2009 Toyota Matrix Overview, Reviews, Ratings & Specs

2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007

Crash Test Rating

Source NHTSA

MPG (up to)

20 -25 City / 26 -31 HWY

Source FuelEconomy.gov

Horsepower

132 -158

Seats

Positive Owner Reviews

Jessica B

Always check your car for oil.

It is small, good on gas, the car burns a lot of oil. I have to check every week to make sure the car has enough oil.

Alicia M

Great, reliable, daily driver car

I have had this car for 4 years and it still runs great. Others who have driven my car say that the brakes are great compared to other cars and I couldn't agree more. The gas is a little bit touchy though, you have to start out real slow before pushing the gas pedal down far. The only issue I have had mechanically with this car was the rear differential went bad and it was a $1700 fix. They guys at the shop that I had it done at said it should have never gone bad for the age of the car, so I must have just got a bad seed. Other than that I have no mechanical issues.

Susan L

Reliable and dependable car gets me to work daily

I like the size of it and it's good to drive in the winter.

Sandra F

Runs like a top, with no maintenance.

Dependable and they run forever. It is good on gas. Also very low maintenance. It is all wheel drive and handles well on bad weather. Also it is the perfect size for me.

Walter R

Compact but big, economical, easy to maintain.

Small enough to park, good on gas, hatchback opens up wide enough to fit a washing machine. Plenty of legroom, plenty of acceleration, needs little maintenance, 10 yrs old never had a problem and Toyota set up the appointment to change the airbags. Like the color.

Terra S

Toyota runs forever. Mine is almost paid off and I plan to drive it for years to come.

Roomy for a small car. It's great on gas. Parts have been easy to find.

Barbara D

Great on gas very reliable. Thus car has good speed pick up and park it anywhere

This is one of the best ivy owned great on gas,no issues fun to drive west lay flat. Fit a 65 inch tv in box no issue. Highly recommend.

Timothy F

Tim's Awesome Toyota Matrix

Reliable, perfect for my needs, very few motor problems, zippy, the right size for me, love the hatchback, like the color, inexpensive, easy to park and easy to drive, sleek, savvy, sensible, great for in city driving, never broken down on me, easy to replace parts

Negative Owner Reviews

Price

Beware, stalls randomly

It’s a good car when it doesn’t stall while driving. Have had this car for 5.5 years and just when I think the stalling problem is fixed, it happens again. Upon looking to see is for anyone has this issue, I have found many with the same issue! Just google it. The 2005-2008 models were recalled due to this issue and some say that some of the 2009’s have a 2008 motor. It happened again yesterday and our daughter was driving it. She was almost ran into by oncoming traffic. The engine light doesn’t stay on when this happens, it goes out. It is very dangerous and does it random ally at any speed and sometimes when stopping at stop lights when you try to take off. Beware

Lauren W

One of the most important things is the reasonable gas mileage.

The matrix has been good to us so far, but I am not used to such a low profile car. I have hit curbs because I am unable to see them. So far, it gets decent gas mileage and has been reliable. The back seats easily fold down making room for larger objects. People who have driven with us have said the back seat is spacious. We have had trouble with our CD player. It continues to read error or say there is a CD in place were there is not so it does not accept another CD. We use our AUX cable to listen to music on our phone or have a movie playing during distance driving. Lastly, when driving distances, it is very noisy inside the car. It makes having a conversation or listening to the radio quite difficult. We sometimes have a movie playing, but incredibly hard to hear even on maximum volume on the device and car.

Sarah B

It has 120,000 miles and oil changes were always timely.

My car is very outdated. I hate that i have already had to replace the alternator which ruined a couple batteries prematurely. I hate that it's all plastic and not sturdy like my first car in 2005, an old 1987 camry. The gas mileage is bad too.

Frank W

Not a comfortable car to drive.

Cheap to operate, cannot keep wheel covers on it. Good space for small car. Seats fold down. Not a comfortable ride. Has defective airbags. Poor suspension system.

Megan F

They don't make it anymore because it was recalled so many times

It's still in pretty good condition for being 10 years old. But it also has a lot of problems, like several recalls and engine issues and the CD player is broken

Ashleigh W

Great car. Great size. Great on gas.

No problems! I love my car! Great size for a couple! I would say that once we have a family it would need to be a bigger car. I can park in so many tight spots! Gets very good gas mileage! Very spacious trunk. Easy to clean the interior! Has a spot for an auxiliary cord plug in

Nisi B

The perfect car for a new driver!

2009 Toyota matrix sport, ash grey, performance is well, very spacious and drives well. Radio needs to be updated but besides that the overall car is quite wonderful. 4 door and all wheel drive which is amazing for the winter time to have in case you get stuck. The gas can be a little touchy but it's a great car for first time drivers

Dustin S

Knowing about the airbag recall.

Overall, this vehicle is very reliable. The pros of this car would be that it is AWD, has plenty of storage space when the back seats are put down, decent gas mileage for being an AWD car, and the comfort of the interior. The cons of this vehicle would be that it is not a very quiet ride, there was an airbag recall for this vehicle, and there are only cup holders for the back seats.

Toyota Matrix Models

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

Base

132 HP 28 MPG 5 Seats

158 HP 22 MPG 5 Seats

XRS

158 HP 24 MPG 5 Seats

Photos may not match model

2009 Toyota Matrix Owner Reviews

4.37

108 Reviews

Write Review

5 stars

55%

4 stars

32%

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Brock E on April 2, 2021

The rear hatch and foldable seats make it modern day el Camino

The most reliable small car you can find. I have used mine for hauling multiple things from countless loads of lumber to even a stove. Routine maintenance has been the only expense that I've come across. Replaced the alternator this year and that's the most we have stuck into it and it keeps on going! Love that car

Sandra F on March 15, 2021

Runs like a top, with no maintenance.

Dependable and they run forever. It is good on gas. Also very low maintenance. It is all wheel drive and handles well on bad weather. Also it is the perfect size for me.

View All Reviews (108)

Pros from Owners

Carrie H.

Good on gas and low maintenance; it is reliable and fun to drive. It handles well in all weather and has an excellent heating and cooling system for our family. We really like the exterior color and all recalls from the manufacturer have been fixed on this car.

Tara H.

When looking for a vehicle, I knew I wanted a car for better gas mileage, but not a tiny car. Matrix is perfect. I love the hatchback feature and how the back seats lay flat down with the trunk. Very handy!

Cons from Owners

Carrie H.

Sometimes it does not handle great in the snow during our cold Wisconsin winters here. There also appears to be an electrical circuit issue with the matrix as we have gone through two Garmin navigation systems in the last couple of years.

Tara H.

Honestly I cannot really think of any cons specific to the vehicle style. If I had to pick something I would say more backseat passenger leg room, but otherwise, I have been very happy with purchasing the matrix.

Ranks #5 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2009 Toyota Matrix has an average owner rating of 4.38 out of 5 which ranks it #5 of 25 other Compact SUVs.

2009 Land Rover LR3

4.67

Tie

2009 Honda CR-V

4.5

Tie

2009 Toyota Matrix

4.37

Ranks #1 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2009 Toyota Matrix has a combined MPG of 31 which ranks it #1 of 25 other Compact SUVs.

2009 Toyota Matrix

31 MPG

2009 Nissan cube

30 MPG

Tie

2009 Ford Escape

29 MPG

Is The 2009 Toyota Matrix A Good Car?

Yes. I have the larger 2.4 liter engine, and it is capable of going much faster than I would ever want to go.

gary e.

Yes! I love this car more than any other I have ever had. It gets amazing gas mileage, has lasted over 210,000 miles and is still running good. I was in a hit and run accident and the car held up well... Read More

Rachel P.

Yes it's good a value for the money. It has all wheel drive and front and side air bags with air conditioning and stability cont.

El A.

I love this care. Good interior space. Very good fuel efficiency. No too big like and SUV but not too small like a traditional sedan or coupe.

Barb J.

Yes, I love the look of the car and it drives well. My car is a little old at this point but she’s still pushing on and not giving me many problems

Colleen J.

Yes. Good cheap car. Can hold a lot of storage in back. Gets decent gas mileage on the highway. The repairs are cheap

Katie S.

Yes because it is a good size and not expensive. I feel that it is a safe car and has the features that I need on a daily basis. It is a good car for commuting daily to work.

Cameron S.

Yes I have not had any major problems with it. I would have to say out all the cars I have owned it is the best by far. Very reliable

Matthew C.

How Reliable Is The 2009 Toyota Matrix?

So far, no problems. Sometimes the larger engine s have a tendency to burn oil, but I have not had that problem.

gary e.

It is amazingly reliable. I drive over 60,000 miles a year for work and it is over 210,000 miles and all I have ever had to replace was an alternator besides basic maintenance.

Rachel P.

The only problem with the car is all the factory recalls. It needs to run on mid grade gas. Which can be pricey.

El A.

Very reliable. I have had not mechanical problems with this brand of car. I just do the regular maintenance.

Barb J.

It is a reliable vehicle, especially for its age. There was a recall on the air bag and it need to be fixed by the dealership but other than that it’s been smooth cruising.

Dawn P.

Not really it normally runs ok. The audio jack becomes loose. I had to replace it once. Plastic parts are beginning to fall apart

Lo H.

I have not had any problems with the vehicle. It does not do great on gas mileage though. I feel that for having nearly 120000 miles on it is still running well.

Dana H.

Yes. The only issue I have had is I seem to have to replace my tires often and my windshield wiper motor had to be replaced but I have owned this car since 2014 and have not had to put too much money... Read More

Debbie P.

Is The 2009 Toyota Matrix A Good Value?

I paid $3200 for mine, as it had less than 100,000 miles on it. I also wanted the manual transmission. I am very happy with the car so far.

gary e.

It was a good value compared to other Toyota models. It was affordable, the payments were $200 less than vehicles my friends are paying for.

Rachel P.

The price for this car is approximately 32,000 new, it seems to be a good value since its had minimal issues since it was bought. The 2009 Toyota matrix s is the car in question.

El A.

I think it is a great value. I bought this one used for 10k but think it is well worth the dependability of the car and the fuel efficiency.

Barb J.

12000. Good value for the money.,would buy it again if it was still the same price. A hatchback is always handy versus a sedan

Laura C.

I believe that it is a good value and will last a long time before I have to buy another vehicle. Especially because it is an older model I was able to get it for a good price.

Katie J.

I paid 11,000 for it back in 2014 but I am not sure the cost of them now However I would say it is a really good value for what u get

Lucy L.

I paid $8900 for my Toyota Matrix, and overall I think I should have paid a bit less because of its problems.

Andrea L.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2009 Toyota Matrix 1.8 Oil capacity?

Answer: The 2009 Toyota Matrix1.8 uses SAE 0w-20 full synthetic oil. It has a capacity of 4 quarts. Oil keeps the internal parts of Your car's engine cool and lubricated and it also keeps the moving parts from grinding...

What is the cost of a replacement windshield for a 2009 Matrix?

Answer: You're driving down the highway, when suddenly a large truck kicks a rock into the windshield of Your 2009 Matrix. You watch in horror as a crack slowly begins to spread over the glass for the next few weeks....

What is the 2009 Toyota Matrix's towing capacity?

Answer: The 2009 Toyota Matrix towing capacity is 1,500Lbs. Making sure Your tires are in the greatest of condition is key to not crashing. You will come into issues with this part at some time or another. You might...

What is the recommended oil type for the 2009 Matrix S?

Answer: The 2009 Toyota Matrix S came equipped with a 1.8L 4Cylinder engine but You also had the option of upgrading to a 2.4L 4Cylinder engine. The 1.8L model will have a capacity of 4.45 US quarts and require 5W-20...

Does the 2009 Toyota Matrix need power steering fluid?

Answer: The 2009 Toyota Matrix doesn't need power steering fluid. Having good steering is crucial for changing lanes and moving about on the road. You will someday come across some problems though. It could turn to one...

See all Frequently Asked Questions

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