DETROIT, MI -- Sometimes when test driving a car you get
caught in real world conditions and you find out how good a vehicle really is
on a day-to-day basis. That’s what happened with the 2009 Toyota Matrix S.
I think I had the car for a couple of days when it snowed a
good foot and then the fluffy stuff was topped off by brutally cold weather.
Temperatures never got north of 20 degrees and at night they were in the single
digits.
The Matrix S was a compact five door sedan (read hatchback) but most
importantly, it had front-wheel-drive. In my opinion, front-wheel-drive is the
second best drive train other than putting power to all four wheels when it
comes to snow.
Not once did the Matrix get stuck or even come close to needing a push. The
trick to driving in snow is weight and motion. Even when driving a small car,
use its weight to improve traction and sometimes let the car go where it wants.
This is particularly effective when literally sliding (slowly) through turns.
That equation worked well when it came to the Matrix S. In
snowy conditions power is not necessarily your friend. The Matrix S was
equipped with a 2.4-liter four cylinder engine that made 158 horsepower and 162
pounds feet of torque. This was more than enough oomph given the conditions.
The car was parked outside for the week. I was impressed that the Matrix S
started smartly every time I turned the key. And its cloth seats were a
pleasant change from leather, pleather or some other animal skin. In other
words, cloth does not get anywhere near as cold as leather in frigid weather.
When it’s frigid, key pieces of equipment in any vehicle are the heater and the
windshield wipers. The Matrix S warmed up a little slower that I would have
liked. But then again it was four degrees. However, the wind shield wipers
cleared the snow away and kept the windshield snow free with no problem. And
the rear wiper created enough clear space for a reasonably clear view of what
was behind me.
My test vehicle had a four-speed automatic. It’s the only
transmission available in the S model. Other Matrix models can be equipped with
either a five-speed manual or a five speed automatic transmission.
All-wheel-drive is also available.
It was a waste of time trying to get a grip on ride and handling. I was just
happy the car started and didn’t get stuck once I got going. But the Matrix S
was relatively easy to drive even in lousy conditions.
Expressway traffic was nowhere near normal. But the Matrix S accelerated well,
changed lanes as quick as conditions would allow and the brakes worked pretty
well on the slippery, slushy, snowy streets.
The car was “wired” for satellite radio (it wasn’t fully
connected), it had an in-dash six disc CD player with WMA/MPA capability, and
it had some steering wheel controls for the audio system, which wasn’t bad for
a compact car.
Gas mileage, a concern even with the low price of petrol, was 21/29 mpg in
city/hwy driving. Toyota
said the expected range was more like 17/25 mpg. I opted to put some gas in the
car the night before it was to be returned. Most fuel gauges will let you know
that you’re in the reserve tank. But not this one and that was my only real complaint.
The needle was a smidgen from E and there was no warning light, nothing. So I
chose caution and put some gasoline in the Matrix S. The last thing I wanted to
do was run out of gasoline while it was 10 degrees.
Anyway, the base price of the 2009 Toyota Matrix S was $19,550. Add on extras
and shipping and the total price of my test vehicle was $21,539. These days,
the Matrix is shaping up to have broad appeal, especially when the price of
gasoline goes up.
