Toyota @ SEMA: 2009 Matrix

[Bimmer325]

http://www.motivemagazine.com/gallery/gall...ix/2009-Present

Matrix S

Matrix XRS

[Z-06]

That completes the Toy lineup of mediocrity and hediousness.

:puke::puke:

[siegen]

The head lights don't look like they fit quite right, on the bottom side in the middle. Is it just me or does it look like there's a gap? Overall I get a negative feeling from this car, but it isn't that bad. The back end looks ugly, similar to the Malibu-Maxx, the way the tail lights jut out and the back window slopes inward. The front end looks bland, but not offensive.

[Sixty8panther]

Dear God that greenhouse and front overhang/fender are disgusting.

[Intrepidation]

Eww...interior looks like crap too.

[regfootball]

dear God that's bad. A 9-2x/impreza got violated in vulgar fashion. vibe looks cleaner.

[Cadillacfan]

Oh.. that's unfortunate. Looks outdated. You'd think that after seeing the attractive Vibe, Toyota would keep the styling very similar with the obvious Toyota design themes.. I guess not.

[Polish_Kris]

Looks a little weird, but then again, it is the 21st century.

[CMG]

I don't think it's the ugliest thing out there, but it IS a step in the ugly direction...?

[bowtie_dude]

Its like a super-sized Yaris.

[Satty]

I dont absolutely hate it.

[pow]

The interior looks alright - nice and clean, not too many cutlines, interesting gauges, sporty steering wheel, pleasing-to-the-eye materials - but the exterior is hideous. The Vibe looks so much better.

[FUTURE_OF_GM]

It'll sell anyway, despite it's hideous face.

[dimitri0917]

A 9-2x/impreza got violated in vulgar fashion. vibe looks cleaner.

I was thinking 9-2x mixed with an ION red line. I prefer this to the vibe though, toyota sabotaged the vibe.

[Lamar]

I still like the first gen better...

[Robert Hall]

Seems redundant with the Scions.

[Flybrian]

Junkeness to teh max.

[ocnblu]

Pontiac Vibe looks much better. Shame it has the same soul.

[Cory Wolfe]

Certain aspects look decent in their own right.. but together? It's quite frumpy.

[thegriffon]

Pontiac Vibe looks much better. Shame it has the same soul.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but that seems the consensus on other on-GM sites too.

[Camino LS6]

Both this, and the Corolla, look like an elephant sat on the front - squashing it way out of shape.

WTF?

[cire]

If the recent pictures of the upcoming Vibe are accurate, I say wait for the Vibe. I have to give Toyota credit for at least making some attempt at making this car look like it was redesigned (that's more than I can say for the Corolla).

I do think the availability of the 2.4 liter 4 cylinder with 5 speed automatic and AWD is good news (only because they will probably find their way onto the Vibe). The car also has standard 4 wheel antilock disc brakes and a tilt/telescoping steering wheel which probably will also be on the Vibe.

Basically, I see it this way: As an individual vehicle, I'm not that impressed with this thing. As an introduction to upgrades on the superior looking Vibe, it's kind of exciting news.

[gm4life]

And I thought the Corolla was bad. Hopefully this will help Vibe sales as from what I can tell the photo of the 09 Vibe is a thousand times better looking than this ugly thing!

[Oracle of Delphi]

Matrix, Vibe, it's all the same crap!

[thegriffon]

And I thought the Corolla was bad. Hopefully this will help Vibe sales as from what I can tell the photo of the 09 Vibe is a thousand times better looking than this ugly thing!

That's because it was GM's idea to create this Corolla derivative. The shorter (no sixth-window), more conventional Auris and even the more outrageously-styled Blade are more coherent.

[ZL-1]

To me it's like like the mini-MPV 1st gen Matrix morphed into a maxi-Auris...

[ToniCipriani]

To me it's like like the mini-MPV 1st gen Matrix morphed into a maxi-Auris...

But I think the Auris actually looks better than this. This thing's a mess...

[K.C.]

Why does it look like its a pregnant rollerskate? Oh wait, thats what happens to all bulbous styled hatches with teensy wheels.

[Guest YellowJacket894]

Something about the front seems vaguely Honda-esque.

This thing is so ugly, it leaves an aftertaste. A bad one.

[tama z71]

To quote Toyota's design team:

"Aw, f@#k it!"

[sciguy_0504]

Not bad. The XRS looks pretty sporty. The front end is frumpy, though, and the silver interior treatment looks kind of cheap. The Vibe does look better, though.

[SingleStylish]

The Matrix now looks like a much larger replacement for the Toyota (ooops) Scion xA which now looks like a xB which looks like the xD, xA, and MatriX.

[Drew Dowdell]

it's like they tried to use every Toyota design "cue" in one car. I see Prius, Echo, Camry, Yaris at least......

[LosAngeles]

The people will eat up anything with a Toyota badge due to brand perception...

But the Vibe is the better looking car.