Toyota Matrix Deals

2010 Toyota Matrix Review

Enter the Matrix.

You know how people always brag they've owned a Toyota for, like, a million years? Many of those 90s Camrys were simple mid-sized sedans, mostly because crossovers hadn't been invented yet - for many, a "sedan" was as utilitarian as their lives got.

The modern equivalent to the indestructible 90s Camry? The Toyota Matrix. The Matrix is basically the size of an older Camry, in a 5-door body. It feels slightly larger than a Mazda 3 Sport - but slightly more dull - the Matrix simply gets the job done without fuss.

Note that the Matrix and Pontiac Vibe are nearly identical under the skin, and due to the repercussions from the General Motors bankruptcy and the axing of Pontiac, the Vibe is dead. Toyota announced the Matrix would die, too - so get 'em while you still can.

Available in front or all-wheel-drive configurations, the Matrix does with either a 1.8-litre 132 horsepower 4-cylinder or a 2.4-litre 158 horsepower 4-cylinder (S trim.) Admittedly, those figures won't set the world alight - but they get the job done. Manual transmissions are available on lower grades of specific trims, while an automatic is available for ,000.

According to Toyota's website, the Matrix AWD and XRS trims have been dropped for 2010 and the base 1.8-litre engine gets an optional 4-speed automatic - the 2.4-litre gets a 5-speed auto.

Fuel economy? 26/32 mpg for the base engine and 21/28 for the 2.4-litre - when's the last time you saw a compact Toyota that barely reaches 20 mpg?

Inside, it's all form over function, with clear dials, easy-to-use layout, and more storage than the back of a U-Haul. Speaking of cargo vans, open the hatch and you've got a treat: the cargo bay is split/flat-folding and completely lined in durable plastic. Handy compartments sit underneath the floor, but if you're always hauling things in your car, the Matrix would eat 'em up without fuss.

Price? Just over 17-large for the base trim while an S with an automatic is just under ,000. We think it's good value, and being built in the US, you're able to at least support the wages of American workers. Until, of course, the plant shuts down.

When that happens, we won't be happy - the Matrix has always been the unsung hero of the Toyota range. Just don't, 10 years down the line, start bragging about how reliable it's beenÉ