I have a 2010 Toyota Matrix that I purchased one year ago to replace my 2004 Toyota Matrix that had greater than 350,000 kilometres on it. I gave the 2004 Matrix to my son who continues to drive it without any issues.

The Matrix is a 4-door, 5 passenger hatchback with a 1.8 litre, and 132 horsepower engine. I don't drive manual so can only rate the 4-speed automatic version of the car. Toyota states it gets 26 miles per gallon city driving and 32 miles per gallon on the highway. MSRP is anywhere from $15,500.00 to $16,900.00. Like most vehicles these days, it has air bags in the front and sides for both the driver and the passenger. It has traction control and ABS which comes in very handy during winter months, and is very easy to drive. I especially like the roominess of the Matrix vehicle even though the back of the newer Matrix is slightly smaller than the previous version.

I have always loved the Matrix for its great handling and the fact that is has a lot of pep which makes it safer to pass when you need to. It gets good gas mileage, especially for me as I live in the country and do not drive in the city all that often.

What I don't care for is the fact that they have designed the newer Matrix so that the doors are higher (or perhaps the seats are lower), they have removed the back side windows. Both these alterations make it more difficult to see the blind-spots and for changing lanes. The back window hatch no longer opens, and they changed the rack and pinion steering to power steering. These dislikes are all due to comparisons of the 2004 Matrix and the 2010 Matrix.

I have first-hand knowledge of how safe these cars are. On a recent trip through the city, I was rear-ended by a van. The fellow hit my car so hard that he went under my back bumper and lifted my car up. His license plate left an imprint on my bumper. The extent of the damage to my car included the back bumper and exhaust system, both had to be replaced. His van was totalled - it crumpled right into the engine. I was amazed at the damage done to his vehicle in comparison to the little damage that was done to my car.

Although I prefer the previous version of the Matrix that I had, I still feel that the Matrix is one of the better makes of car of all the vehicles within a comparable price range and size.