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2007 Toyota Matrix Road Test

It's hard to believe that in the last decade, the 5-door wagon has become oneof the automotive must-haves. Think about the oh-so-cool Dodge Magnum muscle wagon that's put style back in the full-size American family hauler, or Audi's baby A3 Sportback, if you're into European flair. To think, it was only a handful of years ago that I heard stories of friends begging their parents NOT to buy a wagon for them or for the family, because wagons just weren't cool. I recall this particularly well because I was one of those kids! I remember thinking how nerdy my mom's little red 1991 Toyota Corolla station wagon was, and recall saying to her, “Mom, station wagons will never be popular.” Boy was I wrong.

While our '91 Corolla wagon is now a little outdated (in style, technology, interior design ... but not reliability!), take

The Toyota Corolla wagon might not have been particularly cool, but the Matrix is. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

a look at Toyota's current wagon offering, the Matrix. It's a good-looking car. It's practical, gets amazing fuel economy, has some great features and most of all, it's kinda cool. Unfortunately, it has lost some of its 'x' factor since the XRS - the 164-horsepower version – and the all-wheel drive model is no longer available. Why? Well, as we girls say, it just wasn'tin fashion anymore. Sad. In reality it probably had more to do with the high price of both models, and the fact that most in this entry-level segment weren't willing to spend more

The Matrix has been pretty much the same since it was launched, showing that its design is still strong after all these years. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

for speed or all-weather traction.

Since the Matrix' introduction in 2003, not much has changed visually. There have been revisions to the front and rear fascia, plus new grille inserts, but nothing drastic. Furthermore, the 2007 model year is a carryover from 2006. It would take an avid Matrix-ologist to really pin down the subtle differences. On the positive, while it hasn't changed much it also hasn't aged much either, which, I think, is fortunate for Toyota and its many fans. It takes a really good design to keep a car fresh-looking for so many years, and Toyota nailed this one.

But Toyota's ability to create a somewhat timelessdesign along with

Interior is straightforward but also a really unique layout. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

excellent build quality is nothing new, and neither is its ability to produce a great driving machine. The Matrix is an extremely easy and comfortable car to maneuver through city streets or the highways and byways of life. It's well put together, has a simple but very good-looking interior layout that is such a treat behind the wheel. I especially like the simplicity of the stereo and climate control, and the bright red and white gauges are cool too. It doesn't feel bulky, the blind spots are actually quite good and it rides smoothly on the front MacPherson gas struts and rear torsion beam suspension. It glides fluidly in and out of turns and feels stable at freeway speeds. Gosh, I almost feel like I'm writing a personal ad, but I speak the truth. The Matrix' long list of redeeming qualities only confirm why so many of them are out on the roads, and why it's one

Lots of space; the rear seats fold down and so does the front passenger's. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

of this country's best selling five-door wagons.

As good as the Matrix is, I can't say it really got my engine revving. It's not particularly exciting during acceleration, but then again the 126 horses and 122 lb-ft of torque from its 1.8L, 16-valve, DOHC 4-cylinder with VVT-I (variable valve timingwith intelligence) were enough to keep me content during my test period. Besides, my basic day-to-day driving really only consists of commuting to and from work, running errands, maybe going to the grocery store and over to the boyfriend's place, so how many horses do I really need? But hey, the more the merrier. Furthermore, the optional 4-speed automatic transmission (an additional $800) didn't necessarily liven things up either, although the convenience of not having to clutch-and-shift during rush hour traffic had its perks.

On the flip side, I just loved the Matrix' fuel economy for a number of obvious reasons. One, it's cheap to run. The estimated fuel consumption is rated

We wonder what's next for the Matrix... (Photo: Alexandra Straub, American Auto Press)

at 29 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. That's not bad considering it's a decent-sized 5-door with 15.1 cubic feet of cargo volume to spare. If you need more space, the rear seats also fold, as does the front passenger's seat, allowing long things like ladders or surfboards to be carried on board. And I wish I could tell you howmuch I spent on gas throughout the week, but my findings would be completely inaccurate considering that when I went to fill up at the pump, there must have been a glitch in the system as fuel was a mere 42 cents per gallon! Yup, that's right. Too bad that can't be the norm. I paid just under $4.00 for fuel that week and needless to say, I was extremely satisfied.

Going back to the Matrix' 'cool' factor, equipped on the FWD model was option “B”, which included keyless entry with hatch release, automatic locks and illuminated entry. However, the snazzy set of 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels wrapped around P205/55R16 all-season tires linked to a set of front disc and rear drum brakes is an optional extra. And while I'm talking about 'cool' things, standard on every Matrix is air conditioning.

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