New Car Review of the 2005 Toyota Matrix Sub-Compact Hatchback Wagon

Description: Sub-Compact Hatchback Wagon
Base MSRP Range: $14,860 - $18,850
Invoice Price Range: $13,744 - $17,058
Where built: Canada

Toyota pitches this five-door hatchback as a crossover utility vehicle that blends the sleek lines and nimble manners of a sporty car with the practicality of a boxy sport-utility wagon and the budget-minded affordability of a sub-compact sedan.

It looks wild and feels fun to drive but also offers lots of room in a cabin that adapts to active lifestyles. A wagon-style layout contains two rows of seats for five, plus the bay in back for cargo. That bay, accessible from the hatchback-style rear door, has a flat floor and, with both rear seatbacks folded down, provides up to 53 cubic feet of storage space. A track system in the floor adapts to various accessory kits to mount sports paraphernalia such as mountain bikes, snowboards or water skis.

The price-leading Standard edition of Matrix and XR grade come with either front-wheel-drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) traction and a thrifty 4-cylinder engine. Front-drive Matrix XRS gets the high-performance 1.8-liter version that's good for 180-hp with a 6-speed manual shifter.

Curtain-style side air bags show up on the list of options as a new safety feature for all trims, with VSC now available on Matrix Standard and XR.