Toyota Matrix

Toyota Matrix: Which Version Should You Buy?

The Toyota Matrix was offered as a Hatchback 5-door across two generations: the first generation ran from 2002 to 2007 with eight listed versions, while the second ran from 2008 to 2013 with five. The clearest buying choice is between the first generation’s broader range—including 124 hp, 132 hp, 158 hp, and 183 hp engines—and the second generation’s simpler 132 hp or 158 hp lineup.

The Toyota Matrix was offered as a Hatchback 5-door across two generations: the first generation ran from 2002 to 2007 with eight listed versions, while the second ran from 2008 to 2013 with five. The clearest buying choice is between the first generation’s broader range—including 124 hp, 132 hp, 158 hp, and 183 hp engines—and the second generation’s simpler 132 hp or 158 hp lineup. Buyers prioritizing power should examine the first-generation 183 hp 1.8 MT or 1.8 AT; those wanting the lowest measured consumption should consider the second-generation 132 hp 1.8 MT. AWD appears in both generations, but the available engine and gearbox combinations differ.

Toyota Matrix generations: what changed?

The first-generation Toyota Matrix, produced from 2002 to 2007, is a Hatchback 5-door with eight listed versions. Its engine range is unusually varied for the model: 1,794 cc versions produce either 124 hp or 132 hp, 1,796 cc versions produce 183 hp, and the 2,362 cc engine produces 158 hp. Depending on the version, buyers can choose Manual or Automatic transmission, FWD or AWD, and between 4, 5, or 6 gears. Every listed first-generation version has 165 mm of ground clearance and a 45-liter fuel tank.

The second-generation Toyota Matrix, produced from 2008 to 2013, is also a Hatchback 5-door, but its five listed versions form a simpler range. The 1,794 cc engine produces 132 hp, while the 2,362 cc engine produces 158 hp. Manual and Automatic gearboxes are represented, along with FWD and AWD. Ground clearance falls from 165 mm in the first generation to 135 mm, a difference of 30 mm, while fuel-tank capacity rises from 45 to 50 liters, an increase of 5 liters.

Toyota Matrix engine options and specs

Because several versions share exactly the same database name, the generation, power, gearbox, and drive should all be checked when comparing cars. In the first generation, identical 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT names cover different outputs. In the second generation, 2.4 AT can mean either a 5-speed FWD version or a 4-speed AWD version.

The first-generation 183 hp engine has the highest specific output: approximately 101.9 hp per liter. The 132 hp 1,794 cc engines produce about 73.6 hp per liter, the 124 hp engine about 69.1 hp per liter, and the 158 hp 2,362 cc engine about 66.9 hp per liter. The 2.4-liter versions instead offer the greatest listed torque, producing 225 Nm compared with 176 Nm from the 183 hp 1.8-liter versions.

Toyota Matrix performance and fuel economy

Acceleration from 0–100 km/h is not measured for any listed Toyota Matrix version. Most top-speed figures are also not measured. The available first-generation measurements are 178 km/h for the 124 hp 1.8 MT AWD, 200 km/h for the 132 hp 1.8 MT FWD, and 220 km/h for the 183 hp 1.8 MT FWD. Top speed is not measured for every Automatic version, the first-generation 158 hp 2.4 AT versions, or any second-generation version.

Fuel consumption is not measured for all eight first-generation versions. Consequently, the data cannot support a direct economy comparison among the first-generation 124 hp, 132 hp, 158 hp, and 183 hp choices.

The second generation provides complete city, highway, and combined figures:

Among these versions, the 1.8 MT has the lowest measured consumption. Compared with the 1.8 AT, it uses 0.5 L/100 km less in the city, 0.3 L/100 km less on the highway, and 0.4 L/100 km less combined. Moving from the 132 hp 1.8 MT to the 158 hp 2.4 MT adds 26 hp and 51 Nm, but combined consumption rises by 3.2 L/100 km.

An interesting comparison exists within the second-generation 2.4 AT choices. The 4-speed AWD version records 9.1 L/100 km combined, while the 5-speed FWD version records 10.2 L/100 km. That is a measured difference of 1.1 L/100 km in favor of the AWD car in this dataset; it should not be generalized beyond these listed figures.

Toyota Matrix weight, clearance, and capacity

Gross weight and weight capacity are not measured for any listed version. Wheel sizes are also not measured. The available figures cover kerb weight, ground clearance, and fuel-tank capacity.

In the first generation, measured kerb weights are 1,215 kg for both the 124 hp 1.8 MT AWD and the 132 hp 1.8 MT FWD, 1,270 kg for the 183 hp 1.8 MT FWD, and 1,335 kg for the 124 hp 1.8 AT AWD. Kerb weight is not measured for the remaining first-generation versions. All have 165 mm of ground clearance and a 45-liter tank.

The 124 hp 1.8 MT AWD carries approximately 9.8 kg per horsepower, while the 132 hp 1.8 MT FWD carries approximately 9.2 kg per horsepower. The 183 hp 1.8 MT FWD improves that ratio to approximately 6.9 kg per horsepower, making it the strongest measured first-generation combination by this comparison.

Second-generation kerb weights range from 1,290 kg to 1,485 kg. The 1.8 MT weighs 1,290 kg, the 1.8 AT weighs 1,310 kg, the 2.4 MT weighs 1,390 kg, the 2.4 AT FWD weighs 1,461 kg, and the 2.4 AT AWD weighs 1,485 kg. Every version has 135 mm of clearance and a 50-liter tank.

The second-generation 1.8 MT carries about 9.8 kg per horsepower, versus about 9.9 kg per horsepower for the 1.8 AT. The 2.4 MT carries about 8.8 kg per horsepower, compared with about 9.2 for the 2.4 AT FWD and about 9.4 for the 2.4 AT AWD. Within the 158 hp group, the 2.4 MT is 71 kg lighter than the FWD 2.4 AT and 95 kg lighter than the AWD 2.4 AT.

Which Toyota Matrix version should you choose?

Choose the second-generation 1.8 MT if measured fuel economy is the priority. It combines 132 hp and 174 Nm with the range’s lowest figures of 7.7 L/100 km city, 6.1 L/100 km highway, and 7.0 L/100 km combined. Its 1,290 kg kerb weight is also the lowest among the second-generation versions.

Choose the second-generation 1.8 AT if an Automatic gearbox matters more than the small consumption and weight advantage of the 1.8 MT. It retains 132 hp and 174 Nm, but weighs 20 kg more and uses an additional 0.4 L/100 km combined.

Choose a second-generation 2.4 version when the numerical priority is torque. The 2.4 MT, 2.4 AT FWD, and 2.4 AT AWD all produce 158 hp and 225 Nm—26 hp and 51 Nm more than the second-generation 1.8 versions. Of these, the 2.4 MT is the lightest. The 2.4 AT AWD is the only second-generation AWD choice, while the 2.4 AT FWD supplies a 5-speed Automatic rather than the AWD version’s 4-speed Automatic.

Choose the first-generation 183 hp 1.8 MT if power, specific output, and the best measured weight-per-horsepower ratio matter most. It combines 183 hp, 176 Nm, a 6-speed Manual, FWD, a measured 1,270 kg kerb weight, and a measured top speed of 220 km/h. The identically named first-generation 1.8 AT also produces 183 hp and 176 Nm, but uses a 4-speed Automatic; its top speed and kerb weight are not measured.

Choose a first-generation AWD version if the combination of AWD and 165 mm ground clearance is central to the decision. The 124 hp 1.8 MT and 1.8 AT provide AWD, as does the 158 hp 2.4 AT. Compared with the second-generation AWD version, these cars have 30 mm more listed clearance, although their fuel consumption is not measured.

There is no single best Toyota Matrix for every buyer. On the supplied numbers, the second-generation 1.8 MT leads on measured economy, the first-generation 183 hp 1.8 MT leads on power and measured power-to-weight performance, the 2.4 versions lead on torque, and AWD buyers can choose between greater first-generation clearance or the second generation’s larger fuel tank and measured consumption data.