The 2005 Matrix XRS was Toyota's Firey EP3 Honda Civic Si Competitor

Today, we take a look at one of the "wolves in sheep's clothing" of Toyota, with the 2005 Matrix XRS.
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0:00 - Intro
0:43 - Matrix Background
2:27 - About this Matrix XRS
2:49 - Matrix Trim Levels
3:19 - Powertrain Specs
5:22 - Side Profile & Wheels
5:48 - Trunk Space
7:20 - Rear Seat Impressions
8:54 - Front Seat Impressions
13:52 - Driving Impressions
17:02 - Closing
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#toyota #matrixxrs #hothatch

[@michaell1941]

Bern, I'm at a loss for words, man... Thanks so much for reviewing my car!

[@BernonCars]

Thank YOU for letting me review it! 😂

[@hduncan2587]

I'm sure there were other vehicles that did it, but in all the times I've looked at those Toyota sport steering wheels, red stitching isn't all that common. I remember seeing it in the first generation Corolla S and maybe Celica GTS, but after that they sort of knocked it out by the Matrix, I thought. Is that really the stock stitching? Maybe it was a prefacelift XRS thing? I tend to grab good leather wheels when I see them in the diy parts-pull yards out here just to have for future use. And I did how clean youve kept it especially in the snowbelt.

[@FCReviews]

matrix xrs super underrated little wagon. alot of fun. My cousin had it in the same red as the commercials.

[@BernonCars]

They're cool man!

[@michaell1941]

That commercial has gotta be my favorite 😎

[@kvnndvn]

"The Lord's transmission." That was epic, bro. Haha.

[@BernonCars]

Three pedals is scared!!

[@christopherbarber288]

Just got one. Drove six hours to get it and back. Most fun six hours ever. This thing truly shines on the interstate and there is nothing like this car, not to mention great gas mileage even when you’re having fun! Thanks for the review, hopefully I will have many more years of fun with it!

[@BernonCars]

Nice!!! That's so exciting, I hope you enjoy it for a good while!

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

2:00 Wow that's a handsome car!

[@BernonCars]

Right!!

[@alessandrobolanos1514]

My mom bought a 2005 XR new and then my dad used it almost 100 miles a day we sold it in 2021 with 320,000 miles still drives goes from Texas and Michigan every year.

[@BernonCars]

Oh woww what a trooper!

[@damilolaakanni]

It seems that many people forget that Mexico is in North America. However, only the 2nd generation Matrix (2009-2013) was sold in Mexico.

[@BernonCars]

Interesting!

[@kwaza8574]

It was also sold in Canada.

[@FCReviews]

toyota did sell a trd supercharger also for the matrix too which was nuts!!! i believed it bumped the power to over 200hp

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

Yeah that would've been dope. 2ZZ-GZE.

[@BernonCars]

Woww I didn't know that!!

[@FCReviews]

@BernonCars oh yes sir lol and it was nuts alot of power my cousin and my brother had alot of fun with he's matrix lol

[@Banom7a]

it's only on the base 1ZZ iirc, and it bring the power closer to the 2ZZ but with better low end torque (i could be wrong though)

[@MattaKY5064]

Really fun review! Love the Matrix and the 6 speed manual transmission makes it that much better.

[@BernonCars]

Thank you! Yeah an excellent combination!

[@keithdosik]

Uh oh also you forgot to mention the corolla XRS special edition that got this engine too 😊

[@BernonCars]

Ohhhh yeahhh!!

[@russelrust2753]

Got one not long ago, 260 000KM on it still running great. Got a smoking deal and I'm in the process of bringing it back in all its glory. Very happy to see a great video about it! Thanks

[@joegracia3590]

Have one 2005 got it a year ago and very happy with it!!!

[@BernonCars]

Nice!! Thank you for tuning in! 😆

[@kwaza8574]

One of the best cars I’ve ever owned was a ‘08 Matrix. It wasn’t fast, or handled particularly great. But switching gears and just throwing it around knowing it was solidly reliable made it fun and to have.

[@BernonCars]

That is excellent!

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

3:19 Matrices👌

[@BernonCars]

🤙🏾 haa

[@keithdosik]

Absolutely love these! I had a friend in high school who drove one and he was always like “ohh I have a crappy little Toyota” and would talk down on it and I was like bro it revs to 8 grand 😂 that’s sick

[@BernonCars]

Thats cool man!! They're sick hahaha

[@GasGuzzlers]

I did not even know this was a thing- Bern your knowledge continues to astound. Amazing video as always!

[@BernonCars]

Yeah man!! Thanks for stoppin by!

[@correya.lettsome4702]

Nice review you picked up on all the little easter eggs that the car offers and it was great how you reviewed it with fresh eyes. It's a car that people don't let go of too often.

[@BernonCars]

Ha thank you! I'm glad!

[@Kueso72]

i appreciate the spotlight on the XRS, coming from an XRS owner. They're zippy and fun, definitely catches my friends off guard lol. I have never seen a gold badge XRS before, i knew they existed, but man is it just silly- I would kill for a set of those badges just to have em. Great review!

[@BernonCars]

Thanks for watching! Yeah man! The gold is a great touch! 😂

[@kavikafiatoa8008]

Great review, i love my 05' XRS

[@BernonCars]

Thank you! Nice! Cheers!

[@leafers883]

I habe the 03 Vibe gt. The 03 had 180hp and a lower rpm lift engagement. It takes many people by suprise even at 206,000 miles

[@BernonCars]

Oh nice! Yeah they're sweet!!

[@DimoS...]

If change your oil with quality one every 3k miles, use premium gas, and normal use without races etc...should last another 200k miles mate👌 2zzge is great durable reliable and undaratted engine. Also use full synthetic gl4 75w90 gearbox fluid every 5 years.

[@deison7829]

Lol wish I saw this dude reviews videos earlier. Great personality and review

[@BernonCars]

Dang I appreciate that! Thanks man!

[@antbankzbruh]

Ayo great vid, love my 04 xrs great little car. Lil fact 05-08 is a face lift because they said too many complaints of it being low with og bumper, bumpers which are interchangeable with 03-04 if desired.

[@BernonCars]

Thank you! Ohh interesting that's cool to know man!

[@Stormtrooper_98Trd]

I wish they would bring it back! I almost bought one but it had a bad misfire so I passed and bought my 98 4runner with 163k miles on it

[@BernonCars]

Good choice!

[@ValerieDoesThat]

When the vvt kicked in, he was super shocked XD I love the matrix XRS, the competitor to the hatchback civic si

[@BernonCars]

LOL yeah I was haha, they're great!

[@markpowersports1278]

Quality video with a quality car 😊

[@BernonCars]

Indeed!! Thank you sir!

[@winstonmiu]

15:00 VVT-Li kicked in yo!

[@BernonCars]

Hailll yeahh!

[@Jac735]

Man toyota was very underrated back than besides the sports cars another reason why i love Toyota's better thsn hondas even though hondas are very good with engine's as we'll like my old civic now i have a yaris hatchback i hooked up very fun as well

[@BernonCars]

It definitely was their hay day haha

[@Jac735]

Loving the sounds of the vvti got used to it since im driving my 2nd toyota we had a camry with a similar motor

[@BernonCars]

Sounds so good!

[@jayyoung1241]

I like toyota matrix 😎

[@BernonCars]

Me too 👍🏾

[@jayyoung1241]

I like your channel, keep going my brother 💪 you doing great 👍

[@jayyoung1241]

​@BernonCars u will have 1 million subscribers one day...

[@kentprince4851]

The matrix is called the levin zr in Australia and both are 1.8L 2zr-fe, a very old engine by toyota, the oil burning as it ages is due to low tension rings in pistons, irregular oil changes and wrong type of oil used. The engine is meant to use 0W20 oil.

[@BernonCars]

Interesting! Yeah I read about the oil consumption issues!

[@MarzNet256]

Very Cool. I have a 2006 Matrix 4WD (base model, AT only) with 223,000 miles. I maintain and repair it myself and it still runs like new. I paid $12,500 for it in 2010 with 25k miles. You feel super connected driving it...is such an awesome car! Also, you need to rev pretty high to get the juice out of those Yamaha head engines.

[@BernonCars]

Nice! Yeah these are great! Would love to daily a 4WD one haha

[@DIY-Mark-3]

Good looking car i like to exhaust tip

[@BernonCars]

Yeah!

[@wccrispy]

"I thought this was an ashtray for the children...to smoke." 🤣💀

[@BernonCars]

LOL

[@hduncan2587]

I've driven the Celica gts, Corolla xrs, and the Matrix XRS, but unfortunately in The Matrix, the lift wasn't working. Without lift (the rev limit was around 6k without) it essentially pulled like my Toyota Echo manual. The Matrix and Corolla kinda had the shit end of the stick, so to speak, getting stuck with the same intake as the base cars. Celica gt and gts had interesting active airboxes with vacuum flaps. The Corolla inparticular not only had a more pedestrian tune in the Ecu, but again didn't even get a better muffler, just a plain Corolla unit. As much as I like the matrix, I do wish that the shifter location wasn't quite as awkward. It's fine in a Hinda Element, but something about the Matrix manuals (XRS or otherwise) just didn't feel natural. And the 6-speed the Toyota uses, I wish they had a better lock out for reverse. If you're a bit too clumsy and the 1-2 shift it's easy to catch that side gate. That's kind of user error on my case, but Honda had reverse over on the right where it wouldn't do that. The other thing about the Matrix in particular, it seems like one of the most statically charged Interiors I've ever dealt with. Regardless, I really like the styling. It's got a lot more interesting lines, especially the ones over the rear fenders wrap into the tail lights. The vibe was a lot more boring, but the vibe also had those interesting roof rails.

[@BernonCars]

Interesting! Yeah they could've made them a liiiitle better and I'm sure they would've sold more!

[@johnmichalak817]

"I thought this was an ashtray for the children to smoke." Hahahahhaha!

[@BernonCars]

🤣🤣

[@mwu5007]

09:47 😂 " ...T O Y O T A"

[@BernonCars]

So rad LOL

[@mumwifeteacher]

Corolla could be had with the same drive train option.

[@matthewsheyfilms6157]

Great video! How would you say the reliability would compare to a Scion XA(totoya rebadge)?

[@BernonCars]

Thank you! These are pretty reliable but watch out for burning oil and leaks!

[@MusicWisp]

I had an 03 XR, I only let it go bc it was totalled out bad. My mom has the 04 solar yellow xrs. I’m doing my best to buy it off her. I ask about every other month 😂

[@BernonCars]

Ooo Solar Yellowwwww

[@itsAlphaFox]

2:25 You could make an argument for the current Corolla Cross, at least in the space department. The Matrix has a relatively high roof which gives it a good cabin height, like the CC, while still being placed under the Rav4. The Corolla hatch has abysmal interior space

[@BernonCars]

Oh yeah good point, it definitely is more of the Corolla Cross LOL

[@Super_Charged4life]

had the vibe gt miss that car.

[@BernonCars]

Those are sweet too!

[@jonathanamburn2791]

I’m thinking about buying a 2004 model with 135,000. Had a 2000 gts celica that had its problems like it grinded in 3rd gear and had a really bad valve timing cover gasket leak too but I know those are some issues with the 2zz.

[@BernonCars]

Oh nice, at least you're familiar with the platform!

[@jonathanamburn2791]

@@BernonCars I bought a Acura cl type s with a 6 speed instead because I was just scared of the things that could possibly go wrong. Love the 2zz platform, but would rather have something more powerful right out the box. I still always look at matrix and see if they’re a xrs haha.

[@BernonCars]

@@jonathanamburn2791 good call with the Type S though! Very good find!!

[@JaydenET]

the headlights are actually automatic!! and the auto function can't be turned off.

[@BernonCars]

Ohh nice good to know!!

[@TheAssclown213]

I own one. Its my work vehicle believe it or not. Combination of gas mileage and interior space with out being totally boring. My XRS 6 speed averages 30 mpg..its not fast...more than not in traffic you seldom have the room to rev it out to take advantage of its 8k+ red line. Maybe if you supercharged it then it may fit my driving needs but all in all its at least not boring.

[@BernonCars]

That's excellent! A supercharged one would be sick

[@joshpinchuk7061]

Didn't the Yamaha designed engines have a little bit of reliability issues versus the base Toyota only engine?

[@BernonCars]

They did! I believe they had oil consumption issues

[@bitchassmcgee9708]

The 1ZZ and the 2ZZ both have oil consumption issues, the issue is that the oil pan on the 2ZZ will cause the motor to starve for oil if you apply enough Gs.

[@DimoS...]

1zzfe have oil consumption issues the 2zzge does not burn oil, not even a little.

[@kentprince4851]

That doesnt look like a yamaha engine, it look like a 2zr-fe engine from toyota, also used in lotus elise.

[@kentprince4851]

2zz-ge for 2003 to 2005 matrix then ge transition to 2zr- fe

[@GrissetteMedina-mv1op]

i got my 20 year old since im 20 now how old iam i still in love with my yuyu

[@BernonCars]

Haha

[@olbucky9413]

So whether you’re aware or not the XRS maxed out your grinometer.😊

[@BernonCars]

It really did 🤣

[@kidmanila2160]

2003 180 Hp why did the Hp went down 2003 2004 2005 are they stilll the same engine xrs

[@TrollingWithTheTruth]

What, it did that @9:47? Stock?

[@BernonCars]

Nope that was programmed into the aftermarket headunit 😂

[@michaell1941]

I wrote an Android app to play that video on startup. There are probably easier ways to do that tho 😂

[@RZ-eu2rl]

Loop

[@anotheran]

These things are not much faster than the base matrix. Pretty horrible cars with piss poor performing engines.

[@BernonCars]

LOL

[@terrorcon1]

Xr better

[@AnythingGoesJoJo]

Yes I like sticking long things...and its shocking 😅

[@BernonCars]

LOL