Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
25 City / 31 HWY
Horsepower
126
Seats
5
Front angle medium view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Sheldon H
My vehicle is black with black rims, it is a 5 door hatchback.
I love my car, I maintain it very well, I do not have any problems with my vehicle, I just keep up with the regular maintenance and it drives like a beauty, my car has a 120, 000 miles on it and still drive like new, I love Toyota, they make cars that really last a long time.
accountCircle Rachel C
This car could run on the same tank of gas for hours
The Matrix is a great fuel efficient vehicle. It is available in manual transmission and has been great for us so far. It hasn't had any issues but we have been really good about preventative maintenance.
accountCircle Tanner R
My vehicle is ten years old and I have had to worry about general maintenance.
My matrix is a little car. That gets great gas mileage. Even though it is small it can fit a lot in the trunk due to how the car is made. Tires are fairly cheap and easy to find. The drive is very smooth when you drive it and is great for traveling. The one downside is that is does not do well in the snow.
accountCircle Daniel B
Reliable,cost efficient,great MPG.Just keeps running
I own 2 Toyota matrix, I absolutely love these cars.Reliable, great MPG,low maintenance cost,one has 200,000 miles, the other has 340,000. Neither has had any major repairs.
accountCircle Melissa Q
It gets really good gas mileage, especially for the age of the car.
The only things I dislike about my vehicle aren't the vehicle's fault. Things like options it doesn't have because they weren't available when I bought it.
accountCircle Christopher L
It is very reliable. Never needed any major repairs only maintenance.
It is very fuel efficient, I am frequently getting around 34 mpg with a lot of highway miles. No repairs have been needed other than general maintenance. It is not rusted out like a lot of vehicles the same age I see on the road.
accountCircle Virginia S
Extremely reliable vehicle for families.
Since owning the car from January 2016 to now, I must say that I am entirely pleased with how it has performed thus far. The car was owned by my grandmother 5 years before me and is wonderful on gas mileage. After a couple of minor wrecks, minimal repairs have had to be made. It is a perfect family car.
accountCircle Brandy T
The amazing Toyota Matrix.
Great running car, cheap on gas, lots of room, love the hatchback and folding back seats for hauling. 4 doors leaves for a roomy backseat for 3. . The Matrix is an incredible car that I think is hip and sporty It is an investment the resale value is considerably high.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Jessica V
The ac works really well, and the car holds a lot of stuff.
My car just turned 10 years old. Due to its age the car has had some issues. I loved the car when I got it but now the car is falling apart.
accountCircle Elizabeth B
My car is a sports car there's drive mode and sports mode
This vehicle is small and compact, but it is a good size family car for those who don't like bigger cars. For this particular year of the dark, the steering wheel tends to be really stiff and if you perhaps happen to let go of the steering wheel, it will start turning quit rapidly than a modern year car
accountCircle Madeleine D
Good cheap college car, lacks power.
My Toyota is sturdy, reliable and pretty spacious. I have had very little maintenance concerns, and the concerns I do have are mostly cosmetic (i.e.. Missing hubcaps, rear view mirror falling off, bumper/heat shield becoming loose). I do wish it had more features, such as AWD or heated seats.
accountCircle olivia m
It has good gas miles on it
The toyota matrix has really good gas mileage but has bad acceleration. I fill my tank about once to twice a week but i drive a lot
accountCircle Itzel H
Cheap and useful car that doesn't waste a lot of gas.
The vehicle is a good size for an average car and has a lot of trunk space. It doesn't take up a lot of gas which is really useful.

Toyota Matrix Models

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

car
STD
126 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats
car
XR
126 HP 28-28 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2008 Toyota Matrix Owner Reviews

4.10
30 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 30%
4 stars 53%
3 stars 13%
2 stars 3%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Julia R on February 16, 2021
Easy to drive, just needs a new stereo.
There is no port to hook up my phone so I can listen to songs. But I love that it is easy to drive, close to the ground, and compact. It also has a lot of room for people and objects. I live in a area where it snows so it is not the best for those terrains of snow and rough roads.
accountCircle joan c on February 8, 2021
It's great on gas and roomy. The rear seats fold down so you can carry large items
I like the hatchback style. It makes it easy to carry a wide variety of things. Also the back seat folds to make even more cargo space. I would have liked a built in nav system and maybe a backup camera

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Kaleb O.

Gets very good miles per gallon. It's a very reliable vehicle. The outside of the vehicle looks sporty. It has a nice interior and handles good in rain and snow. Has a lot of room and is good for camping.

likeFilled Stephanie J.

This car is very spacious on the inside, lots of legroom. It gets good gas mileage and is very reliable. Our car has 115,000 miles on it with no significant issues so far. It is able to fit 2-3 car seats across the back, so it is suitable for families. The back seats fold down so you can haul good sized objects.

likeFilled John R.

Lots of utility with folding rear seats. The tailgate glass flips up for loading long materials/toys. Handles nice. All the vehicle controls are easily accessible while driving. Gas mileage is pretty good.

likeFilled Jenna O.

It is a manual transmission which are hard to come by now a days and which deter thieves from stealing as many people can no longer drive standard cars anymore. It is a very simple car so many of the amenities do not need repair.

likeFilled Jade M.

I like the stick shift. The car is small and easy to maneuver, with enough storage space to be practical. It also is the right size for me, as I can transport the people and items I need to. It is more fuel efficient than some other cars, which is nice. It is blue, which is pretty. It does not break down all the time.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Kaleb O.

It's easy to feel every little bump and crack in the road because its light and low to the ground. Its starting to rust around the windows and is getting pretty old. Not very solid if in a crash because of plastic bumper.

dislikeFilled Stephanie J.

After 120,000 miles, this vehicle has become a little rattly. Either parts are coming loose or the insulation inside the vehicle just is not very good. Also, because everything is very tight inside the engine bay, repairs can be a little difficult.

dislikeFilled John R.

There is carpet on the backside of the rear seats or the cargo area so things tend to slide around while driving. The rear bumper has grounds effects requiring it to be cut if you want a trailer receiver to be installed.

dislikeFilled Jenna O.

It is not a luxury vehicle and does not have many of the amenities that people are accustomed to nowadays. Getting stuck in traffic driving a manual car is no fun and having to roll down the windows and lock and unlock the doors is also a hassle.

dislikeFilled Jade M.

I am short, and I have a bike rack on the top of my car, but I cannot reach it. This is frustrating, because it means I cannot use my bike rack. I could get a bike rack that attaches to the back, but that is a lot more expensive.

Ranks #14 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2008 Toyota Matrix has an average owner rating of 4.11 out of 5 which ranks it #14 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
5
2
car
4.54
14
Tie
car
4.1

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2008 Toyota Matrix has a combined MPG of 31 which ranks it #1 of 23 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
31 MPG
2
car
30 MPG
3
car
29 MPG

Is The 2008 Toyota Matrix A Good Car?

Yes it is, it is a fuel saver, cheap to service and fairly comfortably, it makes parking easy because of its size.
Caroline M.
Yes I think it is a good vehicle. It has good gas mileage and it is also low maintenance. I do not have to do much even if I use it a lot.
Eric M.
The 2008 Toyota matrix std is a good, reliable vehicle. It offers comfort, consistency, and control. Driving this car feels like second nature, with its high level of visibility and small blind spots.... Read More
Tania F.
It is, I absolutely love it! Best car ever, excellent gas mileage, it is easy to drive. I couldn't ask for a better car.
Vanessa L.
It drives nice, for the mileage (140k) it's in very good condition. I like the standard transmission. The gas mileage is pretty good.
John R.
Yes, it is. I like it because it has good gas mileage and it's very durable. I would recommend it to everyone. Best car ever!!
Alison M.
Yes because it’s a really reliable car. It rarely breaks down and the color is really nice. I bought it a long time ago and it still hasn't failed me. The car is automatic and easy to drive.
Bill T.

How Reliable Is The 2008 Toyota Matrix?

Yes it is very reliable. I have not had serious problems with it apart from flat tire or flat battery. I service it every 3 months so it is always in perfect condition.
Caroline M.
It is reliable. Only problem it has is that the lights auto turn on so the headlights usually do not last longer than most cards where you have to manually turn them in by yourself.
Eric M.
My Toyota has no major issues. The interior had sustained minimal wear and tear. The engine runs smoothly and offers great response, speed, and consistency. There have been no major fixes required.
Tania F.
It is very reliable, no problems whatsoever. Like I said before, I couldn't ask for a better car. I just love it.
Vanessa L.
The car appears reliable. It's an older car, so the battery may need to be changed out. It has a roof leak. For the age of the car, it's to be expected. Once I get those things fixed, I think 200k is... Read More
John R.
It's very reliable with no problems whatsoever. I can go anywhere without worrying that it's going to break down on me.
Anna C.
Yes it is a reliable car. It don't have any problems. I've only had to take it to the mechanic about 3 times in the last two years and one of them was to fix a broken tire. This car is a really good... Read More
Margaret M.

Is The 2008 Toyota Matrix A Good Value?

I bought mine as a used car in 2014 for $10,000 cash, I think it was a good value. Its condition was very good.
Caroline M.
My matrix cost me roughly around $4500 dollars. I got it used and I got it pretty new and I thought it was a really good deal when I obtained it.
Eric M.
The Toyota matrix costs around $5,000 for a perfect condition model. It is absolutely an amazing value for how long it lasts and how reliable of a vehicle it is.
Tania F.
I am making payments every month of $388.00. Well within my budget. Very good value, I should say, very good.
Vanessa L.
I bought the car used and outright for $3100. I thought it was a good value. I hope I can put a lot of miles on it while saving for another vehicle.
John R.
I bought mine at a rent to own dealership where they have gently used cars and it cost me $18,000. Very good value, I should say
Stephanie H.
The 2008 Toyota Matrix costs about $16,000. I would say it’s a pretty good value for a decent car. It’s not one of the newest cars with a built in screen but it does last long and does exactly what a... Read More
Lana E.

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