Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
25 -26 City / 31 -32 HWY
Horsepower
123 -170
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle chris c
I depend on it to go to work, take my kids to school, go out, etc
I like the fuel efficiency, the low cost maintenance, the mileage per gallon, and the overall reliability. I don't like the size, it's a bit small
accountCircle Robert M
Fuel efficient, and economically and financially friendly.
Small and compact so it is easy to handle and park. Great gas mileage and inexpensive to drive. No rattling or other unnecessary vibrations, and little maintenance.
accountCircle Margretta M
I am the first owner of this car and it is still in very good condition.
I have owned my vehicle for 13 years. The style of the vehicle was perfect for traveling cross country with my 2 dogs. For being 13 years old my vehicle is still in good condition.
accountCircle Richard H
Toyota matrix is a solid vehicle.
Although Toyota does not make the matrix any longer if you find a pre-owned vehicle you will be getting a superb car. The matrix xr is very reliable. Has great gas mileage. Very comfortable. Needed a wide door opening as a result of a hip replacement. I am very comfortable driving. The storage room is ideal. Very fortunate to have found this matrix.
accountCircle Marie B
Very pleased with its size.
It's a perfect size. Its compact so it's easy to drive around, but it has space enough for 5 people and still plenty of room in the trunk. It is always reliable and is very comfortable to drive with adjustable seats. The radio is a bit old, but its not hard to replace.
accountCircle Ashley M
It is efficient in miles per gallon, it is compact but roomy, and it is comfortable.
I like that it has a sunroof. I also like that it gets a lot of miles per gallon of gas. It is small and compact but I can fit my adventure sports gear. It is perfect for my everyday uses.
accountCircle Michael G
It is reliable, and comfortable.
It is easy to drive, big enough for me, and gets great gas mileage. There's nothing I really dislike about it.
accountCircle Michelle K
The Matrix: A Smooth and Safe Ride
This car is incredibly comfortable and smooth to drive. It has great safety features and has had hardly any trouble aside from regular maintenance. My only complaint is that when I'm going up a hill or coming up from a stop, the car takes a bit too much time speeding up.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Daniel B
It is simple to drive. The only thing that can cause issues is the touchy gas.
It is not a bad car. Overall it very reliable and we've had it for a long time. The gas is kind of touchy but that is my only complaint really. It is a pretty standard car, and it does what you need it to do. I think that the only reason I do not think it is great is that I have driven a nice BMW from time to time to that kind of puts this car to shame. But that does not change my opinion of the car. I still think it is a good car especially for a first car, as Toyotas are very reliable and last a long time.
accountCircle Christelle R
It is a good car and has lasted me a long time without problems.
I like that it is reliable and that it is cheap for gas. I don't like that it does not have automatic locks and power windows. It is not big enough with two kids and to be able to fit in more people.
accountCircle Isabella L
Easy to maneuver in the small compact car. Great for parking.
Due to the amount of driving it takes to get around la, this car is not reliable on gas. It costs more to put gas than eventually what it is actually worth. The car is comfortable and compact for small errands. Definitely not your main driving car, but nice for a starter driver.
accountCircle Isabella L
It is great in size. Due to the small body build, it is compact and easy to use.
This car takes up a lot of gas if you plan to use it for your everyday use. Not recommended for an only car household.
accountCircle Aja F
Summarized vehicle on previous question.
My car is old and unreliable also has a recall on airbags where shrapnel may fly out on you. Has bad tires also has 2 leaking gaskets and power steering pump is leaking. It also needs new filters in gas tank because it takes about 10 mins just to pump 2 gallons of gas.
accountCircle Rachel R
Good on gas and reliable for the most part but does have a lot of things needed to be fixed overall but has lasted me years
Have had problems with my car for a while, even when bought off the lot it had issues and were not fixed by dealership. It has ran good for a while now but again is having issues
accountCircle seth M
It doesn't have a/c. I can't afford to get it fixed
It's fine, still runs good. It doesn't have many modern features. It seems to have held up well for being so old.
accountCircle Andrea T
Good performance for more than 10 years already. Gas saver.
Very good performance. But getting small for a family of four. It is a compact car that can be easily driven around.

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
170 HP 29-29 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2005 Toyota Matrix Owner Reviews

4.31
107 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 52%
4 stars 32%
3 stars 10%
2 stars 6%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Sandy R on March 25, 2021
Toyota are the best cars I have ever owned because they run the longest with least major repair!
Love the hatch back space for hauling a few things and that it is still going strong without major repairs for all these years. Wish it had a better air conditioning unit for the size and wish I had auto door lock/unlock mechanism, but keep my manual roll windows.
accountCircle Mark F on March 19, 2021
It's a nice car, I personally like how light it is but I know that technically makes it less safe than a heavier car. It has a few problems, the suspension has been shoddy for years now and I had to get the transmission flushed several months ago because it was very close to breaking down completely.
For the most part it's a reliable car, but it's known for having transmission issues that can be expensive to fix.

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Noah N.

Very Reliable. Currently has well over 200,000 miles on it and still runs beautifully. Recently had to replace a rusted muffler and brake pads, but other than the oil changes, this thing takes very limited care. Also, the space allows me to pack all of my materials to move into college with no issue.

likeFilled Nichole G.

There is plenty of space throughout the vehicle. Plenty of legroom. Very good gas mileage. The back seat folds down for extra storage room and the passenger seat flips down to use the hard tray for food or using a laptop.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Noah N.

This vehicle is a 4-cylinder and drives like one. With more than one person in the car, it struggle greatly to just accelerate uphill. The front wheel drive is also not the best in the winter months because this is such a light car, there is virtually no control over where you are going.

dislikeFilled Nichole G.

There is not enough power in this vehicle. The steering wheel does not seem to fit the vehicle and is at an awkward angle. The front seat only moves the traditional ways which makes it harder to get a good seating position.

Ranks #8 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2005 Toyota Matrix has an average owner rating of 4.34 out of 5 which ranks it #8 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
5
2
car
4.64
8
car
4.31

Ranks #4 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2005 Toyota Matrix has a combined MPG of 32 which ranks it #4 of 20 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
38 MPG
2
car
35 MPG
3
car
33 MPG
4
car
32 MPG

Is The 2005 Toyota Matrix A Good Car?

Yes, still dependable, driven daily. I have had very little work done on it, besides regular maintenance.
Kathy H.
Yes it is a good vehicle it drives good and saves on gas. It's a good small but yet big car. I love it especially since I am in college.
Ernestina C.
Very good vehicle. It has been amazing, one of the best cars I have ever had!I would not change it out for another.
brittney l.
Yes! It's the first and only vehicle I've had. It has multiple features that are fantastic and Toyota is an excellent company!
Neil P.

How Reliable Is The 2005 Toyota Matrix?

Yes very reliable. I drive it daily, everywhere I go. It gets good gas mileage and my mechanic says it is a good car for me.
Kathy H.
It is a very reliable vehicles. I have had zero problems since I have gotten it. I would recommend this cars to other college students like me.
Ernestina C.
Very reliable, no big problems. I have put a lot of miles on her because my husband and I like to travel and she has never gave us any issues.
brittney l.
It is reliable for the most part. The one complaint I would have with the 2005 Toyota Matrix is that the airbag has been recalled several times.
Rose W.

Is The 2005 Toyota Matrix A Good Value?

Probably not much n9w, but I have had it for about 10 years and only paid $3,000.00 for it. It has been a very good value for me.
Kathy H.
I got mine used so I got is for 1000. It was a good price for it and I am pretty sure other people sell them at good value.
Ernestina C.
I am not sure how much they cost now I got mine for 4,000 at a car dealership I think it was a good value.
brittney l.
I'm not sure the current price of a Toyota Matrix but I purchased mine used for $14,000 with only 38,000 miles on it.
Bridge U.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much torque is needed for the 2005 Matrix?

Answer: The 2005 Matrix has a torque of 76 foot pounds for its lug nuts. The average torque used for most vehicles is in the range of 80 to 90 ft lbs. Unfortunately, over-tightening of the lug nuts on Your car's wheels...

Does the 2005 Matrix have an AUX input?

Answer: The 2005 Toyota Matrix did not come equipped with an AUX input and there was no option to add one from the dealership. At the time this vehicle was made Toyota was not offering an AUX input on the majority of...

What is the oil capacity of the 2005 Toyota Matrix 1.8?

Answer: If You want to know what the oil capacity is on Your 2005 Toyota Matrix, You've come to the right place. The oil capacity on this vehicle iS4.4 US quarts with a filter. If You're curious about what type of oil...

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