Best sport wagon 2009 Subaru Outback *Est. $22295
Best premium station wagon 2009 BMW 3 Series Sports Wagon *Est. $36025
Budget seven-seat wagon 2009 Kia Rondo *Est. $17495
Compact, fuel-sipping wagon 2009 Pontiac Vibe *Est. $16735

See All Station Wagons

2009 Toyota Matrix

*Est. $16,290 to $21,950

Lowest annual fuel cost of any wagon
Roomy for a small wagon
It's reliable
High resale value
Available all-wheel drive

Costs a bit more than Pontiac Vibe, its twin
Shorter powertrain warranty than Vibe
New body style less popular than Vibe's
Sluggish, noisy base engine
Unimpressive fit and finish
Tiny windows make it hard to see
Front seats not the most comfortable

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Our Analysis

March 2009. Not long ago, the reliable, practical Toyota Matrix was the critics' budget wagon of choice. But now some competitors are offering the same performance for less money -- or better performance for the same money -- and suddenly, the Matrix is no longer the favorite small wagon.

That title now passes to the Matrix's twin, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe (*est. $16,735 to $21,510). The two share almost everything except exterior styling, which critics say is much sportier on the Vibe. Reviews criticize the 2009 Toyota Matrix's new look as bloated, awkward -- or worse. The Matrix's "gun-slit windows … put the words ‘oh s---!' into 'blind spot,'" writes Edward Niedermeyer at The Truth About Cars.

The 2009 Pontiac Vibe is slightly cheaper than the Toyota Matrix, with a longer powertrain warranty: The Vibe is covered for five years/100,000 miles, versus five years/60,000 miles for the Matrix (both have a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty). Otherwise, reviewers say the two wagons share the same drawbacks: an interior swathed in cheap plastics, and front seats that aren't particularly comfortable. These small wagons include a smaller cargo area than full-size station wagons, along with a smaller backseat. Testers say the rear accommodations are adequate for two adults, but a little tight for three.

On the positive side, experts say the five-passenger Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe wagon is reliable and holds its value well. Its annual fuel cost is the lowest of any wagon; the new clean-diesel version of the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (*est. $19,075 to $23,870) gets more miles per gallon, but it uses expensive diesel fuel. All-wheel drive is an option on both the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe.

The Toyota Matrix range starts with a base version (*est. $16,290). Its 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine delivers the best gas mileage -- 28 mpg combined, or 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway with the five-speed manual transmission (25 mpg city/31 mpg highway with the four-speed automatic). Testers say it provides adequate power, but the step-up Toyota Matrix S (*est. $18,360) offers more oomph for passing and accelerating with its 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder.

The 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS (*est. $20,760) adds a double-wishbone rear suspension, choice of five-speed manual or automatic transmission, bigger wheels and a few extra standard features, such as cruise control and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Fuel economy suffers substantially with the bigger engine. The Matrix S/XRS models get 24 mpg overall: 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway with the manual transmission (29 mpg highway with the automatic). The Toyota Matrix S with all-wheel drive -- available only with the bigger engine and the four-speed automatic -- achieves just 22 mpg overall (20 mpg city/26 mpg highway) according to the EPA.

ConsumerReports.org conducts the most comprehensive analysis of the Toyota Matrix, collecting data on nearly every aspect of the wagon and ranking it against its competitors. The Truth About Cars also takes a thorough look at the Matrix in two separate reviews, and write-ups here are always entertaining. A "mom-tester" at MotherProof.com describes how practical the Matrix is when you're hauling kids. Less extensive reviews at MotorWeek, Car and Driver and Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine are also based on testing. We found gas mileage and pollution ratings at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website, as well as the nonprofit GreenerCars.org site. Safety ratings at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety aren't as helpful as they usually are, due to incomplete information about the Matrix, but the 2009 Toyota Matrix has been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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2009 Toyota Matrix

Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

ConsumerReports.org tests the 2009 Toyota Matrix and rates it against 19 other wagons and hatchbacks -- including its near twin, the Pontiac Vibe. The in-depth Matrix report includes detailed road test results, as well as predictions of the Matrix's reliability and resale value, but it's only accessible to subscribers.

Review: 2009 Toyota Matrix Review, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. The Truth About Cars

Justin Berkowitz tests the 2009 Toyota Matrix and judges its appearance, interior and performance. He calls the Matrix a "terrible car" -- not because it's inherently terrible, but because it inexplicably costs more than several similar cars, including the Pontiac Vibe and Scion xB.

Review: 2009 Toyota Matrix Review, Justin Berkowitz, Feb. 29, 2008

3. The Truth About Cars

This review compares the styling, interior and performance of two all-wheel-drive wagons/hatchbacks -- the 2009 Toyota Matrix and the 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 5-Door -- and finds the Impreza better on all counts.

Review: 2009 Toyota Matrix S AWD vs. 2008 Subaru Impreza 2.5i 5-Door, Edward Niedermeyer, June 16, 2008

4. FuelEconomy.gov

This chart shows how most 2009 small wagons -- including all five versions of the Toyota Matrix -- compare in terms of federal fuel economy standards. You can click on each model's link for more in-depth information about fuel costs and pollution.

Review: 2009 Small Station Wagons, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov

5. SaferCars.gov

The 2009 Toyota Matrix's safety scores are identical to the 2009 Pontiac Vibe's: perfect five-star frontal crash ratings and four stars for rollover potential and for protecting rear passengers in a side crash. Both cars rank in the middle of the wagon category for safety, according to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

Review: 2009 Toyota Matrix, Editors of SaferCar.gov

6. Motor Week

Unlike some other reviewers, MotorWeek editors like the restyled 2009 Toyota Matrix. They find it stylish, versatile, affordable and a good performer in tests.

Review: Road Test: 2009 Toyota Matrix, Editors of MotorWeek

7. MotherProof.com

Sara Lacey tests the all-wheel-drive version of the Toyota Matrix along with her children, ages 4 and 6. She finds that the little wagon blows all over the road, its power is only "adequate," and it isn't as fuel-efficient as she expected.

Review: Sporty Matrix Falls Short for Mom, Sara Lacey, July 2008

8. Kiplinger Personal Finance

Kiplinger's Personal Finance declares the Toyota Matrix the best new wagon for 2009. The Matrix also wins the Best Resale Value and Most Fuel-Efficient wagon categories. A separate table allows you to sort wagons by their performance in nine categories (cargo space, resale value, etc). However, not all wagons are covered.

Review: Kiplinger's 2009 Auto Buying Guide, Mark Solheim and Jessica L. Anderson, Mar. 2009

9. Car and Driver Details/Subscribe

This brief review sums up the pros and cons of the 2009 Toyota Matrix. Testers here find the Matrix wagon boring to drive, and they say it lacks style; they prefer the styling of the otherwise identical Pontiac Vibe.

Review: 2009 Toyota Matrix, Editors of Car and Driver

10. GreenerCars.com

This website of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy awards cars a "green score," based on pollution emissions and fuel economy. The Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe is one of the greenest small wagons, experts here conclude.

Review: The Best Vehicles by Class: 2009 Small Wagons, Editors of GreenerCars.org

11. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

This chart compares two dozen small cars (including small wagons and hatchbacks), based on their performance in IIHS crash tests. The Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe ranks in the middle of the pack, but IIHS has not tested its rear-impact safety or updated the rankings to reflect the Matrix/Vibe's new standard electronic stability control.

Review: Small Cars, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety