2006 Toyota Matrix TRD Road Test

Not so long ago, the compact station wagon and mini-minivans were nearly or totally non-existent. At the turn of the century, consumers had the choice between a Ford Focus, a Subaru Impreza and a Suzuki Esteem wagon. Only a few years later, manufacturers like Mazda with the Protegé5, along with GM and Toyota, with their respective Vibe and Matrix, jumped into the game. These last cars turned out to be so popular that soon nearly every car maker wanted a piece of the action.