Unlike the 5-speed manual transmission equipped 130-hp cars, the XRS comes with a 6-speed manual - a 4-speed automatic is optional across the line. Usually, I'm not a giant fan of 6-speeds, often finding the extra interval redundant when a sufficiently wide torque band exists, but at 130 lb-ft maximum torque the 6-speed allows the XRS engine to maintain its rather narrow sweet spot, from about 5,500 to 8,000 rpm. As much as I love rowing through the gears of this excitable powertrain, my wife found it didn't suit her preferences at all. Either way it's hardly the type of performance usually equated with a station wagon.
But hold on, the Matrix isn't a station wagon at all, it's a crossover vehicle. A what? If you haven't yet heard the latest automotive industry buzzword then I have to ask, where have you been? Whether you've heard it or not, not many of us are specific to what it actually means. Initially it was to refer to crossbred car-SUVs, like the old Toyota Tercel and Corolla 4x4 wagons, but some manufacturers seem to be attaching the catchy moniker to anything with a rear hatch, even if an all-wheel drive system isn't offered. The Matrix, on the other hand, is a true crossover due to its go-anywhere styling, tall wagon configuration and 4WD availability.
Its 4WD system isn't designed to ford river bottoms or scale the Himalayas, but it's quite capable of transporting a bunch of friends up to the summer cottage in the dead of winter. It's a comforting feeling knowing you and yours are relatively safe if the weather starts to turn nasty, and 4WD offers this security. The V-Flex four-wheel drive system is fully automatic, needing no special attention from the driver. Just put it in first or drive and go.
That brings up a good point. The Matrix really likes to go, especially around corners. Handling, of course, gets better as the price goes up. Base cars get P205/55R16 all-season radials on 16-inch steel wheels with aluminum-look wheel covers, while 16-inch alloys come standard with the XR package. The P215/50R17 low-profile tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels help the XRS to handle like a sports car. All models receive power assisted disc brakes up front and drums in the rear, with ABS standard on 4WD and XRS models while not available on FWD base and XR.
But hold on, the Matrix isn't a station wagon at all, it's a crossover vehicle. A what? If you haven't yet heard the latest automotive industry buzzword then I have to ask, where have you been? Whether you've heard it or not, not many of us are specific to what it actually means. Initially it was to refer to crossbred car-SUVs, like the old Toyota Tercel and Corolla 4x4 wagons, but some manufacturers seem to be attaching the catchy moniker to anything with a rear hatch, even if an all-wheel drive system isn't offered. The Matrix, on the other hand, is a true crossover due to its go-anywhere styling, tall wagon configuration and 4WD availability.
Its 4WD system isn't designed to ford river bottoms or scale the Himalayas, but it's quite capable of transporting a bunch of friends up to the summer cottage in the dead of winter. It's a comforting feeling knowing you and yours are relatively safe if the weather starts to turn nasty, and 4WD offers this security. The V-Flex four-wheel drive system is fully automatic, needing no special attention from the driver. Just put it in first or drive and go.
That brings up a good point. The Matrix really likes to go, especially around corners. Handling, of course, gets better as the price goes up. Base cars get P205/55R16 all-season radials on 16-inch steel wheels with aluminum-look wheel covers, while 16-inch alloys come standard with the XR package. The P215/50R17 low-profile tires on 17-inch aluminum wheels help the XRS to handle like a sports car. All models receive power assisted disc brakes up front and drums in the rear, with ABS standard on 4WD and XRS models while not available on FWD base and XR.