Moose Jaw Times-Herald: Weekend Extra: A ride that has it all

Review: Toyota Matrix 4A, fun and practical

By Lisa Goudy

Robert Stevens of Moose Jaw Toyota stands
next to a 2012 Matrix 4A.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

The 2012 Toyota Matrix 4A has it all - safety, performance, appearance, comfort and economy.

“If you’re looking for a practical and fun car to drive and really easy especially around town to park and things like that, this is a great car for that,” said Ken Thiessen, a product advisor at Taylor Toyota. “The size is really nice for parking in town. It’s really easy to get around.”

The 4A has a 60/40-split rear bench seat with a fold-down seat back. It allows for extra space to put things in the trunk or the back of the car.

“If you’re grocery shopping, if you have pets … if you’re carrying sound equipment, if you’re carrying supplies for your business, it’s so easy to put stuff into this vehicle,” said Thiessen. “There’s a flat surface all the way through there. You can pile a whole bunch of stuff in there with cargo space. It’s a very practical car in that sense.”

The tilt and telescopic steering wheel and a four-speaker
stereo system are among the features in the interior of
 the Matrix 4A.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

The Matrix comes in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD), which Thiessen said “automatically kicks in seamlessly and you don’t even notice it.” The AWD is particularly good for stopping the car from slipping on snow, ice or gravel. While the 4A has a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine, the AWD has a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine.

Thiessen said the 4A model has “awesome fuel economy” at more than 47 miles per gallon for its rating.

The 60/40 split rear bench seat with fold-down
seat back allows for plenty of room to fit items
into the Matrix 4A.
Times-Herald photo by Lisa Goudy

“(That’s) another really nice feature of not having to spend a whole whack of money on fuel to get around,” said Thiessen.

The Matrix 4A has an AM/FM CD/MP3/WMA player with four speakers, an audio auxiliary input jack and steering wheel audio controls.

The 4A is also equipped with front bucket seats, driver seat with recline and cushion height adjustments, dual vanity mirror and rear seat heater ducts. There is also a tachometer, an water temperature gauge, an outside temperature gauge, a dual trip odometer, carpet mats, a centre console with lid as well as front and rear door integrated bottle holders.

For more information, see the August 4th edition of the Times-Herald.