2008 Toyota Matrix XR 4-Spd AT

Pros

stylish, reliable, fun to drive, very roomy, a real value.

Cons

NOTHING to complain about !

Purchased As New

The v v t i engine is probably one of the smartest things Toyota ever came up with when putting the Matrix and Corolla together. I previously owned a 2000 Corolla, which I put 241,000 original miles on, and when I sold it in 2007, it was still running like the devil :-)
The v v t i engine is one of the main reasons I purchased the Matrix, and have never been disappointed since day one. Gas mileage is great, handles nicely on the road. For dollar value and reliability, It doesn`t get better than this.......read morehide

Pros

No Pros

Cons

plastic gauges on inside are scratched badly after normal cleaning

Purchased As New

poor fuel economy sun roof leaks and does not open all the way
steering is not working correctly clinking backing up and moving forward
rust already dealer says its from a stone chip all I have done is normal driving
interior is not durable Scratches very easily
too much cabin noise on highway

Pros

the perfect car for the outdoorsy type! love the fold down trunk, fuel economy, just a good ca

Cons

i'll always desire better fuel economy until the car runs itself!

Purchased As New

i love this car! it is my first official car titled in my name. it's not fancy but is nice enough. it's easy to drive in the snow - i did it last weekend, in fact and felt safe and in control. the seats are comfy and i love the plastic trunk - so easy and functional. i love to take it on road trips and camping trips - and my pup loves to spread out in the back - though she does slide if she's standing on the plastic. :) i would highly recommend this car - i'm strongly considering getting another one for my next car... if the car ever dies!...read morehide

Pros

none. Fuel economy is not so good.

Cons

Rides like a covered lawn mower, so where your mouthguard on long trips to protect your teeth.

Purchased As New

Terrible car. It is a covered lawn mower with about as much acceleration. It rides terribly harsh. I purchased this car new and finally had to get rid of it. I got a 2009 Equinox Sport. I only lost 4 MPG's average between a full size 2009 Equinox Sport and this piece of toyota junk. Let's face it, it's created by a company with the correct name. It's a toy. I had to put it away. Trunk space is none existent. I remember going to Christmas and where could I put stuff. Everywhere! No room. Get used to hitting shoulders with your passengers. Also, the automatic window controls don't work correctly. If I lockout the windows, it also locks out the driver controls. I've never experienced this before. How could something like this be missed? The arm rest is not in the correct place and so I cannot rest my arm. How could this be missed? The interior scratches if you breathe on it. Terrible quality. The tire monitor sensors kept malfunctioning. I've never had a flat, but had 2 tire pressure monitor sensors go bad. So, 100% of the time if the tire pressure sensor monitor light is on, it's not a flat. It's toyota dummy light barking at me. I'm so glad it's finally gone!!! Never again Toyota....read morehide

Pros

Space

Cons

Ride is choppy, Strut bushes wear out, Engine noise, Sunvisor is short

Not too great of a car as claimed. The handling is poor on corners, sunvisor is short, ride is choppy and bumpy, alot of engine noise, small driver's handrest and car rattles after about 50K miles. Ride not comparable to a sedan's. I think its manufactured on Corolla chasis.

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

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