevrolet. Pontiac was sold in the...
brand.
For the 2011 model year, the Matrix received redesigned exterior and interior elements, including front and rear fascias, wheels, and seat fabrics.
Models
Beginning in 2008, Toyota began offering different trim levels in the United States and Canada. The XR trim and AWD option became exclusive for Canada, and the S model was released only in the U.S. All vehicles have an independent front suspension with MacPherson strutMacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
s, but only XRS models and cars equipped with all-wheel drive and 158 horsepower, feature an independent rear suspension using double wishbones instead of a semi-independent torsion beam. The 2009 models have less interior space than the preceding years, with a total of 48.9 cu ft (1.4 m³) compared to the original 53.2 cu ft (1.5 m³)..
The XRS grade was dropped from the U.S. lineup for the 2011 model year.
Safety
All models come standard with side torso airbags, side curtain airbags, anti-lock braking and electronic brakeforce distributionElectronic brakeforce distribution
Electronic brakeforce distribution ', Electronic brakeforce limitation ' is an automobile brake technology that automatically varies the amount of force applied to each of a vehicle's brakes, based on road conditions, speed, loading, etc...
. For the 2010 model the previously optional Vehicle Stability Control and traction control
Traction control system
A traction control system , also known as anti-slip regulation , is typically a secondary function of the anti-lock braking system on production motor vehicles, designed to prevent loss of traction of driven road wheels...
systems became standard.
Toyota's Smart Stop Technology was added to the Matrix for the 2011 model year.
The Matrix is rated "Good" in both frontal and side Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) crash tests.
NHTSA
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
crash test ratings (2009):
- Frontal Crash Test – Driver:
- Frontal Crash Test – Passenger:
- Side Impact Rating –
- Side Impact Rating – Rear:
- Rollover Rating:
Recalls
The 2009 to 2010 model year Toyota Matrix (and its Pontiac Vibe relative) are subject to the 2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls2009–2010 Toyota vehicle recalls
Three separate but related recalls of automobiles by Toyota Motor Corporation occurred at the end of 2009 and start of 2010. Toyota initiated the recalls, the first two with the assistance of the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration , after reports that several vehicles experienced...
regarding floor mat and accelerator pedal replacement.