Boston.com's view

I have considered the Toyota Matrix to be one of the niftiest cars on the market since it was introduced five years ago. In AWD form, it’s what I bought for my three teens to drive back and forth to their high school, 35 miles away.

I praised it as a fine car then. But too many Toyota dealers in New England told customers they couldn’t get the Matrix in all-wheel drive. That was because the region ordered too many front-wheel-drive Matrixes, so dealers were anxious to sell what they had on their lots.

AWD also added about $2,000 to the price. If they still try to sell you a Matrix without it, tell them you will happily wait while they order one.

I like today’s test vehicle, the 2009 Matrix S AWD, even more than earlier incarnations. It still drives me nuts that Toyota charges $250 extra for stability and traction control – known lifesavers that many folks will not buy in favor of spending money on a sun roof or an upgraded sound system. Please, cough up the $250 for added safety, whatever you do.

This is a funkier-looking Matrix, more aggressive up front with tighter screening in the grille and vents, and slitted, glaring headlamps. What’s really nice is the way the sinister fascia, with its ground-hugging intake foil, flows smoothly to a hood and then rises over a large raked windshield. It apexes just over the driver’s head, and then drops to an airfoil atop the rear hatch.

Our tester came with a 2.4-liter, inline four-cylinder engine that pumped out 158 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque. There’s also a 1.8 liter four-cylinder available at 132 horsepower, which should be sufficient for many people. The test car had a four-speed automatic – something of a throwback these days, with six- and eight-speed transmissions hitting the market both for performance and fuel economy reasons.

Standard equipment included driver and front-passenger side air bags and front and rear side-curtain air bags, and ABS with electronic brake assist.

The sound system, also standard, includes AM/FM/CD as well as MP3 capability and six speakers. Our test model upgraded that for $420, adding a six-CD changer, and a satellite-capable system (for a fee). Cruise and traction/stability control added another $500 to the price. The car still came in at around $22,000, which is not a huge chunk of change in today’s market.

Most likely owing to the AWD system, fuel economy was nothing to brag about: 22.1 miles per gallon, overall.

On the road, the Matrix still reflects its basic Corolla roots. It has just a bit of body roll if pushed into corners, but that sort of pushing is not why someone would be likely to buy this car. It is stable and smooth on the highway, passing with only moderate effort at highway speeds. On hills and winding back roads, its power was adequate. Stability, with sensible hands at the wheel, was rock-solid.

Even when pushed, the Matrix felt like a car you would feel safe handing over to a young driver. And if you are a veteran driver in search of stable, basic transportation with some exterior sportiness, shop the Matrix against other hatchbacks. You won’t be disappointed.

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THE BASICS

Base price/as tested: $20,200/$21,980

Fuel economy: 22.1 miles per gallon in Globe testing

Annual fuel cost: $1,968 (at $3.195 per gallon, regular, 13,000 miles per year)

THE SPECIFICS

Drivetrain: AWD

Seating: Five occupants

Horsepower: 158

Torque: 162 lb.-ft.

Overall length: 173.0 inches

Wheelbase: 102.4 inches

Height: 61.0 inches

Width: 69.5 inches

Curb weight: 3,300 pounds (est.)

ALSO CONSIDER

Mazdaspeed 3, Audi A3, Honda Fit, Volvo C30, Mini Cooper

THE SKINNY

Nice touch: The sense of interior room and the flexibility

Annoyance: Needs a transmission with more gears – for better fuel economy, not performance