The 2011 Toyota Matrix
The one thing that you can say about the 2011 Toyota Matrix is that it is an extremely practical car. This may not be a big selling point to a lot of people but clearly for many people it is exactly what they are looking for. It is a vehicle that can meet all of their daily needs and do it at a very reasonable price. This explains why it is such a popular choice with so many people.
The Toyota Matrix is one of those cars that is hard to categorize since it falls somewhere in between a hatchback and a station wagon. There are of course quite a few cars entering this class nowadays but the Matrix is one of the most successful. The reason is that it gives you the economy of a hatchback with quite a bit more room inside. Of course compared to an actual station wagon it will come up short in this respect but it is a good alternative for people who need more space than a standard hatchback offers.
One of the things that is really going to affect your opinion of the 2011 Toyota Matrix is which engine choice you go with. The 1.8 liter is very fuel efficient but its performance is really not all that good being quite sluggish. On the other hand you have the option of a 2.4 liter engine which offers excellent acceleration that is nice and smooth right through the power band. However in this case the fuel economy is quite poor compared to other similar sized engines. Therefore you are going to have to decide what is more important to you performance or fuel efficiency because unfortunately with the Matrix you can't have both.
The main reason that people choose cars like the Matrix is that they want the extra space inside and in this respect it is quite good. There is lots of cargo space and the rear seats are quite roomy. Oddly it is the front seats that are a little cramped, taller drivers may have a bit of a problem here. The style of the car is not going to win awards but given that most of the other cars in its class look like boxes it may actually be the best looking one.
The Toyota Matrix has become quite popular mainly because it is one of those cars that does everything well. There is nothing about it that stands out, performance is average, carrying capacity is better than a hatch back but not as good as a station wagon. However there are clearly many people who need a car just like this. It is affordable and more than capable of meeting most people's daily needs. It is definitely a car that is worth looking into since you will likely find it to be extremely practical.