I really like the sturdiness of my 2006 Toyota Matrix. The car is well built. When I drive it, the ride is smooth and the outside noises stay outside. All the major parts on the car seem to be in good working order. Since, buying the car, even though it has 123,000 miles, there have been few problems due to poor manufacturing. Any problems the car has had have largely been as a result of my own fault.

I love this car. I regularly transport 2-4 medium/large sized dogs in it. Even with dogs and crates, I can still pack a full set of camping gear and dog training supplies. I've never gone on a trip and not had enough room to pack everything I wanted. In a pinch I can even sleep in the back, and I'm six feet tall. Mechanically, it's a great car. It gets about 33 mi/gallon on the highway and about 27-30 city driving. I've put 40k miles on it in three years. Other than a new battery and a new set of tires, it hasn't needed anything else than routine maintenance. I'm a very tall person, and it is extremely comfortable to drive. I love where the gear shift is located.

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.