Due to dwindling sales, Toyota announced on August 5, 2013, that it will stop producing the Matrix for the US market after the 2013 model year and that there were no plans to replace it with another car. [46] Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada continued to produce vehicles for the Canadian market for the 2014 model year, and they were put together at Cambridge, Ontario. [Reference needed] After that, the Matrix was no longer sold in Canada and was not available for the 2015 model year. [47] Through its Scion brand, Toyota continued to market a variety of small hatchbacks in North America. The Scion brand “transitioned to Toyota” on September 1, 2016. [48] The Corolla iM would replace the Matrix for the 2017 model year. The newest version, the Corolla hatchback, was introduced for the 2019 model year.
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What vehicle like a Toyota Matrix?
Many buyers still find two compact automobiles that have been discontinued for some time to be appealing options, particularly small families on a budget who don’t require anything difficult but need something convenient.
Although they compare favorably to a number of current sub-compact SUVs, the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix do have an appealing design, dependable and efficient engines, a flexible interior, and a high level of equipment.
Is one preferable to the other? They share so many characteristics since they were jointly developed by Toyota and General Motors, so no, really. They could even be considered non-identical twins.
Even if their bodies are slightly different, the interior is identical—with the exception of the emblem on the steering wheel and a few accessories, of course! Driving is not made more difficult by their high front seats—in fact, it improves visibility—and their back seat offers plenty of space. Another point worth noticing is that the trunk floor is entirely made of plastic, making cleanup a breeze.
By the way, the Vibe was available in basic, GT, and AWD models, whereas the Matrix was commonly found in basic, XR, XRS, and AWD variations. The 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine in the simplest model produced 132 HP, while the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder in the most advanced models produced 158 HP. Both all-wheel-drive systems were available as options.
Let’s not forget that the Matrix was a proudly Canadian product built in the Cambridge facility in Ontario, whereas the Vibe was put together in the NUMI plant in Fremont, California, despite the fact that they are two mechanically similar vehicles. But don’t worry, the job quality at these two plants was rated extremely well.
The Vibe is now sold for less money than the Matrix because Pontiac’s name and reputation are no longer as well-known. But even though some people continue to have this opinion, the first was actually made just as well as the second. Both cars are in excellent condition and have passed an inspection, so you can confidently choose between them.
Is a Corolla the same as a Toyota Matrix?
Without a doubt, Toyota automobiles have excelled throughout the years thanks to fantastic innovations that keep customers interested with each new vehicle or model introduced.
When combined with the accessibility of affordable components and expert labor, the low price point with outstanding functionality and reliability is a strong selling point for the Toyota brand. As a result, it’s no surprise that Toyotas are frequently seen on public highways and in private garages.
But without a doubt, the Corolla and the Matrix are the two most recognizable, reliable, and effective models in the lineup of cars produced by Toyota.
With remarkable fuel efficiency and resale value, they introduced the Toyota Corolla and Matrix.
The Corolla and Matrix from Toyota are frequently disputed as being the same vehicle. Although there are many parallels between the two cars, there aren’t many distinctions either.
The Corolla’s hatchback counterpart, the Matrix, has larger cargo room than the Corolla.
They share the same engine, are each practical, dependable, affordable, simple to maintain, and have excellent fuel economy.
To assist you better comprehend these cars’ similarities and differences, let’s go deeper into their specifications.
Is the Vibe the same vehicle as the Matrix?
The mechanically identical Vibe and Matrix went on sale last month. Both are produced by Toyota, albeit in various locations (the Vibe in Fremont, Calif., and the Matrix in Cambridge, Ontario). Their main distinctions are in the styling, cost, and trim.
What is the lifespan of a Toyota Matrix?
The absolute most dependable engine ever created. A Matrix should last well over 300k miles if the maintenance regimen was followed from the beginning.
What is the Toyota Matrix’s most frequent issue?
The engine issue is one of its most serious problems. Numerous owners have reported hearing ticking or rattling noises emanating from the engine as well as excessive oil use. The Matrix engine simply gave out in the end. According to reports, this feared engine breakdown occurs at about 103,300 miles and costs $3,400 to fix.
Is the used Toyota Matrix a good vehicle?
Good dependability ratings have been given to the Toyota Matrix. The Matrix received a strong 4.0 out of 5.0 rating from RepairPal. The Matrix received a comparable 4 out of 5 score from J.D. Power. The fact that the Matrix is essentially a Toyota Corolla with a bigger trunk may be responsible for its dependability.
Do Toyota Matrixes qualify as SUVs?
The Toyota Matrix combines elements of a sedan, wagon, minivan, and SUV. Even Toyota refers to it as a compact utility vehicle (CUV). The Matrix seems to have taken off, but we’re not sure if the acronym will. Toyota sold about 30,000 of the small wagons, which went on sale as a 2003 model in 2002, during the first half of the year 2003. The Matrix is based on the Toyota Corolla and is produced in a factory that is owned by both General Motors and Toyota in California.
Younger buyers who desire a car with a sporty appearance and great utility are the target market for the Matrix. Toyota boasts that the Matrix combines the usefulness of an SUV with the affordability of a compact sedan and the performance and styling of a sports car. It does indeed achieve all of those goals, if not quite to the same extent that sports cars, SUVs, and compact sedans do with respect to their particular tasks.
We discovered that the Matrix accelerates quickly, especially in populated areas. Although it delivers a smooth, comfortable ride, it corners well. The Matrix is a useful vehicle with a sizable cargo capacity that can be expanded by reclining the back seats. And it’s undoubtedly fashionable.
The 180-horsepower, high-performance XRS model has garnered some attention, but we liked the 130-horsepower variants better for their calmer, friendlier personalities. Entire Review
The 180-horsepower, high-performance XRS model has garnered some attention, but we liked the 130-horsepower variants better for their calmer, friendlier personalities. Full Review hidden
Is Pontiac Vibe a reliable vehicle?
Although the Pontiac Vibe wasn’t very luxury or speedy, people still adore this small hatchback. With the two available engines, it has demonstrated to be incredibly dependable. Even when you add something like a TRD supercharger kit, it tends to remain reliable and has a lot of tweaking potential, as Toyota engines frequently do.
Has the Toyota Matrix experienced transmission issues?
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Hello to Everyone. My understanding is that the transmission and engine of the Toyota Matrix, Toyota Corolla, and Pontiac Vibe are identical. Please be warned that these cars have a major transmission issue.
It appears that a lot of Matrix owners are experiencing issues with a bad transmission bearing, which forces an early replacement of the transmission. I think the Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Corolla models might also be affected by this.
Our 2004 Toyota Matrix’s five-speed manual transmission needed to be replaced at 98,000 miles for a total of $3,100. There are other affected models besides the 2004, but I’m not sure which ones. I wrote the president of Toyota Motor Corp. North America in a certified letter. I was informed that I would not be compensated because there is no recall.
Before the affected owners’ lives are in risk due to an unexpected car breakdown on a 70 mph highway, it is critical to let them know about the issue. I experienced what happened.
There have been many cases of 5-speed Toyota Matrix gearbox failures because of faulty transmission bearings. A manual transmission shouldn’t need to be changed after 98,000 miles, in my opinion. It has occurred for some car owners at lower mileage. The regional manager of the repair facility I took it to said he had encountered this issue before and anticipates a recall. Toyota is not currently offering owners of Matrix compensation for this costly flaw.