I feel the same about the Matrix. It's such a well put together vehicle that it's hard not to like. Starting with the
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| From the instrument gauge cluster to the console buttons, everything in the Matrix interior is so easy to read and maneuver around. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
well-put-together interior, it's fabulous. It's probably the best in its class with the Mazda3 Sport following closely behind. From the instrument gauge cluster to the console buttons, everything is so easy to read and maneuver around. It has a polished and clean finish and is unique looking at the same time. Even the kids I was babysitting over the weekend thought the interior was "so cool" and "so comfortable". It's pretty hard to impress kids these days without a DVD player or some sort of electronic gadget incorporated into the car, but the Matrix impressed them even without all the extras. It's hard to pinpoint which attribute I liked best, because it seemed to be so well-balanced. The Matrix is offered in three trim levels; the base model, XR and XRS. Both the base and XR models come with the 1.8-litre, 16-valve, 4-cylinder 1ZZ-FE engine producing 130 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 125 lb-ft of torque at 4,200 rpm, and feature the choice of front-wheel drive with a manual or automatic transmission, or a 4-wheel drive with an automatic transmission - although the 4WD version drops output by 7 horsepower to
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| Both base and XR models come with the 1.8-litre, 16-valve, 4-cylinder 1ZZ-FE engine producing 130-hp. (Photo: Alexandra Straub, Canadian Auto Press) |
123, and torque by the same number of 7 to 118 lb-ft. My test model came with the optional 4-speed automatic tranny and was front-wheel drive. The optional automatic transmission shifted through the gears very smoothly but took a moment or so to respond when I pressed my foot on the throttle while ascending up a hill. The transmission also took its time engaging when I geared down into "2" while descending down a hill. I felt that the engine could have been more effective with a 5-speed manual transmission, but the automatic was better for all the throttle-and-brake commuting that I do every day.
