GREEN | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
26 mpg city, 32 highway (1.8, manual); 25/32 (1.6, auto); 21/28 (2.4, manual); 21/29 (2.4, 5-sp auto)
20/26 (2.4, 4-sp auto, AWD)
EPA
The 2013 Toyota Matrix simply doesn't measure up with other small cars in its class with respect to gas mileage. And whether it's a matter of aerodynamics, weight, or gear ratios, it's a little surprising that it comes up so lacking, considering Toyota's strength with fuel economy in its hybrids.
Fuel economy ranges from 26 mpg city, 32 highway for the base model with the manual down to 21/28 for the 2.4-liter version. A five-speed automatic is now available in the S model and boosts its rating to 21/29. And since the all-wheel-drive model makes do with a four-speed automatic, it achieves just 20 mpg city, 26 highway.
Conclusion
Considering Toyota's green-car chops with the Prius, it hasn't gone out of its way at all to optimize mileage with the Matrix; in fact, you could do a lot better.
