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Used 2005 Toyota Matrix Wagon Consumer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
190 reviews

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Pros
Cons
5 out of 5 stars

Great Car

Greg, 07/05/2008
2005 Toyota Matrix AWD 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
28 of 28 people found this review helpful

This may be the best car I've ever owned. Very well designed from an ergonomic standpoint. I now have 147000 miles on it and haven't spent a nickel on it for maintenance beyond the obvious (oil changes, brakes, tires and the like). I check my gas mileage at every fill-up, that being my "thing," and get 30mpg if I have been throwing caution to the wind, and upwards to 33 mpg if I slow down; most of my driving is on the highway. It isn't the quietest car I have been in but it is comfortable. I do find I have to be quite careful to look backwards for a blind spot. However in this age of craving hybrids, this is a great car with the standard internal combustion engine.

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5 out of 5 stars

This car will outlive me

William , 09/02/2020
2005 Toyota Matrix Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful

Bought this car used 10 years ago. Its a standard .240,000 KM . Use it to pull a trailer and a boat . Does everything its supposed to . Living in NE Ontario it handles the winters without any problems . After 15 years it still looks good No rust . Im 72 and seriously think it will outlive me .

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

a reliable, versatile and cost effective car

Mark Daniel, 02/06/2018
2005 Toyota Matrix Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
32 of 34 people found this review helpful

I've now had my Toyota Matrix for 12+ years, after buying it brand new back in the summer of 2005, and it has ended up being one of the best cars I've had yet. It has been very reliable overall, with the usual periodic maintenance you might expect. I've been regular and consistent with changing the oil and fluids approx. every 5,000 miles and I'm sure that has helped. This car has also been very fuel efficient for both highway and city driving. I could often get 300+ miles on a full tank. My only complaint with this car is that it doesn't always have a lot of power or acceleration, but that's the obvious trade off for this type of car. You're not buying a car like this to win any street races. I think the best feature is the amount of cargo space. If you fold down the back seats and the front passenger seat, you can fit an incredible amount of stuff in here. This makes it an ideal car for long road trips or even on moving day. The Toyota Matrix is a solid, dependable, versatile and economical car that, if you take care of it, will serve you well for many years.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
4 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

Amazing Toyota product

Becerro, 10/26/2015
2005 Toyota Matrix XR Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
30 of 32 people found this review helpful

It's a toyota,great car we have 230,000 miles and still putting mileson it,just oil changes and brake pads,that's. It.

Safety
5 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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4.75 out of 5 stars

new owner

NLS, 08/16/2005
2005 Toyota Matrix XR Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Love how it handles, and how it looks! It is so much fun to drive you forget its a sensible car! And with seats folded down, it holds a lot!!

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4.75 out of 5 stars

Sporty car for year-round fun

dennyvibes, 01/11/2011
2005 Toyota Matrix XR AWD 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
31 of 36 people found this review helpful

I have had my Matrix for 6 years in March 2011. I bought it specifically for the all-wheel drive needed for New England winters. The Matrix never gets stuck in the snow, though the standard tires are slippery and you have to drive slowly to keep from skidding in turns, and make sure not to stop too suddenly. It's possible getting standard all-season tires instead of the sportier ones will remedy that. I LOVE driving my Matrix on beaches, sand dunes, and any off-roading I can get. It's so much fun! It holds its own with any 4X4 truck for any typical rugged fun. I just got into an accident in snow on an unplowed road, at a sharp curve, doing down a steep hill. My Matrix kept me safe and sound!

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Love this car

Ray Edwards, 08/21/2005
2005 Toyota Matrix Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

I bought this car for my wife and bought a second for my son. Both cars have the craftsmanship that you expect from Toyota.The interior is much roomier than you would expect from a car that is built on Corolla specs. With the seats folded down, my son can easily fit his road bike inside without removing the front tire. The vehicle gets very good gas mileage (recently on a highway trip we got 32 mpg). Many people stop us and ask about the car, and we always give rave reviews.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

Lexus for the Matrix - Very Happy!

MarkZ, 08/09/2005
2005 Toyota Matrix XR Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Traded in my RX300 for the XR and couldn't be happier. My gas gauge doesn't plummet anymore and I can turn on a dime. Not as luxurious (wife misses heated seats) but love the sporty 5spd manual drive (flashback to my '88 Prelude days). Lots of room for my band equipment and baby on the way. Like the RX, the hatch can hold a lot. Just picked up a massage chair - to the surprise of the staff it slipped right in. Way to go Toyota. Matrix joins my Toyota family of a '97 Previa that I love just as much.

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4.38 out of 5 stars

The Matrix shines in winter time!

Kim, 12/19/2008
2005 Toyota Matrix XR AWD 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
9 of 10 people found this review helpful

I've had it for a year and a half and it has been great, especially in the winter time. In the snow, I rarely spin my tires on a steep driveway or at a stop sign on an incline. The car has great control overall. I've never felt safer in a car before. My passengers feel safe too. I recently heard this car gets the highest marks for side-impact collision. I'd believe it! You just feel taken care of inside. The only downer is that I have to replace a rear hub bearing now not even at 100,000. That was unexpected and will be pricey. Rumors of a previous recall for this model are out there, but who knows. And no warranty will cover it now. You may want to research that issue.

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4.88 out of 5 stars

Spunky car

cmpchicky, 06/29/2005
2005 Toyota Matrix XRS Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

The XRS model is good for those who love to drive. The fuel economy can be better - it requires fuel with octanes of 91 or higher. It could hurt the wallet if you drive a lot. Otherwise, i love it.

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