The 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS compact wagon arrived a year later than most people expected, but at the perfect time.
Skyrocketing fuel prices have boosted small-car sales, and the Matrix — and its GM sibling, the Pontiac Vibe — hit the road with an appealing combination of high miles per gallon and affordable sticker prices.
Add a roomy passenger and cargo compartment, and both cars should win plenty of buyers.
Prices for the new version of the Matrix start at $16,190 for a base front-wheel drive model with a 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed automatic adds $810.
The S and XRS models come with Toyota's excellent 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual. Prices start at $18,260 for the S and $20,660 for the XRS.
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The S also offers an all-wheel drive model priced at $20,400. Adding the four-speed automatic adds $1,190 to the price for an S or XRS. The all-wheel drive system is available only with the automatic transmission.
I tested an XRS with the manual transmission and a couple of options that sells for $21,820. All prices exclude destination charges.
The wagon uses the same platform as the Corolla, but it's aimed at a younger, hipper crowd. It hits that target, but well outside the bull's-eye scored by sportier and more appealing compacts such as the Mazda 3 and the Honda Civic.
That being said, the Matrix is an appealing little car. The interior provides plentiful space for front and rear passengers, and the cargo area makes it more useful than compacts such as the Civic, the Nissan Sentra, the Hyundai Elantra and the Mazda 3.
The interior suffers badly from wind and road noise, however, and some pieces of trim did not fit together with the precision we've come to expect from Toyota.
The shifter is smooth, and the 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine — the same power plant that's standard in the bigger Camry sedan — provides plenty of power.
The Matrix XRS has EPA fuel-economy ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, average for its class.
The steering and brakes are tuned to provide good feedback and response, but the suspension leans more toward comfort than sport driving. It absorbs bumps smoothly, but body roll and a tendency to push quickly become apparent in spirited driving.
2009 Toyota Matrix XRS
Price: $16,190 base, $21,820 as tested
Engine: 2.4-liter, 158 horsepower, variable timing DOHC 16-valve four cylinder
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Fuel economy: 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway