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.

The Toyota Matrix is a perfectly solid vehicle that I would recommend to almost anyone. Since it is essentially a Corolla, we all know that it can last for a long time, so long as it is well maintained. For someone who needs a practical set of wheels to get the from point A to point B, there are few better choices than a Corolla/Matrix. What I appreciate about the Matrix over the Corolla is the added utility. Hatchbacks are much more flexible and can carry so much more, and more varied, cargo. I have fit a large kitchen table in the back with no problem. The performance is nothing special, and that suits me just fine. This is a car that takes me and my wife and kids around. I'm not taking it to the track or trying to do anything fancy. I can take comfort in knowing that it has well established Toyota build quality and that parts are cheap and abundant. It is also simply built, so I have been able to do some of the more in-depth maintenance myself.