By Brendan Moore
10.31.2007
Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, Las Vegas: The 2009 Toyota Matrix, the hatchback version of the Toyota Corolla, debuted at the SEMA show along with the new 2009 Corolla.
The new Matrix, essentially a twin of the Corolla except for the sheet metal, is not the sales leader that the Corolla is, but nevertheless sells in numbers that a lot of other auto makers would kill for. Toyota believes it will sell 300,000 Corollas and 60,000 Matrix hatchbacks just in the U.S. in calendar year 2008, so that should give you some idea of the contrast in sales between the two, as well as their significance to Toyota.
The 2009 Matrix looks a lot more like a crossover than a wagon, which is what the current Matrix looks like. The new model is more aggressive-looking, which is probably a smart move by Toyota; it should get them some younger male buyers without alienating the current demographic of buyers.
The new Matrix will be available in four trim levels, Standard, S, S-AWD and XLS. The engines and transmissions are identical to those offered in the 2009 Corolla.
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That’s Base, S, S-AWD, and XRS.
Toyota media relations gave out three trim levels to the auto journalists intially; I see that was corrected later. My apologies – text in post is corrected.
B Moore
I think the 2009 Matrix’s cousin, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe, got the better end of the styling deal this time. The new Matrix looks like a cross between an old Subaru Imprezza (rear end) and a Camry Solara (front end)…neither of which are styling benchmarks.