Car Review - 2006 Hyundai Matrix Crdi Features & Specifications

2006 Hyundai Matrix Crdi - The 2nd yous laid your sights at the Hyundai Matrix, yous straight off think: that doesn’t expression right. I don’t blame you. The residual of humanity doesn’t blame yous either. Whether it’s ruby-red or silverish or whatever other coloring for that matter, the Matrix stands out. And that’s non a proficient thing. It steers clear of everything that’s considered beautiful inwards automotive pattern together with comes out every bit something rather, err… unique. Ah, hence the Koreans bring done it again—a production that’s literally a pattern joke, likely penned past times blind men inwards a windowless pattern studio. Not quite. For instance, on the c-pillar reads “disegno Pininfarina”. Still, having an Italian pattern studio isn’t whatever guarantee of beauty or desirability. In the illustration of the Matrix though, it relies less on its pattern studio source but to a greater extent than on business office together with teach this, performance.

The oddity that’s Matrix pattern is in that place for a argue together with it’s a practical one. For a machine that measures a meager 4025 mm inwards length, it almost has the same wheelbase every bit a machine that’s a course of written report higher (i.e. Ford Focus, Honda Civic, etc.). It doesn’t give the Matrix whatever to a greater extent than agility than whatever of its Japanese rivals, but it does give the Korean to a greater extent than interior room. The taller overall tiptop enables Hyundai to enhance the Matrix’s hip signal together with seating spot (without increasing step-in height) allowing for best-in-class ingress/egress together with visibility. People, particularly the elderly, volition discovery getting inwards together with out of the Matrix far easier than whatever other vehicle. Ultimately though, the exclusively trade-off inwards the raised hip signal is the Matrix’s strange side window kink wherein the drinking glass drops far lower than the residual of the side profile.

Probably finding the outside rather amusing, the Matrix’s designers create upward one's heed to bear the same subject inside. Again, things are rather odd, but again, it’s in that place for a reason. The Matrix has a center-mounted musical instrument cluster. It enables for less fatigue when driving since the human caput is to a greater extent than relaxed looking towards the middle of the dash rather than the park directly ahead. Hyundai has gone a pace farther though past times separating the alert lights from the musical instrument binnacle together with placing it simply higher upward the steering cycle which is meant to growth the instrumentation’s legibility (larger fonts) thereby lessening fatigue every bit well. Before yous ask, all the other controls similar wipers, lights, radio together with ventilation controls are located inwards their park positions.

The dash pattern itself is first-class together with pleasing to the oculus beingness symmetrical left to right. The materials though are a mix alongside both high quality, well-damped switchgear (windows, lights together with wipers) together with high-wear inexpensive shiny ones (glove box, loving cup holders, middle console). Overall though, the dash cloth is genuinely pretty around that of compact SUVs, which is surprising given the SUVs are nearly double the Matrix’s price. The JVC good organization is genuinely quite slow to empathize together with puts out a minor good quality. What makes it extra special though is the inclusion of an auxiliary input allowing slow accommodation for those alongside 40GB worth of songs on their Apple iPods. The seats aren’t the best for a sporty drive, but they’re quite comfortable fifty-fifty for out-of-town travel. The bring upward seats are a approbation also alongside the middle individual fifty-fifty getting his ain personal adjustable headrest—something yous won’t await inwards a vehicle of this class.

Originally touted every bit a mini-MPV during its launch, the Matrix even hence manages to alive to that moniker alongside an array of luggage / loading capabilities that puts most SUVs to shame. Aside from a huge array of cubby holes (i.e. front end nether spot tray), loving cup holders (6 of them) together with utility trays, the Matrix has every bit a 60/40 split-fold-tumbling together with sliding bring upward bench alongside nether flooring storage bins. This flexible seating machinery compliments the Matrix’s already cavernous loading bay that’s proficient for a long weekend to Baguio or fifty-fifty a platoon’s worth of groceries. The fairer sexual practice volition sure enough discovery the Matrix appealing since its spare tire is located within the loading bay (as opposed to nether the body) making tire changes less hassle together with dirty.

At this point, it’s clear that the Matrix has proven its mettle inwards practicality, spaciousness together with comfort. Now let’s verbalise performance…and what a surgical physical care for the Matrix has. For those alongside a heavy correct foot, the Matrix volition fly. Under the hood sits a sneaky 1.5-liter mutual rails conduct injection diesel fuel engine. The lean-burning might found generates a minor 102 horsepower but a hefty 235 Nm of torque. As a comparison, the Mazda3 5-door has 105 horsepower together with 145 Nm. Hyundai’s CRDi engine is tranquillity on idle (though things tin live on a fleck stone oil during mutual frigidity starts), smoothen together with fast. It’s hence powerful it tin genuinely smasher fearfulness inwards Isuzu Troopers (especially on the highways). The CRDi engine pushes the rather porky (1370 kg) Matrix from 0-100 km/h inwards simply a piffling over 10 seconds together with achieve speeds inwards excess of 160 km/h. The 5-speed manual ‘box is a fleck spongy together with vague, but i time yous teach used to it, it rewards yous alongside an amazing 14.35 km/L mileage reading together with a arrive at of over 450 kilometers!

Unlike hence many others inwards its course of written report that bring gone alongside a simpler torsion beam bring upward interruption set-up, the Matrix has all-around independent interruption alongside MacPherson Struts upward front end together with Multi-Links at the back. A set-up similar this should bring at to the lowest degree given the Matrix some treatment prowess, but the internet number is to a greater extent than of condom together with stable. It’s surefooted on whatever form of terrain or corner, but it volition never experience sporty. On the tightest of bends, the Matrix volition squabble for travelling steal because of its little 185/65 R fourteen tires. An upgrade to larger tires could solve the problem, but it volition also harden the Matrix’s already bordering-on strong ride. Likewise, the Matrix’s larger majority would require harder go from its brakes (vented discs upward front, drums at the back) but it does halt pretty decently fifty-fifty if the CRDi model lacks anti-lock brakes.

As yous teach to know the Matrix from forcefulness to strength, yous volition eventually forgive its rather strange outside proportions. From this car’s inception, the people at Hyundai likely had a uncomplicated pattern brief for the Matrix: a global compact machine alongside a unmarried torso trend that integrates the traits of a sedan, carriage together with hatchback alongside surgical physical care for that volition scare the hell out of the Japanese. To a degree, they’ve gotten things right. It’s an enjoyable drive together with a rattling practical one. Personally, I see this to live on i of the best “everyday cars” I’ve always driven—that lonely says a lot.