2003 Toyota Matrix Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: Owner Pros and Cons by saturation

Reliability & durability

Not one major repair issue; only state inspection and oil changes since bought new. 90K mi, car is going on 8th year.

Fuel economy

Haul 600# of sports cargo during trips. Car does 36 mpg if speed <=60 mph, 33 mpg <=70, 30 mpg under 80 and 28 under 90 mph.

Cargo capacity

As good as a Tacoma size pickup. Its near rectangular space and high roof allows for a lot of cuft hauling.

Handling

Drives like a Corolla. Its very capable and responsive.

Price or payments

Climate control & stereo system in base model. Rear wipers and defrost should be standard. Rear window becomes translucent with heavy rain or snow, which can be cleared easily by 1-3 wiper cycles.

Interior styling

Like the exterior, its bland. The backlit dashboard can be hard to see in bright sunlight. It is comfortable enough for 1000 mi trips, which I do a lot.

Materials & workmanship

The interior is lined by a softish plastic; easily scored, marred, and scratched. However, for the cheap material, the trim and fit is tight.

Feature availability

Compared to competing model standard features, you get less options, such as against the Pontiac Vibe.