Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
26 City / 30 -31 HWY
Horsepower
123 -180
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Ashley S
It only requires basic maintenance. It has performed so well and we have never had to spend a large amount on repairs.
This car has been the easiest model/make to maintain. It has high miles from our use of it, and is still going strong. It is the perfect sports vehicle to hold our stroller, gear and groceries in the trunk.
accountCircle Haley M
My Toyota Matrix is small & compact. It can fit in anywhere & is very roomy.
I absolutely love my Toyota Matrix. It's fun, comfortable, and compact. It's been going for over 15 years now and it is a very nice car. My grandparents used it until I turned 18 and graduated high school five years ago. This car is also the perfect family car. It is safe, easy maintenance, and also easy to use!
accountCircle Christy M
Love for the Toyota matrix
I have had no problems with it. The performance is great and gas mileage is awesome. I love this little car. I can go from Florida to Alabama on 50 dollars in gas. It is perfect size for me and my kids. This car is very reliable and inexpensive to own.
accountCircle Jennifer S
Excellent car with an excellent safety record
An extremely dependable car. Far surpassed my expectations. Hardly needed anything done to it except brakes. Still going strong with 150,000+ miles on it. I am so sad that they no longer make the matrix, as I would buy again in a heartbeat. An excellent car with excellent safety record too.
accountCircle Patricia H
It drives smoothly and I get 30 miles per gallon on highway driving
The driver's seat needs to be wider. An ashtray needs to be added. I love the mileage.
accountCircle Alexis T
Great gas mileage. I get about 300 miles per fill up.
I like the hatchback & its ability to fold the seats down to sleep when camping. I don't have any dislikes.
accountCircle Tim G
The Toyota Matrix is an extremely practical and functional vehicle.
It is an incredibly reliable vehicle. Over the last decade, I've only had 1 or 2 major repairs done with the rest being routine maintenance. It's practical, good on fuel economy, and comfortable. My only complaint is the lack of engine power as it can be pretty slow to accelerate on freeways.
accountCircle Patricia L
It gets great mileage - 30 miles per gallon on the highway and 25 miles per gallon on the city.
I love my Toyota Matrix! It gets great mileage. It fits in compact parking spaces. It drives smoothly and turns gracefully. It has very few blind spots. The cargo area expands when I lay down the back seats.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Barbara V
Be careful of this used model. The only interesting thing is that it is running.
It makes engine noises. It has a body leak. The gas door broke. I think it is a poor choice used. I bought this vehicle at adventure sales in Chattanooga. It immediately had issues needing more repairs. I discovered that the cruise control does not work. The stripping on top comes up after an auto car wash.
accountCircle Gina G
Not very appealing from the outside but it is a very spacious and reliable car.
My Toyota matrix has been good to me, I have had it for about 8 years now it is done me good. Super reliable and great family car. Could have a bit more of a sporty look but all in all great car. The up keep on the car is easy and when something breaks down you cannot count on the problem getting fixed fast.
accountCircle Joseph V
Very reliable. Runs well and needs very little repair.
Very reliable car, generally requires only routine maintenance and runs very well. Only issue I have had is multiple recalls that are annoying to have to address.
accountCircle Gena E
Great little all in one car/crossover/utility vehicle/ wagon!
My car is light blue, runs great, quick on acceleration, has adjustable seats and they all fold down for hauling large items etc. . . Hatchback convenience. Great sounding stereo with CD and am FM radio. Auto windows, doors, and locks. It is great on gas mileage and very low maintenance needed.
accountCircle Karen R
It's reliable and a good daily drive, good on gas too
It's a pretty old model and it doesn't have all the features that i would like
accountCircle mary m
It's not meant for a big family, it's hard to fit certain items in it cause it's small
Good to get around and travel to places near me . Pretty good gas mileage. It has an annoying beeping sound when key isn't in ignition.

Toyota Matrix Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Std
123 HP 29-29 MPG 5 Seats
car
XR
123 HP 29-29 MPG 5 Seats
car
XRS
180 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2003 Toyota Matrix Owner Reviews

4.50
72 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 60%
4 stars 32%
3 stars 7%
2 stars 1%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Sandra M on March 29, 2021
Reliable, quality features, good for a smaller SUV.
I like the size of my vehicle. It is not to small like new models but not to big either. I love the color. I like that is very spacious too.
accountCircle Barbara K on March 26, 2021
The Toyota matrix is my first car and has served me for four years.
I love that it is all wheel drive and it is a sturdy vehicle. It can handle rain and snow, even. I have the basic model so the features are limited. Due to its age, I have had to complete a couple of repairs, such as replacement of a wheel bearing and replacement of car battery )a couple of times).

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2003 Toyota Matrix has an average owner rating of 4.50 out of 5 which ranks it #1 of 15 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
4.5
1
Tie
car
4.5
2
car
4.39

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2003 Toyota Matrix has a combined MPG of 31 which ranks it #1 of 15 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
31 MPG
1
Tie
car
31 MPG
2
car
28 MPG

Is The 2003 Toyota Matrix A Good Car?

It's lasted a long time. It's been through multiple members of my family over the years and it's still going. It's been a reliable source of transportation and gets good gas mileage.
ashley C.
Yes! Minimal repairs with regular oil changes. Only has 116,000 miles as a 15 year old car. The only time I've seen the check engine light is because of an oil leak somewhere near the gas cap?
Adam B.
The one I bought has had issues. So far, I am able to drive it around town, but would not want to take in on a long drive.
Margaret Z.
Yes, I love my car ! It has never failed me and it is perfect size and build for me, I can use it like a car or fold down seats and use it like a SUV ,very versatile!
Renee J.

How Reliable Is The 2003 Toyota Matrix?

It has been mostly reliable over the years especially considering it was driven by multiple people. It has been having more issues as it's been getting older.
Jeanne D.
Very reliable. Small car, but drives well and is very comfortable. Other than the mysterious oil leak near the gas tank, I've only had to replace tires and the battery/air filter basically.
Patrick L.
I think the used car I bought was a lemon. Usually Toyotas are reliable. The cruise control doesn't work. I had to replace the sealant around the front windshield because the car was leaking.
Nikki I.
Very reliable, no problems except the routine maintenance ones like replacing headlamps, wipers, and a new starter was only thing major I had to replace
Carole S.

Is The 2003 Toyota Matrix A Good Value?

I don't remember how much it costs. However, considering it is 16 years old, I would say that we have definitely gotten our money's worth out of the car.
Rylie C.
Did not purchase new, but it retains more value than our two older cars. Toyota cars are sought after for having been well made.
Ashley W.
I don't know. I bought mine for $5000.00. In my case, it was not a good value because of the work I have had to do to keep it going.
Sarah H.
Right now it's only worth 1800.00, but Toyotas are built to last so yes it's a very good value! I paid like 10,000 when first bought it.
Jasmine A.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2003 Toyota Matrix fuel filter location?

Answer: On the 2003 Toyota Matrix, the fuel filter is located inside of the gas tank, on the back left of the vehicle. It is a non-serviceable filter. The reason they are called non-serviceable is that they are not...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test
(Not Tested)
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety