When you choose a car for the whole family, you generally want it to be practical. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also be fun to drive.
Consider the Toyota Matrix, a crossover rated at a very respectable 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway.
Its critics will tell you that it doesn’t have the power of a full-size sport utility vehicle or sedan. That’s true, but it has plenty of pep to get you to the store, kids’ schools and other destinations around town. Plus, as evidenced by the mileage ratings, it won’t keep you driving to the pump as often as its full-size counterparts.
Frankly, I love the feel of a smaller crossover, especially when it’s as perky in acceleration and steady in braking as the Matrix. I never felt out of control or off balance when I was behind the wheel. The ride was solid, and though you could feel a few road bumps on back roads, the ride stayed fairly smooth. Vibration and noise in the cabin was fairly minimal for a car of this size.
And let’s be honest — who hasn’t tried to squeeze into an extremely tight parking space either in D.C. or one of the suburbs? This car, measured at 173 inches long and 69.5 inches wide, edges in neatly with room to spare.
What’s really impressive to many, though, is the hauling capability of the Matrix. You can slip bikes, kayaks and just about anything else up to 8 feet long into the cargo.
If you need more evidence this is a kid-friendly car, consider the fold-down seatback table and the front center console, which has a movable and removable cup support element.
The cup holder area can be used as a tray when the divider is removed, and all open trays have rubber mats.
Glance around the interior and you’ll see multiple storage spaces including front- and rear-door pockets that each hold a 20-ounce plastic bottle. Four side-panel shopping-bag hooks and four D-rings in the floor provide convenient luggage tie-down capability — or a godsend, depending on your perspective.
Finish the car off with top safety rating and plenty of high-tech gadgets — including a premium audio system with controls on the steering wheel — and you have a great family car.
The Toyota Matrix, which has a manufacturers’ suggested retail price starting at $16,290, deserves a second look by anyone seriously searching for a kid- or sports-friendly crossover.
