2012 Toyota Matrix Overview Change Vehicle

This 2012 Toyota Matrix review explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2012 Matrix, and includes Toyota Matrix safety, reliability, and fuel economy ratings.

The 2012 Toyota Matrix is a five-passenger, five-door hatchback (wagon) that offers standard front-wheel-drive and optional all-wheel-drive capability. Competitors include the Ford Focus, Kia Forte, Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback and the Subaru Impreza.

Since it was updated just last year, the 2012 Toyota Matrix arrives without any changes aside from the rechristening of the base model, which is now known as the Matrix L, and the addition of an S-AWD model. As before, buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel-drive and one of two four-cylinder engines.

Positioned as the lineup’s entry-level model, the Matrix L is equipped with what many of us would consider to be daily-motoring essentials, such as power windows and door locks, air conditioning, an audio system with an auxiliary input jack and a CD player, and keyless entry. Other standard features include 16-inch steel wheels, power heated mirrors, a height-adjustable driver’s seat, a telescoping steering wheel with integrated secondary controls, and a rear cargo cover. For buyers who like all the L has to offer yet want a ride with a bit more visual appeal, Toyota offers an L Sport Package with fog lights, a lower body kit and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Move up to the 2012 Matrix S model and you’ll find the fog lights are standard fare, as are restyled bumpers, front sport seats with a fold-flat feature on the passenger side, a sound system boasting six speakers instead of the L’s four, and metallic interior accents. Like its lesser sibling, the S is available with a Sport Package that adds 17-inch alloys and a lower body kit, but goes a step further with the addition of a rear spoiler. An optional Premium Package fits the 2012 Matrix S with its own set of niceties, such as a power moonroof, satellite radio, an iPod-ready USB port, and Bluetooth hands-free calling capability.

The last of the Matrix’s three trims is the S-AWD, which is essentially the S model with, you guessed it, all-wheel drive. With that foul-weather capability come larger brakes, a chrome-tipped exhaust system, and a double-wishbone rear suspension in lieu of the torsion beam found on the L and S.

Every 2012 Toyota Matrix has a four-cylinder engine under its hood. Base L variants are powered by a 1.8-liter four-banger that generates 132 horses and 128 pound-feet of torque, output that is delivered to the front wheels thanks to a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. According to the EPA, drivers who row their own gears can expect to average 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway. The automatic drops the city rating to 25 mpg.

S and S-AWD Matrix models draw their strength from a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that cranks out 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. Shoppers who opt for the front-wheel-drive S can choose between a five-speed manual and a five-speed automatic transmission, with the latter delivering up to 21 mpg around town and 29 mpg on the highway. The S-AWD, by comparison, is only offered with a four-speed automatic that carries ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Thanks to its versatility, the 2012 Toyota Matrix is a vehicle that suits the needs and wants of a broad spectrum of car shoppers, all of whom likely rank vehicle safety as a top consideration. Those same people should be pleased to learn that their daily driver of choice earned top marks in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) front- and side-impact crash tests. At the time of this writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) hadn’t released complete results from its own tests, though it did award 4 out of 5 Stars for the Matrix’s rollover protection.

In anticipation of inevitable accidents and collisions that we all eventually encounter, Toyota has equipped this small wagon with the company’s Star Safety System, which is comprised of stability control, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, and Smart Stop Technology that allows the brakes to automatically override the accelerator if the two pedals are inadvertently pressed at the same time. Other standard safety items include six airbags, as well as less obvious features like daytime running lights and a tire-pressure monitor (federally mandated on all new passenger vehicles).

Shift your attention to another important criterion, reliability, and once again the 2012 Matrix shines brightly. Consumer Reports has predicted above-average dependability from this Toyota, and has gone so far as to add it to the publication’s list of Recommended models. J.D. Power and Associates agreed, as of its most recent reliability predictions for the Matrix.

Of course, problems do arise from time to time, at which point new Matrix owners will rely on a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. A two-year/25,000-mile free-maintenance program, including 24/7 roadside assistance, is also part of the deal.

Few car shoppers would look at the Matrix as a work vehicle, but Toyota claims the car can tow up to 1,500 pounds. Folks who want to keep all of their cargo inside, out of the elements and under lock and key, have up to 49.4 cubic-feet of space to work with.

From a safety, reliability and functionality perspective, the 2012 Toyota Matrix is a bona fide contender in the small-wagon segment, especially with its optional all-wheel-drive system. That being said, competition is growing fierce in the fuel-efficient hatchback segment, with rivals from all corners of the globe delivering superior fuel economy, fresher styling, a greater variety of features and options, and more entertaining driving dynamics.

By Thom Blackett