Say Goodbye to the Toyota Matrix

Perhaps attending Hot Import Nights instead of the Detroit Auto Show would’ve generated some better styling cues. Carrie Anne Moss only recently got work again, why not a collector’s Trinity edition?

While the economy may be on the upswing, the number ’13 proved to be unlucky for Toyota Matrix fans. Actors Joey Lawrence and Keanu Reeves were in complete and total shock to discover this is the last year of manufacture for the Toyota Matrix on US soil. Reeves was especially moved since he’s been living in the back of a Toyota Matrix since the third sequel to his movie of the same name tanked in sales several years ago.

Since 2003, the little sport wagon that could kept plugging along, even when sister hatch Pontiac Vibe subsided with the brand back in 2009. Many outside factors are supposedly to blame, but truth be told the marque only received one refresh stylistically and sales were cannibalized internally by the advent of the Scion sub-brand. Another complaint was fuel economy had been bested by the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit and Kia Forte. While this is an undeniable truism, the rest of the truth is that these vehicles have smaller cargo capacity and are NOT, in fact, a Toyota. Only Honda could boast a similar reliability record. A better comparison would be with the current Ford Focus or Volkswagen GTI, which also received high marks in styling, infotainment, performance and fuel economy. The waning popularity of wagons in the US is also cited as a factor, though if this were the case, why did Subaru restyle the Impreza and WRX to a wagon-only format?

It’s tempting to look elsewhere when it’s really our own fault. In the case of the Matrix only being sold in Canada, we blame the hamsters and the Kia Forte.

(Don’t) Blame Canada

In an interesting turn of events, the Matrix will still be manufactured and sold by our neighbors to the North. So, parts scavengers and those with Matrix envy will now just have to plan a road trip instead. The good news is, according to MotorTrend, a real-world comparison of the Matrix’s cargo capacity (53.2 cu ft) stores more goodies than that of a Subaru WRX (61.1 cu ft). So, while in a Subaru, you’ll likely get to Canada faster, in the Matrix you’ll come back with more maple syrup. So go pour that on your pancakes, STi fans!

Get ’em while they’re HOT!! The 2013 Toyota Matrix is the last model year to be sold in US dealerships. Buyers should get some pretty sweet incentives.