Toyota Matrix: The Best Car I’ve Ever Owned

In December 2002, I was in dire need of a new car. I had been looking at a number of cars when a friend suggested that I look at the Matrix, a new model from Toyota. He said that it was fun, peppy and roomy. We looked over the information about the car on the web then headed over to the Toyota dealership to test drive it.

I really liked the unique look and style of the Matrix. It was the perfect compromise between a station wagon and a minivan for an early 30s mom who wanted a functional car that was also fun to drive. We decided that the higher end XRS was the best route for the larger engine and I was able to get it as an automatic. I didn’t have the luxury of waiting for my car to be custom-made at the factory so I ended up getting a standard package model that was delivered a few days later.

When started driving the car I fell in love with it. The Matrix is peppy. I was very glad I got the more powerful engine, especially when I was pulling onto the highway. People were always commenting on how cool the car looked and I felt like a hip mom driving around in it.

The Matrix XRS costs a bit more at the gas pump as it requires high grade gas, but over the course of the year it ends up being less than $100 difference so it really isn’t all that noticeable. It makes up for it by having moderately good gas mileage. I can go about 350 miles on a tank of gas, even with the air-conditioning on, so I don’t have to fill up more than once a week for regular kicking around town. Another plus has been the low maintenance costs over the last nine years.

The main thing I love about the Matrix is the room for hauling things. I’ve been able to get an amazing amount of stuff into the car, including a full-size computer desk, seven foot tall bookcases, four non-folding yard chairs, eight foot long pieces of lumber, and much more. The back seat comfortably seats three teens with the fourth in the passenger seat, which is a very common occurrence in our household.

For these reasons, the Toyota Matrix is hands down the best car I’ve owned.


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