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YOUR FAMILY CAN STAR IN THE MATRIX

Models Covered: (5 dr mini-MPV 1.6, 1.8 petrol 1.5 diesel [GSi, CDX])

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Hyundai may have been the last of the three major Korean manufacturers to launch a mini-MPV but the Matrix is certainly the pick of the bunch, offering a more stylish and modern alternative to the Kia Carens and the Daewoo Tacuma at reasonable prices. Here was a compact people carrier with distinctive looks and a range of decent engines including a novel three-cylinder diesel. Despite its attractions, the Matrix has been a modest seller, many new buyers apparently prepared to spend a little extra for an entry-level Citroen Xsara Picasso or Vauxhall Zafira. Used buyers will realise that this spells potential bargains and the Matrix looks a sound bet for those looking for a keenly priced, contemporarily styled vehicle with plenty of life left in it.

The history of the Matrix is brief. Three models were launched in October 2001, the 1.6-litre 16v GSi, the 1.8 16v CDX and the 1.5TD GSi diesel. Production issues meant that the diesel models arrived a couple of months after the petrol cars.

It’s a distinctive effort, the Pininfarina-designed Matrix. That rather odd window line is a novelty and tends to divide opinion amongst those who sample it, ranging from the derogatory "It looks like it’s suffered some structural subsidence" to the complimentary "Neat – a wild west saloon." It certainly makes an interesting visual hook, something that will make the Matrix easily identifiable in a crop of lookalike egg-shaped rivals. The front end is somewhat anonymous, looking all-too similar to a Premacy, a Mitsubishi Space Star or any other Far Eastern mini-MPV that drifts aimlessly to mind. The rear is far sharper, with some neatly bevelled planes that catch the light in interesting ways and would look great with a mica ‘flip’ paint job. Inside, the Matrix continues the slightly left-field styling theme with centrally mounted instruments which, although angled toward the driver, require some effort to read quickly and the overall feel is of a number of good ideas stunted due to cost considerations. Nevertheless, the Matrix features a befuddling array of storage boxes, cubbies, shelves and pockets to the extent that finding a casually secreted key/card/Ginster’s Buffet Bar can be the work of several minutes. Unlike many of the more smugly self-congratulatory offerings in the mini-MPV sector, the Matrix only boasts five seats, but this in itself is no great drawback. The rear seats slide and with a 60/40 split can be folded double. Unfortunately they can’t be removed, which limits the Matrix’s ultimate carrying capacity, but even with the seats in place, you’ll get more useable boot space than you’ll probably need. Although it looks tiny outside, with its diminutive wheels and miniaturised detailing, the Matrix is, in fact, bigger than a Renault Scenic inside. With a 2600mmm wheelbase and a width of 1740mm it ‘s one of the biggest cars in the class. Break out the tape measure and you’ll find your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Matrix is just 4025mm long, which makes it a good 11 cm shorter than a Scenic and over a foot shorter than a Zafira.

Although Matrices(?) are still fairly rare on the used market, it’s possible to pick up a 2001 51-plate 1.6-litre GSi for around £5,500 with 1.8-litre versions weighing in at around £6,000. A 2002 02 plated d1.5TD diesel retails at around £7,000. Insurance is reasonable, the diesel rated at Group 6, the 1.6 at Group 7 and the 1.8 at Group 8.

Few significant problems have been reported so far. The throttle sensors have been troublesome, resulting in the engine ‘racing’ when at idle and exterior paintwork isn’t the most hard wearing. The interior trim is of far better quality than previous Hyundais although the sliver painted plastics aren’t the moist durable. Few owners are fans of the standard Kumho tyres, being rather noisy in the dry and none too grippy in the wet.

(approx based on a 2001Matrix 1.8 CDX) A clutch assembly will be around £140. A starter motor will be about £125. Brake pads front and rear are about £45 and £40 per pair respectively. A replacement headlamp is close to £145.

The driving position is good, and the wheel is pleasantly upright, unlike in many small MPVs which make steering feel like opening a lock gate. Likewise the driving position is pleasantly relaxed, and the pedals are well spaced. The windscreen pillars don’t contain any airbags and, as a consequence, are relatively slim, such that you’ll probably be more likely to avoid an accident on a bend or roundabout in the first instance. Should you need to stop, the brakes are well up to the task, although they require quite a stomp to get maximum effect. Three engines are on offer, a 106bhp 1.6-litre unit that would have difficulty pulling an amorous shihtzu off your leg plus a 132bhp 1.8 that’s infinitely preferable. A 75bhp 1.5-litre diesel is also available should you want superior fuel economy. The manual gearbox offered requires a firm hand, and while neither engine is particularly unobtrusive, the 1.8 at least can turn in some reasonable performance figures, reaching 60mph in around 11 seconds before throwing in the towel at around 112mph. Both engines return good fuel figures, the 1.6-litre unit averaging 35.3mpg whilst the 1.8 ekes an impressive 33.2 miles out of every gallon. Being based on the Elantra platform, the Matrix rides well and makes all sorts of sense in town, as the turning circle is almost comically tiny and the steering is light and direct. It may lack feedback, but if you want a driver’s car for the family, you’ll need to fork out a heck of a lot more to get behind the wheel of a low mileage Honda Stream.

A used Hyundai Matrix makes a lot of sense if you want a low-mileage, modern mini-MPV that doesn’t look as if you’ve set out your stall in the bargain basement. With neat styling and reasonable versatility, the Matrix has a fair bit going for it. Other rivals possess cleverer multi-passenger seating systems and others are better to drive, but at this price point no other used mini-MPV gets near the Matrix as an ownership proposition.

WHAT IS THE MATRIX?
You Might Well Ask. It’s Hyundai’s First Mini MPV, Tested Here In 1.6-Litre Guise. How Does It Fare In A Fast Moving Market Sector? Andy Enright Reports…

Whilst sales of long leather coats may have gone through the roof post ‘The Matrix’, the only long thing visible after the launch of the Hyundai Matrix were the faces of rival manufacturer’s product bosses. Hyundai had done it again. They’d managed to bring a credible rival to a booming market sector late albeit at a bargain price. Whilst they tend to score nil points for trailblazing originality, you can’t fault their technical merit. The 1.6-litre GSi version of the Matrix represents the most affordable option of all, and therefore probably the most attractive model. How does it stack up?

It certainly has price on its side. Opening at just £11,022, the Matrix 1.6 undercuts many direct rivals and even finds itself pitched in with smaller cars like the Toyota Yaris Verso. In order to get a 1.6-litre engine under the bonnet of a Renault Scenic, you’ll need to find another £3,000 and even Citroen’s popular C4 Picasso would cost an extra £2,500. When you consider that many mini-MPVs are bought out of necessity rather than on any consideration of dynamic merit, the Matrix 1.6 suddenly looks as if it’s holding a handful of aces. Only models like the Kia Carens or the Chevrolet Tacuma offer a more aggressive value proposition. Despite the nature of the market, the styling of the Matrix may well swing it for some. Designed by Pininfarina, it’s a neat job. Although you wouldn’t identify it as the high point in the portfolio of a styling house that has brought us the Ferrari 355, the Alfa Romeo Duetto and the Peugeot 406 Coupe it’s nevertheless a distinctive effort. That rather odd window line is a novelty and acts as a neat signature touch. It certainly makes an interesting visual hook, something that will make the Matrix easily identifiable in a crop of lookalike egg-shaped rivals.

"The Matrix 1.6 GSi suddenly looks as if it’s holding a handful of aces."

The front end is somewhat anonymous, looking all-too similar to a Premacy, a Space Star or any other Far Eastern mini-MPV that drifts aimlessly to mind. The rear is far sharper with some neatly bevelled planes that catch the light in interesting ways and would look great with a mica ‘flip’ paint job. Inside, the Matrix continues the slightly left-field styling theme with centrally mounted instruments which, although angled toward the driver, require some effort to read quickly and the overall feel is of a number of good ideas stunted due to cost considerations. Nevertheless, the Matrix features a befuddling array of storage boxes, cubbies, shelves and pockets to the extent that finding a casually secreted key, card or banknote can be the work of several minutes. The GSi trim level is notably generous and includes a standard CD player, air conditioning, alloy wheels and twin front and side airbags. All for £11,022. Beggars belief. Unlike many of the more smugly self-congratulatory offerings in the mini-MPV sector, the Matrix only boasts five seats, but this in itself is no great drawback. The rear seats slide and with a 60/40 split can be folded double. Unfortunately they can’t be removed, which limits the Matrix’s ultimate carrying capacity, but even with the seats in place you’ll get more useable boot space than you’ll probably need. Although it looks tiny outside, with its diminutive wheels and miniaturised detailing, the Matrix is, in fact, bigger than a Renault Scenic inside. With a 2600mmm wheelbase and a width of 1740mm it ‘s one of the biggest cars in the class. Break out the tape measure and you’ll find your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Matrix is just 4025mm long, which makes it a good 11 cm shorter than a Scenic and over a foot shorter than a Zafira. The driving position is good, and the wheel is pleasantly upright, unlike in many small MPVs which make steering feel like opening a lock gate. Likewise the driving position is pleasantly relaxed, and the pedals are well spaced. The windscreen pillars don’t contain any airbags and, as a consequence, are relatively slim, such that you’ll probably be more likely to avoid an accident on a bend or roundabout in the first instance. Should you need to stop, the brakes are well up to the task, although they require quite a stomp to get maximum effect. The 106bhp 1.6-litre engine isn’t the car’s best point, being rather thrashy when worked hard. Unfortunately, that will mean most of the time when the Matrix is fully loaded. Fortunately the standard fit stereo isn’t bad, so you may want to drown out the sound of cams, kids and companion with a few well-intentioned watts. Bear in mind that you’ll probably need to shift down into fourth or even third gear to effect any A-road overtaking manoeuvres as there’s not a huge amount of torque on offer to drive the tall fifth gear. Still, should you wish to put the pedal to the metal, the Matrix 1.6 will get to 60mph in an entirely reasonable 12 seconds and on to a top speed of 105mph. Fuel economy is a bonus, with 35.3mpg readily attainable. Being based on the Elantra platform, the Matrix rides well and makes all sorts of sense in town, as the turning circle is almost comically tiny and the steering is light and direct. It may lack feedback, but if you want a driver’s car for the family, you’ll need to fork out a heck of a lot more than £12,000 to get behind the wheel of a Vauxhall Zafira VXR. Truth be told, few prospective customers will place driver feedback anywhere near the top of their priority lists. In all of the areas that really matter, the Matrix 1.6 looks to have covered its bases very well. In a way it takes a good deal of corporate faith to enter a market as obsessed with packaging miracles with none to speak of. The Matrix 1.6 singularly lacks the sort of showroom wow factor that the Vauxhall Zafira’s Flex 7 seating system or the Fiat Multipla’s three abreast arrangement can generate and do you know what? It’s all the better because of it. There’s a refreshing honesty about the Matrix, a feeling of ‘what you see is what you get’. The 1.6-litre version is perhaps the most compelling choice of the range, especially for price conscious customers, as with some of the more upmarket Matrix variants, customers are tempted by base model offerings from the European elite. It’s also one of the few inexpensive cars that contrives never to feel cheap. It’s well worth £11,000 of anyone’s money.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Hyundai Matrix 1.6 GSi PRICES: £11,022 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 7 CO2 EMISSIONS: 191g/km / E PERFORMANCE: 0-60 mph 12s / Max Speed 106 mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 27.5 (extra urban) 42.8 (combined) 35.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, twin front and side airbags. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE: Length/Width/Heightmm 4025/1740/1625

YOUR CHANCE TO STAR IN THE MATRIX
Hyundai’s Take On The Mini-MPV Is A Creditable Effort. Andy Enright Reports…

In the big league of mini-MPVs, the Citroen Picasso is still the Manchester United to the Renault Scenic’s Chelsea with the Vauxhall Zafira acting up an Arsenal role to keep them honest. Mid-table respectability beckons for the Mazda5, Toyota Verso and the Honda FR-V, while the Kia Carens adopts a perpetual lowly position, somehow avoiding relegation by the skin of its teeth. Relative newcomers to the top flight, Hyundai have a tough task on their hands with the Matrix. Champions League or Korean penalty box? The dividing line is thin…

It’s a distinctive effort, the Pininfarina-designed Matrix. That rather odd window line is a novelty and tends to divide opinion amongst those who sample it, ranging from the derogatory "It looks like it’s suffered some structural subsidence" to the complimentary "Neat – a wild west saloon." It certainly makes an interesting visual hook, something that makes the Matrix easily identifiable in a crop of lookalike egg-shaped rivals. The front end is somewhat anonymous, looking all-too similar to a Premacy, a Mitsubishi Space Star or any other Far Eastern mini-MPV that drifts aimlessly to mind. The rear is far sharper, with some neatly bevelled planes that catch the light in interesting ways and would look great with a mica ‘flip’ paint job. Inside, the Matrix continues the slightly left-field styling theme with centrally mounted instruments which, although angled toward the driver, require some effort to read quickly and the overall feel is of a number of good ideas stunted due to cost considerations. Nevertheless, the Matrix features a befuddling array of storage boxes, cubbies, shelves and pockets to the extent that finding a casually secreted key/card/Ginster’s Buffet Bar can be the work of several minutes.

"Although it looks tiny outside, with its diminutive wheels and miniaturised detailing, the Matrix is, in fact, bigger than a Renault Scenic inside."

Unlike many of the more smugly self-congratulatory offerings in the mini-MPV sector, the Matrix only boasts five seats, but this in itself is no great drawback. The rear seats slide and with a 60/40 split can be folded double. Unfortunately they can’t be removed, which limits the Matrix’s ultimate carrying capacity, but even with the seats in place, you’ll get more useable boot space than you’ll probably need. Although it looks tiny outside, with its diminutive wheels and miniaturised detailing, the Matrix is, in fact, bigger than a Renault Scenic inside. With a 2600mmm wheelbase and a width of 1740mm it ‘s one of the biggest cars in the class. Break out the tape measure and you’ll find your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Matrix is just 4025mm long, which makes it a good 11 cm shorter than a Scenic and over a foot shorter than a Zafira. The driving position is good, and the wheel is pleasantly upright, unlike in many small MPVs which make steering feel like opening a lock gate. Likewise the driving position is pleasantly relaxed, and the pedals are well spaced. The windscreen pillars don’t contain any airbags and, as a consequence, are relatively slim, such that you’ll probably be more likely to avoid an accident on a bend or roundabout in the first instance. Should you need to stop, the brakes are well up to the task, although they require quite a stomp to get maximum effect. Two engines are on offer, a 106bhp 1.6-litre unit that would have difficulty pulling an amorous shihtzu off your leg plus a 75bhp 1.5-litre diesel should you want superior fuel economy. The manual gearbox offered requires a firm hand but there is an automatic option with the petrol model. Both engines return good fuel figures, the 1.6-litre unit averaging 35.3mpg whilst the 1.5 CRTD ekes an impressive 52 miles out of every gallon. Being based on the Elantra platform, the Matrix rides well and makes all sorts of sense in town, as the turning circle is almost comically tiny and the steering is light and direct. It may lack feedback, but if you want a driver’s car for the family, you’ll need to fork out a heck of a lot more than £12,000 to get behind the wheel of a Zafira VXR. Hyundai is being somewhat bullish about the Matrix and aims to shift around 2000 units per year. Pricewise it measures up quite well, with the 1.6 weighing in at £11,022 and the 1.5 diesel at £11,707. This puts it in uncomfortably close proximity to the entry-level Scenic and Zafira models, with genuine character in the shape of the Fiat Multipla not too far distant. As such, the Matrix is going to face a tough task establishing itself as a permanent fixture on the mini-MPV market, as many people are willing to accept less engine and less trim for a more mainstream badge. The Matrix isn’t a bad first stab. The 1.5-litre diesel engine gives the range broader appeal than some, but it’s difficult to see it making the grade against the usual mini-MPV suspects. It scores in plenty of areas, but isn’t quite polished enough to challenge the league leaders. Nevertheless, of all the budget offerings out there, the Matrix is probably the top of the pile. As the next logical step up from the burgeoning array of van-based MPVs out there, the Matrix makes a lot of sense. Maybe the Hyundai marketing department aren’t the hopeless optimists we at first thought…

Facts At A Glance CAR: Hyundai Matrix range PRICES: £11,022 - £11,707 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-9 CO2 EMISSIONS: 158-205g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.6] 0-60 mph 12.7s / Max Speed 106 mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.5 CRTD] (combined) 52mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front & side airbags / ABS WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE: Length/Width/Heightmm 4025/1740/1625

SEOUL POWER
The 1.5 Litre Diesel Engine Fitted To The Hyundai Matrix Makes It A Decent Compromise Between Parsimony And Panache. Andy Enright Reports…

Pininfarina. The word alone conjures up impossibly romantic images, of chilly blue skied mornings outside the Ferrari factory waiting for the first drive in a voluptuous supercar, of Turin café society, extravagantly outrageous show cars, and the concept of car design being the new rock’n’roll. It doesn’t mean diesel Korean mini-MPVs to most people, but what are perceptions if not to be challenged? Keep an open mind and the Hyundai Matrix 1.5 TD GSi could well strike a chord with those looking to get more for their money in a notoriously overpriced market sector.

It’s doubtful that the Matrix will challenge the Ferrari 355, the Alfa Romeo Spider or the Peugeot 406 Coupe as the studio’s poster children, but it’s nevertheless a distinctive effort. That rather odd window line is a novelty and divided opinion amongst those who sampled it, ranging from the derogatory "It looks like it’s suffered some structural subsidence" to the complimentary "Neat – a wild west saloon." It certainly makes an interesting visual hook, something that will make the Matrix easily identifiable in a crop of lookalike egg-shaped rivals. The front end is somewhat anonymous, looking all-too similar to any other Far Eastern mini-MPV that drifts aimlessly to mind. The rear is far sharper with some neatly bevelled planes that catch the light in interesting ways and would look great with a mica ‘flip’ paint job. Inside, the Matrix continues the slightly left-field styling theme with centrally mounted instruments which, although angled toward the driver, require some effort to read quickly and the overall feel is of a number of good ideas stunted due to cost considerations. Nevertheless, the Matrix features a befuddling array of storage boxes, cubbies, shelves and pockets to the extent that finding a casually secreted key/card/Ginster’s Buffet Bar can be the work of several minutes.

"Although it looks tiny outside, with its diminutive wheels and miniaturised detailing, the Matrix is, in fact, bigger than a Renault Scenic inside."

Unlike many of the more smugly self-congratulatory offerings in the mini-MPV sector, the Matrix only boasts five seats, but this in itself is no great drawback. The rear seats slide and with a 60/40 split can be folded double. Unfortunately they can’t be removed, which limits the Matrix’s ultimate carrying capacity, but even with the seats in place you’ll get more useable boot space than you’ll probably need. Although it looks tiny outside, with its diminutive wheels and miniaturised detailing, the Matrix is, in fact, bigger than a Renault Scenic inside. With a 2600mmm wheelbase and a width of 1740mm it ‘s one of the biggest cars in the class. Break out the tape measure and you’ll find your eyes aren’t deceiving you. The Matrix is just 4025mm long, which makes it a good 20cm shorter than a Scenic and over a foot shorter than a Zafira. The driving position is good, and the wheel is pleasantly upright, unlike in many small MPVs which make steering feel like opening a lock gate. Likewise the driving position is pleasantly relaxed, and the pedals are well spaced. The windscreen pillars don’t contain any airbags and, as a consequence, are relatively slim, such that you’ll probably be more likely to avoid an accident on a bend or roundabout in the first instance. Should you need to stop, the brakes are well up to the task, although they require quite a stomp to get maximum effect. The 81bhp 1.5-litre engine isn’t the quietest unit you’ll ever hear, having something of an old-school death rattle on start up, but it soon settles into a reasonably agreeable thrum. As with any turbo diesel, torque is a big plus, the 180Nm making it by far the most muscular of the three Matrix models. Peak power is developed at 4000rpm – pretty high for a diesel – although the torque band is sufficiently wide that you won’t feel the need to stretch the engine that far too often. It’s a decidedly unusual engine, one of very few mass-produced common-rail three-cylinder diesel and its all Hyundai’s own work. The manual gearbox offered requires a firm hand, but if you’ve the mechanical sympathy of a demolition derby driver you can hurry the TD GSi to 60mph in a yawnsome 17.7 seconds. The magical 100mph barrier remains resolutely unmolested by Matrix diesel drivers, the little Hyundai running out of steam at 99.4mph. The flipside of the leisurely performance is an average fuel consumption of over 47mpg with over 37mpg being easily attainable around town. Being based on the Elantra platform, the Matrix rides well and makes all sorts of sense in town, as the turning circle is almost comically tiny and the steering is light and direct. It may lack feedback, but if you want a driver’s car for the family, you’ll need to fork out a heck of a lot more than £12,000. Technically intriguing yet managing to disguise the areas where costs have been cut, the Matrix TD GSi is refreshingly different from the mini-MPV norm. Let’s just hope it’s not too different for the conservative UK buyers to get their heads round.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Hyundai Matrix TD GSi PRICE: £11,707 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 6 CO2 EMISSIONS: 158g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60 mph 17.7s / Max Speed 99.4mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (Urban) 37.2 (Extra Urban) 56.5 (Combined) 47.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS with EBD, twin front and side airbags WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE: Length/Width/Heightmm 4025/1740/1625