Revised Posts

Will add HP and Torque numbers to "facts/figures" in each review

I know that I said I would keep the reviews simple and to the point, with not a lot of numbers and figures. But I do feel that other people besides myself like to compare all the numbers so I will be adding the max HP and torque numbers to all the reviews.

I will also add them to the large comparison chart that will be coming soon. This chart will allow you to very quickly and easily compare the raw facts and numbers of each of the cars reviewed in their class with each other. 

J.K.

2012-15 Kia Rio & Rio5 Review *Extended Drive Update!*

Kia's smallest cars punch above class level

The Rio and Rio5 are Kia's equivalent to the Hyundai Accent, but they seem to offer a bit more...

Redesigned in 2011 for the 2012 year, the Rio and its hatchback version called the Rio5 are Kia's versions of the Hyundai Accent sedan and hatchback. They are Kia's smallest and least expensive cars sold in North America. Since 2010, Kia has really tried to distance itself from Hyundai by designing their cars with more sporty looks and offering even more features compared to Hyundai's more elegant and luxurious designs. Are the new edgy looks and added features enough to make people switch to Kia?

Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Kia Rio comes in sedan and hatchback form, which they call the Rio 5 to reference the 5 doors. It only comes with one engine, a 1.6L 4 cylinder. The transmissions are either a 6 speed manual or a 6 speed auto. 

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

The Rios certainly do look cool on the outside. With large wheels and lights combined with the aggressive stance, they look quite sporty. I'm not a fan of the very wide grill look, with either the black or chrome trim (it sort of looks like a clown with the added makeup on). The wheel choices are pretty cool though unfortunately, the larger 17-inch ones look a bit too large for a car this small. An interesting thing is that in Canada and in Europe you can get 15, 16, or 17 inch wheels while in the US you can only get 15 or 17 inch. One thing that is noticeable is that the windows are pretty small and high up. This aids with the sporty looks but will hamper visibility later.
Going inside, the sporty looks continue. While the materials are mostly hard and or shiny plastics they are put together well and it looks good. The front dash and console have a simple layout with both the regular and upgraded radio trims. It also has two cool features. Some of the air controls are like toggle switches (sort of like the Mini) and there is a small square opening in the dash with a rubberized bottom. While this spot could be handy for your cell phone, it almost is promoting having the phone at an easy reach, which to me seems like a bad idea for drivers... The overall lines of the front are solid and smooth, very well put together-looking. The seats are good, but for how sporty the car looks they could be a bit more supportive. There is OK head and leg-room up front. The standard comes with 4 speakers but any trim besides the base comes with 6 speakers and they sound great. The mid trim levels come with heated seats and an Eco setting which I will discuss later. It comes in a black / grey cloth, a beige leather, chocolate brown leather, or black leather interior. I think the beige or chocolate interiors are actually very nice looking for this car.
Take a look inside:

Its looking good up front but going back a row, its a different story. The sedan has not so good headroom; the hatchback is fine. But legroom isn't the greatest sitting behind myself and for some reason Kia thought it would be a good idea to add hard plastic backs to these seats, meaning any extra room you could get by putting your knees into the seat are gone. Visibility isn't the greatest either due to large head restraints (there is no center one though) and in the hatchback the rear corner pillars are huge meaning a large blind spot for lane changes. Visibility is actually a  bit better in the sedan.

Getting to the trunks. The sedan has adequate trunk space and a good sized pass through. The hatchback is obviously more versatile with much more room. However, a warning to new time drivers: these cars do not come with a spare tire. In Kia's wisdom they thought that the slight weight they save with no spare is that much better for fuel efficiency and they only supply a tire repair kit. I find this very stupid for a number of reasons. First, if your tire has more than just a very small hole this kit doesn't work. Second, after one or two uses you need to replace the kit, a spare can be used a number of times. Third, Kia has a longer roadside and warranty period than most other brands, so they figure most people will just use that. I believe that most people will more likely want the faster and easier way to get going again rather than waiting for a dedicated company to come find them and fix whatever the problem may be.

Driving Impressions:

Even though the Rio and Rio5 are based on the Hyundai Accent, they do behave differently. First off, yes the engine is the same and it does feel a bit under-powered. However, there seems to be more sound insulation because the engine is noticeably quieter in all situations. 

Let's start with the shape and size. Since the Rio is so short with a stubby nose and rear it is very easy to maneuver in parking lots and tight streets. Unfortunately it doesn't have the best turning circle due to the option of huge tires. Even in the mid-trim a backup camera is available, which is certainly needed in the hatchback due to the large blind spot created by the rear pillars. The sedan has a high trunk so visibility isn't much better out the back. A nice touch is a small window in front of the mirrors that gives you a view of what is near the front to the sides.

While driving, the engine is nice and quiet except under hard acceleration. In the city it works well to keep up with traffic and zip around, however out on the highway it does seem to need a bit more. It does have a manual shift gate for the auto which is fun to use sometimes.

A cool feature of the Rios is the Eco button on the mid and upper trim levels. This button actively changes the way the car drives. It delays and pulls back throttle input, so if you step on the gas after a light instead of shooting off and revving high, it forces the engine to rev up slowly and change gears quicker. While this may seem a bit annoying at first, it's actually very helpful and nice to have on the highway. See, the Eco button can only dumb down the throttle response so much, so if you really push hard you can get it to cut out fairly easily. This is nice to do on the highway because if you need to overtake a car or something, instead of stepping on the gas and hearing the engine killing itself trying to find enough power and high revs for the first second or two, it holds back. In this brief moment the car does start to pick up speed and then you instinctively let off a bit, this means once the Eco setting is surpassed, the engine and revs don't shoot up as high as they otherwise would have. It just gets a bit of getting used to, but I would drive with it on the whole time. On the upper trim levels this Eco setting goes one step further with idle engine shut off, turning off the engine when idling at lights or in traffic and turning it back on automatically. The Rio doesn't make too much wind noise on the highway, and with smaller tires it's good, however, the large 17 inch tires do mean you hear and feel a lot more while driving.

So, not bad for a small car, could use a bit more power, but at least the engine isn't super loud. 

Overall:

I would say that the Kia Rio is an on-par pick against the Accent. It really depends on what your preferences are. Are you looking for more elegant designs and more space? Or are you looking for a sporty car with cool features and less space? The Rio unfortunately has the added downfall of the lack of a spare tire. As they are otherwise the same car, you can expect good quality and reliability from the Rio. A plus is you can expect to find used Rios at a better price than the Accents due to the still perceived quality difference most people still have. It wouldn't be bad for a second car or a smaller person's first car. Personally, I wouldn't pick it over the Accent due to not liking the outside look too much.  However, I assume that most people may like the look.

Extended drive update:

I was visiting family in Winnipeg over the holidays and decided to rent a car for the few days I would be there. Being basically the cheapest option I chose the Rio 5. After driving it for a few days in a row, in very cold temperatures I can now give a slightly better picture of the car as a daily driver. 

On uneven roads the car is very rough and bumpy sending jolts up your back. There is a lot of tire noise on the highway, even on the smaller 15 or 16 inch wheels. The visibility for driving through he city and dealing with people walking around the car in parking lots is awful in almost every direction, the front due to the front glass being so far forward, the back because of the small window and the sides to due to small windows and thick pillars. The trunk is quite small and truly only fits about 3 small suitcases when the seats are up. The radio and speaker system is pretty weak and the EQ controls are not easy to find. It is however, really easy to maneuver into tight parking spots ( good for parallel parking) and the heat, defog, and heated seats come on fast and warm. Also, even with two people and a bit of junk in the trunk (I'm hilarious, I know...) after 4 days of pretty constant city driving we only used about 1/2 a tank of gas. The temperatures were also a constant -28C. So as a daily driver would I pick this car, no. But it did serve as a very good rental car. 

Facts/ Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $19,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 27 city, 36 highway

Cargo room (approx*): 14 (16/49) CuFt

Length: 172'' (160")

Width: 68'' (68")

Tank Size (gal): 11.4

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 353

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $12,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
Kia Canada

Kia USA

Enjoy!

Please leave a comment or follow me.

J.K.

Car Talk 101 Transmissions

Types of Transmissions

There are many different types of transmissions; here is a brief explanation of the major ones.

Please remember that I am in no way an expert. These are just simplified explanations and any videos that I have links to are not mine and any credit should be given to those who made them. 

Manual:

This can either be a 5, 6, or even a 7 speed transmission (trans). Manual transmissions use 3 pedals; a gas, a brake, and a clutch. Instead of the car going from each gear by itself, the driver has to physically push the trans into a new gear by using the clutch pedal and the shifter. It can be tricky for some as while you change the gears you also need to make sure the engine revolutions (revs) are in the right area. So basically you start off in first gear, you accelerate, then once the revs get close to the higher end you ease off on the gas. You press down on the clutch, move the shifter into the second gear and slowly take your foot off the clutch while keeping the gas pedal steady so when the new gear connects the engine doesn't spin too slow and stall. Manual transmissions are usually better in situations where you need complete control over the engine and wheel speed, such as in snowy or wet conditions, going off-road, racing, or towing. There can also be what is called a sequential manual, which means that you can only shift up or down one gear at a time, so you cannot skip from 4th to 1st. These are usually used in racing. Here is a link to a video that should help explain it:

Manual Transmissions

Most transmission are based of the manual trans style.

Automatic (auto):

These are basically like the manual trans but instead of there being a clutch pedal it is all controlled by a computer system. The car will shift automatically up and down based on gas input and the overall speed of the car. They can be had with 4,5,6,7, or even 8 speeds. These are the easiest systems to use as everything is basically done for you, all you do is put it in drive and it does the rest.

There are also what people call a semi-automatic trans. This is a normal auto trans but it has the option for drivers to manual select the gears usually with the shifter, buttons, or paddles on the steering wheel. In this case the manual selection works like a sequential manual. Most auto cars now have this feature.

Dual Clutch Transmissions:

I had briefly covered this in the VW posts. In short they are like having 2 manual trans in one system. They use 2 clutches, one for the odd numbered gears and one for the even number. Essentially while one gear is currently being used, the next gear is also pre-engaged. This allows for much faster and smoother gear shifts. These trans are usually automated so there is no clutch pedal, they also usually have a manual shift option. These transmissions work very well and fast and give the cars a sporty feel. 

Continually Variable Transmissions (CVTs):

I have also briefly explained this as well in a previous post. A CVT does not have any gears or clutch; they usually just consist of either a rubber or chain belt and two pulleys. These pulleys usually usually consist of 2 cones that make an hourglass shape. The cones can then be pushed closer together or father apart, this action essentially makes the part of the pulley where the belt is going around larger or smaller. With this action the CVT can essentially have an infinite set of gear ratios, but in a lot of car manufacturers they will have preset spots for the CVT to stop that simulate normal gears that can then be selected through the shifter like an automated manual. CVTs tend to be louder than normal transmissions due to their main strengths. CVTs are great at keeping an engine constantly running at either its peak power or its peak efficiency areas. This means while accelerating the engine will be at a constant higher RPM than normal ones that have to go through gears, this constant drone can be quite loud and annoying for smaller less powerful engines, unless ample sound insulation in included. Another great thing about CVTs are that they are much lighter due to fewer parts and they are more simple meaning less to break and go wrong or less top fix if something does. CVTs will eventually take the place of conventional auto trans. Nissan was really the first big manufacturer to implement CVTs into a number of their models but currently Honda and Subaru seem to make the best ones.

Electric Motors:

In most electric cars they don't have transmission due to electric motors being variable both in speed and torque based on how much power is given to them. This is a great advantage meaning they can save weight which will eventually be taken up by batteries. 

Who knows what type will come next?

Hope you enjoyed this little info post, I will try to include a few more on things like HP vs. Torque, different types of driving wheels, and who knows...

If you have any suggestions please leave a comment and/or follow! 

J.K.

2011-15 Ford Fiesta Review

The Fiesta has finally made it to North America!

This is one of the most popular cars in Europe and there are good reasons for it.

For those of you that know me, I have never really been a big fan of Ford cars (except for the old Mustangs, the Ford GT, and old Thunderbirds) but this Fiesta may have just won some respect back from me. The Ford Fiesta has been sold in Europe and other countries around the world since the late 1970's and it was finally brought to North America in late 2010 for the 2011 year. It is Ford's smallest and least expensive car in the North American line-up trying to truly compete against other subcompacts and fuel efficient cars like the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and Hyundai Accent. The Fiesta had a face-lift in 2013, which is the one in the pictures. 

Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Ford Fiesta comes in a wide variety of styles and engines globally, but I will just focus on the North American models. It comes as a regular sedan or a 5 door hatchback. It comes with either a 1.6L 4 cylinder, 1.0L 3 cylinder "Ecoboost" turbo, or a 1.6L 4 cylinder "Ecoboost" engine. Transmission choices are either a 5 speed manual (only trans available on the 1.0L) or a 6 speed auto ( which is very similar to VW's DSG auto) and finally a 6 speed manual for the ST's 1.6L "Ecoboost" engine.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

Starting with the outside, this is a smart looking car. It has good proportions and lines, however, from some angles the sedan actually looks very small (smaller than it is). It looks a bit bulgy and too large in some spots like the trunk area. The hatchback on the other hand looks good from every angle and when you upgrade to the sporty ST version it looks fantastic. A surprising thing I found out was how tall the Fiesta is compared to its larger sibling the Focus, this of course it to maximize the possible interior space due to its small length and width. The Fiesta comes in a variety of fun colours including bright green, blue, and orange.

Going inside the Fiesta keeps things  surprising with a very modern and nice looking interior. The materials look and feel nice available in either black or grey cloth or leather, or coloured leather (ST trims). The front dash looks very modern and high tech. They all come with Ford's "Sync" system which allows you to control just about everything from the radio to calling people just by your voice. I didn't really get a chance to test this feature extensively but I have heard very mixed reviews about it. Apparently the older systems were almost unusable but the newer system is much better. If you like that sort of thing I guess that's a nice touch but I prefer a simpler system. Of course touch screens are optional but when you do add it, you lose a lot of easy functionality. The Fiesta and presumably all Fords have an optional feature called "My Key" which allows you to set and lock certain setting for when others drive the car, like speed, volume, and warning messages for fuel and seat belts. This could be a great feature if the car is also being used by new drivers. Another bonus is the great sound system with 6 standard speakers!

Take a look:

So the inside looks pretty great. How does it feel? Pretty great. It has a high roof line so you can sit upright and the front drivers chair can be pumped up quite a bit. It goes without saying that I fit quite well up front with plenty of head room, and a decent amount of leg room. The car is quite narrow so elbows may bump into the passenger if you are both larger people. The seats are quite comfy with plenty of support for both city and long distance drives. Moving to the back seat, the comfort continues with plenty of headroom due to the high bubble-like roof line in both the sedan and the hatchback. as it is a small and relatively short car, the rear seat leg-room isn't the best and as I sat behind myself my knees were pressing against the chair, not as much as other cars but others still had better room. As the chair backs are soft this isn't a major issue for short drives, but I wouldn't want to be back there behind a tall person for long drives. 

Now I will give a hand to Ford as they seem to be the only other car company out there (besides Honda) that realizes that people don't want to have to take out their rear seat head restraints just to have a good view out the back. So instead of them sitting flush with the seat back like in the Honda Fit, there is a button on the head restraints that allows you to tilt them forward enough that they appear to be flush with the seat back when looking into the rear view mirror. So good job Ford, you win my small hatchback respect!


Finally, trunk space in the sedan is not the best as it is quite a small car, but the hatchback and its more versatile layout will allow for much more and much larger items. The only downside is that the back seats don't fold flat so the loading area is not a long flat surface.

Driving Impressions:

I was only able to try the Fiesta with the 1.6L 4 cylinder, so I will only be able to say how this one drives.
I have heard that the 1.6L "Ecoboost" is actually quite fun with plenty of power to fling you around. As the 1.0L 3 cylinder turbo is new there is not much info on how it drives but as it only has 3 cylinders I can say with some certainty that it will not be very smooth compared to others. 
Back to the regular 1.6L Fiesta, it keeps surprising me. Other subcompacts usually feel under powered and the engine is loud under hard acceleration and at most times on the highway, but not the Fiesta. Yes, it could have done with more power, but that's what the ST trim is for. What really impressed me was how quiet it was during all points. Quiet at idle, good at city speeds and highway cruising, the only time it made a fuss was under hard acceleration, but it had a nice sound too, not like an over sized lawnmower working hard but it sounded like a much larger engine. The auto uses the same dual clutch system as the VWs so the shifts are fast and when the shifter is put into "S" it stay in gear longer to really launch you off the line. 
It is quiet and smooth, soaking up most bumps, but it has a more sport tuned suspension so on larger bumps it feels stiff. The upside is that handling is great, it feels very composed going around corners with little lean. 
The Fiesta has plenty of pep for city driving and it does seem to still have enough juice to make confident passes on the highway (with no other passengers). 
Due to the high roof line and large windows visibility is quite good in all directions especially in the hatchback. It does however have rather thick front pillars so the little windows in the front corners of the dash are basically useless. Due to its small dimensions parking lots and narrow roads are easy to maneuver around with the Fiesta. Overall this is a very nice little car to drive around. 

Overall:

Once again I can't believe that I'm typing this but, good job Ford! The Fiesta is a fantastic little car. It looks great, it feels great, there is plenty of head and legroom for 4 normal sized adults. It has a nice modern/ sporty looking interior with a great sound system. The ride and performance is quite good for a car this size and it only gets better with the upgraded engines and trims. This is definitely a recommended pick for a first time buyer or as a fun second car in the family. It can be had for a good price new or used which help with its budget friendly-ness. The only downsides are that it is a Ford car, and they are known to have false economy numbers and once again because it is a Ford they are known to now have as high quality standards compared to Asian or German cars. However, this is a "global" car meaning the standards are higher and because they are actually manufactured else where the quality is higher as well. So, even though it is a Ford, the Fiesta is definitely a good pick for a new budget car.

Facts / Figures:

Price ( for the mid trim level): $20,000+

FWD

MPG (aprox*): 30 city /40 hwy

Cargo room (aprox*):  13 (15/27) CuFt trunk

Length: 174" (160")

Width: 68" (68")

Tank size (gal): 12.4

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 434
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $11,000+

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links: 

Ford Canada

Ford USA

Please leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions on any of the reviews.

J.K.

2015 Nissan Micra Review

Nissan's not so new Micra is now being sold in North America ( Canada only)

Nissan knows Canadians like small frugal cars so its only being sold here, and that's fantastic!

Car companies are finally starting to realize that the Canadian and American car markets are quite different. We love diesels and small hatchbacks up here in "The Great White North" while down south they care for larger more powerful cars. To get back on track, the Nissan Micra is a 2015 car that has been sold for most of 2014 in Canada. It is a subcompact hatchback that is a competitor to the Toyota Yaris and Mitsubishi Mirage. This car is really trying to show you how little you have to pay for a decent ride. Its one of the least expensive cars you can buy in Canada and I gotta say, it actually looks sorta "cute". 

Take a look:

Different Styles:

The Nissan Micra is only available as a small 5 door hatchback. It only has a 1.6L 4 cylinder engine and either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed auto. The base model is pretty bare bones ( no power windows or locks) so most people will be buying the mid and upper trim.

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

I'm not gonna lie, I like the outside look of this little car. There is just something fun and quirky about these tiny cars, like the Mini and Mitsubishi Mirage. Because it has such small dimensions it has to be very upright and "bubbly" looking. I think that all the dimensions and features for the Micra are perfectly sized and everything works well. The wheels in the very corners give the car a somewhat sporty look and it looks very planted on the ground. You can get some fun paint jobs like a strip down the side or different colored mirrors and handles. From certain angles and with certain paint jobs the Micra has a similar look to the Fiat 500. The wheels are sized well and look good. It has a large front two level grill, very different from the almost non-existent grill for the Mitsubishi Mirage. The hatch spoiler also helps with the sporty look and really works well.
Going inside is a slightly different story. In common Nissan fashion they have decided that a less is better approach as just like the Versa it is quite plain with many hard plastics. The difference is, this is more expected for a car at this price point and it actually works pretty well.
Here is a fun fact, both the Nissan Micra and the Versa Note are the exact same except the Versa Note is a bit longer, wider, taller and have an optional CVT. Otherwise they use the same engine and all the same interior materials.
Lets take a look inside:

As you can see it really does look the same as the Versa Note inside, but like I said, for a car in this segment at this price, this is acceptable. Its all dark greys and blacks with simple knobs and controls. Now for comfort. Im not going to lie, this is a small car, just like the Mitsubishi Mirage you do notice how small it really is. But they have done a good job to make the most of its dimensions by making it quite high. So I do just fit in the drivers seat with a comfortable driving position. In the back, not so much. I do still fit, which is impressive for a car this small ( once again, WTF Chevy Sonic?!) but my knees are touching the seat in front if it is in my driving position. There is no way you would want to put 3 people in the back seat, even if they were all small, its just a 2 person seat if you want them to not hate you. 
Finally the cargo space. With the seats up there is just enough room to fit a few carry-on sized suitcases. With the seats down it does offer a decent amount of space but the problem is the seats don't fold completely flat and the backs are not in line with the floor. So you don't have a flat loading space, once again very similar to the Mitsubishi Mirage.
Take a look:

Driving Impressions:

The interesting thing with the Micra is that it has the same engine as the Versa Note, but it has either a 5 speed manual or a 4 speed auto instead of the CVT. This means it actually has a much better power to weight ratio than the Versa Note and It does feel relatively peppy around town. Unfortunately due to the combination small engine and old 4 speed auto this does mean that the engine is loud under any sort of acceleration and it is just always noticeable on the highway. It is very close to how it drives as the Mitsubishi Mirage, but the Micra does have a bit more power and larger tires, so highway driving isn't as terrifying. I really hope they come out with a turbo version of the Micra as that could be really fun. During city coasting it is quiet and feels very planted and in control, but due to its "bubbly" shape, wind noise is a problem on the highway. As this is a very small and economical car it is expected to not be super fun to drive, but Nissan has done a good job with the Micra by giving it a wide stance and large tires so you can push the limits a bit, no matter how low those limits already are. Visibility is pretty good in all directions thanks to large windows. Like other subcompact cars that expect only 2 people to ever sit in the back, it only has two rear seat head restraints, unfortunately they are quite large and do get in the way a bit. Finally due to its tiny dimensions, the turning radius is great, you can easily turn around in the width of a narrow 2 way street. 

Overall:

This is a very small, slightly underpowered car. It has a plain and somewhat cheap interior. However, it is a great car for the price point it is in. This is one of the few cars out there that can show you what a great budget economy car can be. If you really only need a car for short commutes around town, but want it to look cool and funky on the outside (without a care for the inside) then this car will be perfect for you. The Nissan Micra would be a great second car for a small family living close to a large city, or as the first car for a new driver in the family. Once again I must point out that both the Micra and the Versa Note use the same engine and interior materials. Due to the lower price point and the better power to weight of the Micra, as well as the much better exterior style, Id have to say the Micra would get my vote almost any day. Unless you needed a car that could comfortably carry 4 or 5 people and a good bit of stuff, then the Versa Note would be a better choice. 

Facts / Figures:

Price ( for the mid trim level): $17,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 27 city /36 hwy

Cargo room (approx*): 14/30 CuFt trunk

Length: 151"

Width: 66"

Tank size (gal): 9.0

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 288
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $15,000+

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links: 

Nissan Canada

(not available in the USA)

Please leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions on any of the reviews.

J.K.

Gone for the Week

Off to England for a Week.

Hello Internet. 

I will be gone in England for a little vacation for the next week so I wont be able to post any reviews. I have one more to post tomorrow and then once I get back I need to drive more cars. So after tomorrow there may not be a new post for about 1.5 weeks. 

Feel free to leave any comments or suggestions on cars for me to review in the mean time.

J.K.

2009-14 Toyota Matrix Review

The Matrix is a hatchback version of the Corolla and a competitor to the Honda Fit

The sporty looking exterior is a bit misleading...

The second generation Toyota Matrix was introduced for the 2009 model year. The Matrix is truly a Canadian/ Japanese car as all Matrix's are manufactured in Ontario, Canada. The Matrix is only sold in North America, but as of 2013 it is no longer offered in the USA. It is essentially the hatchback version of the Corolla but they changed the name so people wouldn't think it was the same as the relatively plain Corolla. Toyota also had a deal with GM for a short period and when Pontiac was still a car company they sold the Matrix as the Pontiac Vibe. The Matrix is another one of those small cars that is supposed to try to be a great car for just about everyone, which works against it a bit. 

Lets take a look:

Different Styles:

The Toyota Matrix is only available as a 5 door tall hatchback. It is based off the previous generation Toyota Corolla ( 2008-13). It is offered with either a 1.8L 4 cylinder engine with a 5 speed manual or 4 speed auto transmission, and a 2.4L engine with a 5 speed manual or 5 speed auto. Something that sets the Matrix apart from other compact hatchbacks is the availability of AWD on the 2.4L engine. It also has a number of different wheel sizes. In 2013 along with its halt in sales for the USA, the 2.4L engine is dropped as well as the AWD option. 

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

This is a relatively large compact hatchback, and it is quite tall as well; which have its advantages and disadvantages. It has a sporty exterior design, and when you get up to the S trim package it looks very nice. The wheel styles and sizes work well with the car. It has sporty lines and all the edges and even the windows help make it look sporty. Also, the windows are a good size so visibility is decent in every direction except the back quarters, where they took out the previous generation Matrix's extra window and put an extra think support pillar, not cool Toyota... Overall, I like the look of the outside of the Matrix. 

Going to the inside, lets start with the good parts. The front seats are great. Due to the high roof-line and the ability to jack up the driver's seat a lot, you can almost get a SUV like sitting position. Overall the seats are decently supportive front and back. If the Matrix had a bit more sporty performance the seats should then be more supportive but with the dropping of the larger engine its not a problem. There is plenty of room in the back as well once again due to the high roof-line and the fact that this is a larger compact car. Visibility is great in most directions ( aided by the front seat) including a large rear window and rear seat head restraints that are not quite as large as competitors. 

lets take a look inside:

Now for some bad news, that you can probably tell from the pictures. The front dash is pathetic looking. Lots of hard grey and black plastic, in every trim. It looks and feels very cheap on the inside. ( like the 2009-14 Honda Fit) Another weird thing is the placement of the shifter. For the auto its fine, but its a little too high and a bit too much of a reach for the manual. That's it, its just plain and cheap inside. I'm assuming they will be making a redesign in the next year and that is why it looks this old right now. On a positive note, the dash is very easy to use as everything has large knobs or buttons. 

Finally the cargo area. The Matrix makes up some points here as it is very practical. Due to the car being a good size and relatively tall it has a large cargo capacity. The cargo floor as well as the rear seat backs is covered with a tough plastic with sliding rubber strips that allows for large heavy objects to be moved around in it without damaging it. It also means its very easy to clean and the rear seats fold completely flat.

Driving Impressions:

I'm not going to lie, this car is extremely boring to drive. The same feeling happens in this car as when you go to a go-kart track and then realize the karts are speed-limited so you can never really push it. The difference here is the car isn't necessarily limited, but it rather just doesn't have a lot to give. It looks cool and sporty on the outside, boring and cheap on the inside, so you might think they kept that interior budget and saved it for great performance, but they didn't. Because they only have the 1.8L engine left that means it doesn't really have enough power to back up the outside looks. It also only has either the 5 speed manual or the 4 speed auto ( without a shift gate) so it feels like it is missing or needing a gear or two. The reason why they did this was most likely to keep costs down and keep reliability up; those 4 speed autos are hard to kill. So to list it out:

• slow acceleration
• rough and loud engine under acceleration
• loud engine at highways speeds
• lots of road and wind noise on highway due to tall boxy design
• runs out of steam on highway

A nice point for the Matrix is because it has a relatively wide base it does feel quite solid going around corners and changing direction. Unfortunately it doesn't have the best turning radius due to its older design and larger size. It is also pretty smooth ( not during hard acceleration). Basically just like most Toyota's this car does everything its supposed to do, and that's it. 

Overall:

Why did Toyota take away the 2.4L engine with the optional AWD? That car could be fun. This Matrix is just like all the previous Corollas that its based on, it does everything its supposed to, but its just so boring. It looks good on the outside. It is comfortable but very boring and cheap looking on the inside. The drive is under powered but comfy at the same time. If you are just looking for a reliable car that can do just about everything for you, and you don't care how it looks on the inside and how un-fun it is to drive, the Matrix is the car to have. If you want it to do even more for you and be slightly more fun, look for a 2009-13 one with the 2.4L engine and/or AWD. (note: those with the 2.4L engine do not get the best fuel economy, especially with AWD). If I could choose between the Honda Fit and the Matrix I would go with the Fit as it seems to want to perform a little past what its limits are, the Matrix on the other hand will not.

Facts / Figures:

Price ( for mid trim level): $24,000+

FWD ( pre 2013 AWD optional)

MPG (approx*): 1.8L: 24 city, 32 highway. 2.4L FWD(AWD): 21 (19)city, 29 (26)highway

Cargo room (approx*): 20/49 CuFt

Length: 172''

Width: 70''

Tank Size (gal): 13.2

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 1.8L: 370. 2.4L (FWD):330 (AWD):290

Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $11,000+ 

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links:
Toyota Canada

( not sold new in the USA anymore)

Enjoy!

J.K.

2014-15 Nissan Versa Note Review

The Versa Note is Nissan's equivalent to Honda's Fit and Toyota's Matrix, Can it live up to their reputations?

The Note is a decently priced large sub-compact hatchback, but it is a tad plain.

The Versa Note is the 5 door hatchback version of Nissan's subcompact sedan, the Versa. It has been sold in other parts of the world since 2008 but just recently came to North America for the 2014 model year. It takes many design and styling ques from the Honda Fit but it does have its differences. This is supposed to be a car that can do everything, so lets take a look:

Different Styles:

The Versa Note is the 5 door hatchback version of the Versa sedan. I have not tried the sedan yet so I will just be covering the Note here. The Note it is only available as a 5 door hatchback with  a 1.6L 4 cylinder engine. It is available with either a 5 speed manual or CVT transmissions. 

Styling and Comfort Impressions:

As was already stated, this car is trying to compete against cars like the Honda Fit (similar design as well), the Toyota Matrix and other similar cars. While the overall shape may be similar, the brand's distinctive style is seen. I personally don't really like the look of the Versa Note. The front looks relatively plain, there are no sporty lines that flow along it. The back looks too bubble-ish. The side profile actually looks pretty good, but overall it just looks a little plain from the outside. 

On the inside it doesn't get much better. First off, in the base trim you don't even get power windows, locks or air conditioning. While the lack of air conditioning is similar to other base line subcompacts; no power windows or door locks is very archaic. How are you supposed to cool down while driving if you have no air conditioning AND you have to roll down the windows. The materials used look and feel very cheap along the sides and the front. This unfortunately is not much different from the previous generation Honda Fit (it has been redesigned for the 2015 year), its main competitor. At least the seats can be had in a light colour or black with some orange accents, but they are not options, they only come with the different trim levels, which get costly for a car like this.
Lets take a look at the inside:

So, besides the upper trim levels, its pretty boring on the inside design wise. But now for some good news. It is very roomy in there. As long as its not the base line trim ( as it has no useful seat adjustments and steering wheel adjustments) you can find a comfortable driving position. There is plenty of head and legroom in the front and the back as lots of room. Another good point going for the Versa Note is the excellent visibility in all directions. It has large windows all around, even the rear window. One small problem is that the rear seat head restraints are quite large and do block the view out the back. The seats are decently comfortable front and back, not super supportive but as long as you are not trying to race around the city you should be fine.
The trunk space is pretty good considering its size and shape and it has some nifty tricks. An optional extra is Nissan's "Divide and Go" system. The floor is height adjustable by a few inches. This allows for slightly taller items to fit when the seats are up or down, and when it is raised to be flush with the seat backs when folded down, there is a cargo space underneath, allowing you to hide some small objects from sight. Unfortunately without this extra, the loading area when the seats are folded down is not flat.

Driving Impressions:

I was quite surprised to find how nice the Versa Note was to drive. Besides the 1.6L engine being a bit weak I don't have many complaints about it. Like I said, visibility is great. It is smooth and quiet through the city, obviously not being sport tuned. This car should not be driven hard as its tall body design means it leans a good amount in the corners. The engine and CVT transmission are quiet and shift smoothly through the city and when cruising on the highway. The only time when the Note makes much noise or fuss at all is heavy acceleration or passing on the highway. The CVT does a good but somewhat noisy job of getting it up to speed but then once you are cruising there is little sound or vibrations from the engine or CVT, with wind and road noise being at reasonable levels as well. As Nissan was basically the pioneer of the CVT transmission, this should be expected. So overall driving impressions are quite good.

Overall:

I had some impressions of this car before I drove it. And while I think the styling and overall look is sorta lame, the comfort, room, and driving dynamics basically made up for its shortcomings. This is a decently priced, comfy car that has plenty of space. It would be great as someone's only car if they were on a budget and did not care about performance, or looks. That's all I really have to say about the Note as it is a relatively uninteresting car. One thing that people should take "note" of (pun intended) is the price difference between new and used for this car, even at just one year old ( if it was originally purchased at the end of last year). There must be a reason why the price drops so drastically...

Facts / Figures:

Price ( for the mid trim level): $20,000+

FWD

MPG (approx*): 30 city /39 hwy

Cargo room (approx*): 21/38 CuFt trunk

Length: 164"

Width: 67"

Tank size (gal): 10.8

Miles on one tank (using combined MPG figures): 378
Average used price with 60,000KM or less: $14,000+

* when I say "approx" I usually am using the numbers given by the actual manufacturer or Consumer Reports, minus 1 to be a bit more realistic. 

Links: 

Nissan Canada
Nissan USA

Please leave a comment with your thoughts and opinions on any of the reviews.

J.K.