2003 Toyota Matrix - Cars Worth Noting - Brief Article - Column

Automotive Industries, June, 2002 by Gerry Kobe

Over the last few weeks I tested three different Toyota products -- the Camry, Corolla and Matrix. And because they are all-new for 2003, I was having a hard time deciding which one I wanted to write about first. But the Matrix not only convinced me it deserved to be number one, it also convinced me that I need to be more open minded about new ideas.

I'll be honest, my initial thoughts about Matrix were that it was a young person's car and definitely not for me. I go for the "white bread sedan" kind of styling and this thing is definitely more of the "seeded rye hatchback." It's way too trendy for my tastes.

But lo and behold, as I pulled it into my driveway, my daughter endorsed it with a sincere, "cool car," comment and the kids across the street stopped shooting hoops to look at it. When I left the house later that evening to bring my daughter to piano lessons, not only did the kids again call time out, they even gave me the thumbs up as I pulled away.

My God, the Matrix transcends generation gaps!

Now as it so happens, I was on deadline that night and brought my laptop with me to do some writing in the car. There in the dash was a 110-volt outlet that ran my lap-tap perfectly and when I flipped the seat forward it provided a working surface as flat and level as my desk. You know, come to think of it, I'm getting kind of tired of white bread.