2003 Toyota Matrix XR

No matter what you call them, crossover vehicles have been popping up at a fast and furious clip of late. But to keep from getting lost in the mix, a newcomer to this burgeoning market segment must possess a full measure of the "right stuff." While it's still a bit too early to know how Toyota's latest offering will fare in the long run, a week behind the wheel of the new Matrix left us convinced that it comes well prepared to do battle.

Matrix's mission: combining "the functionality of an SUV, the style, image and performance of a sports car and the affordability of a compact sedan."

Officially, Toyota set out to merge "the functionality of an SUV, the style, image and performance of a sports car and the affordability of a compact sedan ... into a new concept in cool for everyone too young and too hip for a Corolla sedan." Probe a bit deeper, and the marketing operatives admit they also expect this cheeky little offering to enjoy a fair amount of cross-generation appeal, piquing the interest of maturing baby-boomers as well as first-time, active-lifestyle buyers in their 20s.


Spun from the same basic platform as the new Corolla, the Matrix—or more properly, the Corolla Matrix—shares virtually all of the same engineering and computer-fortified structure as its more conventional cousin but none of its sheetmetal or interior trim bits. Despite a common 102.4-inch wheelbase, the Matrix is nearly seven inches shorter than the Corolla and almost three inches taller. That dimensional redistribution leads to an easily re-configurable interior package that will accommodate regulation-size adults in both front and rear quarters—as well as a goodly amount of their assorted gear.


The Matrix's built-in flexibility begins with the lineup itself, which is comprised of three distinct trim levels: Standard, XR, and XRS. Although we briefly sampled each permutation, most of our time was spent in an autoshifted, front-drive Matrix XR, the model Toyota expects to be its most popular variant.


Both the Standard and XR carry the same 1.8-liter DOHC four as a Corolla while the performance-oriented XRS shares powertrain elements with the Celica GT-S. To help front-load buyer appeal, Toyota opted for an aggressive pricing policy across the Matrix lineup. Features abound even in base form, which starts at $14,670. Standards include an AM/FM/CD sound system, tilt steering column, tinted glass, intermittent front wipers, color-keyed bumpers, dual cargo nets with a retractable cargo cover and dual 12V power points. Move up to the $16,180 XR grade, and that roster expands to include air conditioning, power windows/lock/mirrors, keyless remote entry, front and rear intermittent wipers, a sport steering wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat and a dash-mounted 115V AC power outlet. At XRS level, the $18,750 tariff adds 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS and Electronic Brake Distribution, fog lamps, cruise control, alloy wheels and a body kit along with the hotter engine.