2008 Toyota Matrix User Reviews

Pros

fuel economy, interior space, seat adjustments, glove compartment is enormous, hatch!

Cons

Nothing, this car is spectacular!!

I love my Matrix! It is the best car I have owned. 4 of it's 5 seats fold down completely, and it holds so much stuff! It has great pick up everywhere!

Pros

Awesome fuel economy, roomy, folding rear and passenger seats, not too bad style, decent performence

Cons

Ride is a little rough, but not too uncomfortable

I have had my 2008 Matrix XR for about 8 months now. Very dependable and great fuel economy for a mid size car. If you are looking for a hatch that has great performance, great fuel economy, and a roomy, comfortable ride, this is THE car!

Pros

30 mpg, lots of leg & head room easy to park, dash board is well lit,handles good

Cons

Paint easily chips

I got my 08 Matris in Dec of 07. After driving an extended cab truck for 10 years , it was a welcomed change. I was getting about 16 mpg and now I am getting 28-30 mpg. I do miss being able to haul 6 riders, being I have 4 grandchildren. My husband is 6 ft tall and it has plenty of head and leg room for him. Rocks have chipped the paint on my hood , I will be purchasing a guard to help with this problem. It's easy to park and handles really good and the seats in back and the passenger seat in the front will let down to haul long or large items. The cruise control doesn't work to good on hilly roads, the transmission is steadliy changing gears. I think they are a little overpriced, but I am enjoying the ride....read morehide

Pros

ANY SMALL CAR CAN GET GOOD MPG....

Cons

to much plastic/to cheap material/seats/carpet

My 2005 was in and out of the shop the first 2 1/2 years,i purchased it brand new. Terrible on long trips,legs would go to sleep,back would hurt,fit and finish was very bad on the inside,toyota is using poor material on this model.

Pros

More roomy and stable than the Yaris at about the same price and MPG rating.

Cons

Haven't found one yet!

This is the perfect dog-owner's car!! I bought mine when my wife and I moved to San Diego last fall. We have two small dogs that love to go to the beach. Problem was my wife was not a fan of putting the wet sandy dogs back into her car for the ride home. I decided to buy an economical inexpensive commuter car specifically taylored for our beach outings. My requirements were 30+ MPG, a manual tranmission, rear seat that folded completely flat, visibility that allowed the dogs to look out the window from a seated position, and a cash price of less than $15k. I knew I needed some type of wagon, hatchback, or crossover. After much internet research, I went to the Toyota dealer and told them I wanted to buy a Yaris. Usually I don't test drive a new car before I buy it. This helps eliminate the emotional attachment during the price negotiations. My dealership refused to sell me the car unless I drove it. So to appease them I took the Yaris for a spin and boy, am I glad I did! It was horrible!! I know its an entry level economy car, but it was very unstable on the road. You could hear and feel even the slightest bumb in the road. But the car still met my requirements -- almost. The rear seat didn't quite fold flat and the closest manual transmission Yaris was 250 miles away. The saleman suggested I try the Matrix and what a difference! Ride is far superior and it actually feels like a car, not a gocart and it gets about the same gas mileage as the Yaris. The rear seat of the Matrix folds flat and the five door hatchback of the Matrix makes rear compartment access much easier than the 3 doors on the Yaris. Because they had a one in inventory and I was a cash buyer, I got it for about $14k. I bought a rubber pick-up bed liner from Pep Boys and trimmed it to fit the back of my Matrix. Then I added a pet barrier right behind the front seats. Now we go to the beach several times a week and the dogs can get as dirty as they want. When we get home, a wisk broom removes all the sand and I can remove the bed mat and hose it down for big messes. I've never had the rear seats in the upright position since I bought it. If you're the owner of a dog that loves the great outdoors, this is definitely the car for you. Don't forget to splurge on the $80 bed liner to cover the hard plastic on the back of the seats -- it keep the dogs from sliding around in the back and makes them feel more secure....read morehide

Pros

Nice ride, good handling, reliable

Cons

acceleration, interior plastic scratches easily

We have had the car for 6 months now and really enjoy it. It is spacious enough for a small family while not using too much gas like a minivan. Toyota quality and reliability is wonderful since we will be taking longer road trips to see family.

Pros

Ride, quality, fuel economy all very good

Cons

Tires for 17" Wheels wear quickly, paint chips

We have a 2005 Matrix XR with the moon roof and 17" Alloy Wheels. In a short period of time we go paint chips on the front. Talking to other Matrix owners this seems to be normal for them. Where almost to 60,000 miles and the second set of tires is almost completely worn out. They were rotated about every 5,000 miles as suggested by tire mfg and tire pressure has not gone under 30 psi. The air pressure has been monitored every few weeks. I've kept the tire pressure between 32-34 PSI. I'd suggest anyone looking at these cars go for the 16" wheels. If you purchase with the 17" tires expect to get about 20,000 to 30,000 miles per set of tires. A big plus is the engine has a timing chain instead of a belt. We taken this car 3 times on trips to Dallas which is over 8hrs away. It has gotten about 34 mpg each time. This car is really comfortable and a pleasure to drive....read morehide

Pros

excellent fuel economy (34 mpg highway);rides high for good visibility

I commute 70 miles a day round trip. I love this car. Ride is comfortable enough, visibility great. Fuel economy has been outstanding. OK, so the radio isn't great..and no mp3 hookup... Got it with ABS and side airbags, through a broker at my credit union. Pretty fair deal. I love this car. Big upgrade from my '99 Mazda Protege!...read morehide

Pros

Good gas mileage, comfortable seats, awesome steering, and great cargo area

Cons

Hmm....NONE

Great, reliable car. Love the large cargo area and the seats are very comfortable. I especially love all the instruments in my matrix xr (had a sports package installed for only 800!!!) The gas milage is good and the ride is not that bumpy. Nice looks and a lot of leg room. The engine is not loud at all and the pick up speed is decent. Overall, i think that this car is GREAT!!!...read morehide

Pros

Pretty good fuel economy, quiet LARGE cabin, comfortable ride, great sound system, sporty look

Cons

None

I absolutly love this car!! I got it with a moon roof, 17" alloy wheels, fog lights, and a body kit. It looks soooo nice. The suspension and shock absorbers are great and it has a really quiet ride. The best thing about this car that i love is the HUGE cargo area. I can now carry around large items that i could not if i used my other sedan. The pick up speed on the matrix is pretty decent and you can barely hear the engine noise. I got this car for a great price too, $17,000. Overall I love this car and if you drive one you will probably love it too!!!...read morehide