2003 Toyota Matrix XRS

Our XRS has plenty of design attitude with the bonus of excellent cargo-carrying capacity. But things we've come to expect from Toyota products--excellent build quality, NVH-free interiors, near-perfect ergonomics, and smooth powertrains--aren't present or accounted for here. Our previous grumblings about the buzzy engine, rattly interior, and wonky shifter have amplified themselves since our last update. And we've noticed that the front fascia is prone to scuffing when entering/exiting steep driveways.

That said, we still like our XRS's penchant for sports-car-like handling, large payload area, 110V power point (great for recharging laptops), and consumer-friendly pricetag. Toyota's legendary reliability shows through on this car, as our Matrix has needed only normal scheduled maintenance during its tenure.

FROM THE LOGBOOK
"Shifting the Matrix is like trying to yank the leg off a holiday turkey."--Thomas Voehringer