In my opinion, the 2003 Toyota Matrix is an excellent car. I did not purchase my Matrix new, but I did drive it for several years and it was one of the best cars I have driven. The interior of the Matrix is modern and attractive, it is also quite comfortable and roomy enough to seat five people, I have three children so I had five people in my car quite often. The Matrix has a wagon-style build so there is a back hatch and spacious back storage area, the rear seats can also fold down to give even more space if you needed to fit a very large item in your car. The back window opens up to help fit long items, and I had mine open to fit very long tubes of wrapping paper at Christmas time. The Matrix is a reliable vehicle and will last quite a long time. The Matrix is also an incredibly smooth riding vehicle and accelerates quickly and smoothly. My Matrix had over 210,000 miles on it when I sold it and it was still driving really smooth and had lots of life yet. I actually sold it to a friend and her daughter has been using it and it currently has over 250,000 miles with no problems. The matrix had phenomenal gas mileage, it was the most fuel efficient car I've ever owned. The Matrix is a really practical car, ideal for virtually anybody. As a mother of three it was great because I could fit my whole family in the car and store anything we purchased or brought with us in the back. Even though the Matrix felt spacious, it was a compact car that was very easy to drive and park. Overall the Matrix was an excellent car, I would recommend it strongly to friends and family, and I would drive one again.

I have had this car for nearly twelve years, and I have had no issues with its performance. Despite a couple of Toyota safety recalls -- both of which were fixed for free at my local dealership -- this car has required nothing more than the routine maintenance. I got this car when I was a senior in high school, and it was sporty enough to fit my age group, but it met my parents' requirements for safety and reliability. It is a very comfortable car, so much so that passengers in the back seat have commented on how much leg room they have. The trunk space is excellent, though I admit that I do not use as much of the vertical space as I have available; still, when I have needed that space, it has been more than sufficient. The gas mileage has been true to the dealership information; I probably get around 30-32 miles per gallon, which may not be the best available nowadays, but it was at least competitive in 2002. The car is definitely fun to drive. My favorite thing about the car is that it feels more like an SUV in terms of seating position; my husband drives a sedan, and when I drive his car, I feel like I'm reclining or otherwise low to the ground. In the Matrix, I feel more like I am sitting in a dining chair. I have found this very comfortable, and it's easy to get in and out of. This is especially helpful when visiting my grandmother, who has mobility issues. My car is one of the few that she can ride in without struggling to get in and out of the seat. I definitely feel safe driving this car. The car's acceleration is decent, though the four-cylinder engine does sometimes struggle in mountainous areas. That said, I have put a lot of miles on the interstate with this car, and there have been no problems with highway speeds or accelerating/decelerating at on- or off-ramps.