The Koreans developed the five-seat inexpensive compact MPV "Matrix" immediately "with an eye on" the European markets, so the development of the design of this car was entrusted to the Italian studio "Pininfarina" (one of the specializations of which is the design of passenger cars). And to make it affordable - they created it on the platform of the “third Elantra” (which by that time had already “paid for itself” long ago) ... And now - in 2001, in Frankfurt, this “compact South Korean pragmatist”, also known under the name "Lavita".

In 2005, Hyundai Matrix underwent the first modernization - then, in addition to updating the exterior, its 3-cylinder "diesel" was replaced by a new, more powerful, 4-cylinder.

The second "wave of updates" overtook the compact MPV in 2008 - its appearance, again, was "adjusted to the current corporate style" (the Italians were still engaged in this business) and the diesel engine was powered up. In this form, he remained until "the end of his career" - that is. until 2010.

Although formally (its platform is "golf-class" - with a wheelbase of 2600 mm) it is a compact car, but in terms of size (thanks to short overhangs) it can be mistaken for a "subcompact". Its length is only 4025 mm, width - 1740 mm, and its height is quite "Ven'ovskaya" - 1685 mm. By the way, its ground clearance is also quite practical - 160 mm.

The outlines of the body of this compact van are quite harmonious (a “layman” may even take it for a hatchback) - a similar effect is achieved thanks to the accentuated differences in the door openings and the sloping hood that smoothly merges into the windshield, as well as the longitudinal edges and stampings. The 15-inch wheels also play an important role in the "harmony of the image". However, the "massive front end", after the last "restyling", definitely gives it a compact van.

Thanks to the huge doorways, as well as the high-positioned seats, it is very easy to get inside the Hyundai Matrix - in fact, you "enter" the salon (only slightly bending down). However, the automaker positioned it this way - as "a car that is bigger inside than it seems from the outside" ... Indeed - the car is quite spacious and this is not an "optical illusion" at all. There is enough space in width and length, but the height of the ceiling "will not upset even a basketball player."

Large windshields, combined with generous mirrors and a high seating position, all provide excellent visibility. But for the same reasons, every Hyundai Matrix owner will benefit from tinting the windows (in the sun, the salon turns into an “oven”). In this context, it is gratifying that already the standard equipment of the Hyundai Matrix provides for the presence of an air conditioner.

Landing in this car is "bus" - the legs are at an angle of 90 degrees, the back is vertical ... however, it is quite comfortable to sit. The Koreans made the seats sound and moderately hard, the driver's armrest is quite enough. In addition to two mandatory adjustments, there is also the possibility of changing the height of the pillow parts, as well as setting the lumbar support. The steering wheel is very pleasant to the touch, has an optimal diameter and section, and is adjustable in height.

The instrument panel, which, in addition to the tachometer and speedometer, has temperature sensors, fuel levels and an on-board computer display, is located unusually - in the center of the dashboard. The rest of the data is transmitted to warning lamps, which are located in a more familiar place - right in front of the driver. Is it reasonable or not? It is difficult to understand, but an experienced driver will be able to get used to it in a couple of days. The rest looks pretty comfortable and familiar.

The gearbox selector is located "in the floor" (or rather, in the lower area of ​​the center console). Control of wipers and lights, like most Korean models of the car industry, are located on the steering column switches. Mirrors and glasses are electrically operated, the buttons of which are located on a convenient door armrest. The heated seats are switched on "on the floor" - near the handbrake.

There are incredibly many cup holders and small pockets in the "Matrix". There are large convenient pockets in the doors, and the rear seats hide the presence of two drawers under them, two more are in the trunk. The backs of the front seats have folding tables equipped with gas springs.

In the back seat, the legs of passengers feel at ease, even when the front seats are pushed back to the maximum. To achieve this effect, Korean engineers had to work hard. The fact is that the split rear seat can be adjusted not only in length, but also in the inclination of the backrest. This makes it possible to adjust the volume of the rear passenger area, as well as the luggage compartment. The second row easily accommodates three passengers, who can use the stand-alone rear lighting.

The back door of the "Matrix" traditionally opens up. The trunk here is not to say that it is large - 354 liters "by default", but if you fold the rear sofa, its volume increases to 1284 liters. By the way, under the raised floor in the trunk, he can easily fit a spare wheel.

The chassis is, of course, borrowed from the Hyundai Elantra and tuned pretty well. The handling of the car is confident, reliable, but by no means sporty. Because of the height - rolls are felt when cornering, understeer increases. But the steering wheel is still "adequate and saturated." At the same time, the smoothness of the ride is quite acceptable (the shock absorbers, however, often do not cope very well at full load). In general, the suspension is virtually silent. There are no unnecessary sounds in the cabin either. Brakes and ABS - work out "by five".

Specifications. Initially, the Hyundai Matrix was equipped with one of two gasoline engines (which are paired with a 5-speed manual transmission or a 4-speed automatic transmission:

• 1.6-liter 103-horsepower (fuel consumption is about 8 liters per 100 km of track, acceleration to 100 km / h is provided in 13 ~ 14 seconds)
• 1.8-liter 122-horsepower (fuel consumption is about 9 liters per 100 km of track, acceleration to 100 km / h is provided in 11 ~ 13 seconds)

Later they were joined by a 3-cylinder "turbo-diesel" (it worked only in tandem with the "mechanics") with a capacity of 82 hp. (consuming about 6 liters of diesel fuel per 100 km of track and providing acceleration "to hundreds" in "unhurried" 18 seconds) ... as a result of modernization in 2005, it was replaced by a new 4-cylinder "turbo-diesel" with a capacity of 102 hp. (14 ~ 15 seconds "to a hundred" and a consumption of about 5.5 liters), and in 2008 it was updated - the power increased to 110 hp.

Prices. In 2017, Hyundai Matrix in Russia, in the secondary market, can be purchased at a price of 250 to 500 thousand rubles (depending on the condition, equipment and year of manufacture of the car).

Thanks to the convex shape of the strongly inclined forward windshield and the geometry of the bonnet, the designers managed to increase the aerodynamic characteristics inherent in tall bodies. The total height of the Hyundai Matrix is ​​1,685 mm. The overhangs are short. Other dimensions of the Hyundai Matrix: length 4025 mm, wheelbase 2600 mm, width 1740 mm.

The clearance of 160 mm, which is quite serious for a Hyundai Matrix passenger car, provides the subcompact with higher cross-country characteristics than most of its classmates. The front wheels are placed in front of the engine, the rear ones are practically under the rear bumper. The center of gravity of the Hyundai Matrix is ​​very low. The suspensions are equipped with anti-roll bars. Front suspension Hyundai Matrix type McPherson, rear - multi-link. The technical characteristics inherent in the Hyundai Matrix provide the subcompact van with no rolls when cornering and prevent rollover. Front brakes Matrix ventilated disc, rear - drum.

The most noticeable detail of the Hyundai Matrix exterior is the low-glass jogging line. Inside the Hyundai Matrix, a non-standard dashboard design solution is implemented. The traditional dashboard screen is moved from behind the steering wheel to the top of the center console. Behind the wheel is an information display, on which the signal icons of the main systems of the car light up. Salon Matrix contains a huge number of different boxes, containers, cup holders, bottle holders. On the back of the front seats, there are tables with molded recesses for a glass or bottle. In the area of ​​\ u200b \ u200bthe legs of the passengers in the rear row of seats, the Matrix salon has an almost flat floor without a pronounced central tunnel.

In 2003, the models underwent a facelift that affected the front and rear lights, as well as the radiator grille. In 2005, the Hyundai Matrix underwent another minor redesign. In addition to the changed shape of the head optics and the radiator grill, the updated Hyundai Matrix 2006 model year has lost two toolboxes built into the trunk floor. Basic versions of the Matrix began to be equipped with four cabin speakers instead of the former six. Factory glass tinting became available only in the top version or as an additional paid option.

In 2008, at the Geneva Motor Show, a restyled version of the subcompact van was presented, presented as the second generation of the model. After the intervention of Korean designers and bodybuilders, the Hyundai Matrix branded exterior with a characteristic broken line of glazing lost the Pininfarina nameplates and acquired recognizable corporate features. Instead of a step, a black plastic insert appeared on the rear window. The Korean specialists did not change the design of the body elements, as well as the dimensions characteristic of the pre-styling generation of Hyundai Matrix, and the effect of the absence of a memorable broken line in the lower part of the glasses was achieved by painting the shelf behind the rear door and the racks in one color.

The air intake opening in the front bumper has increased. Fog lights and head optics units mirrored. The front fenders have widened markedly, forming a convex arch. The sufficiently high Hyundai Matrix ground clearance remained 160 mm. New shades have been added to the body palette. In addition to the standard gray interior trim materials, there is a choice of blue or red colors. The wide-swinging doors are equipped with colored reflectors along the inner lower part, allowing drivers of passing vehicles to clearly see the open door of the Hyundai Matrix at night.

For the domestic market, the Hyundai Matrix was offered with two options for gasoline units. The less powerful 1.6-liter Hyundai Matrix engine produces 103 hp. The second motor in the lineup is a 123-horsepower 1.8-liter engine. Transmission automatic or classic five-speed "mechanics". The Hyundai Matrix automatic transmission has four gears. The average fuel consumption of the Hyundai Matrix in the combined cycle is about 7.9 liters (1.6L MT) or 8.5 liters (1.8L MT) per hundred kilometers.

The manual transmission has been modernized. For the first and second gears, two-cone lockless synchronizers were installed, for the third and fourth gears, conventional lockless synchronizers were used. The transmission ball has been moved from its normal position between the front seats to the bottom of the center console. The modernization did not affect the Hyundai Matrix automatic transmission.

The Electronic Time and Alarm Control System controls all electronic devices in the Hyundai Matrix. Information about controlled processes is not only displayed on the screen, ETACS is able to independently turn off energy-consuming elements in the event of a decrease in the voltage level in the Matrix network to prevent the battery from discharging.

A distinctive feature of the Hyundai Matrix is ​​free all-round visibility and high seating position. The driver's seat in the maximum assembly is equipped with an armrest. The front seats, reclining back, form an almost flat surface. All Hyundai Matrix seats are heated. The rear row of seats offers a wide range of different transformations. The back of each seat in the rear row has three recline options. The seats can be moved along the passenger compartment, folded in whole or in part in a 2/3 ratio. In the GLS version, the rear row is height adjustable. In the normal state, the rectangular trunk of the Hyundai Matrix holds 365 liters. With the rear row of seats folded, the Hyundai Matrix trunk reaches a volume of 1285 liters. The absence of a high side significantly facilitates the process of loading and unloading. The optional roof rails help to increase the amount of transported cargo.

Hyundai Matrix, 2004

I have owned Matrix for 3.5 years. I bought almost by accident a "three-year" car with a mileage of 45,000 km, for working in a taxi and for home. Today's mileage is 369,000 km. For a taxi, you need a car - a "workhorse", so that it doesn't break down too much, I drove every day and less trouble for me as a driver. Well, the service is so inexpensive. I ventured to take the Hyundai Matrix. I travel a lot, walking 250-400 km a day for about 10-12 hours of work. It happens that the daily mileage is less - it means “crawling” in traffic jams and “straining” the car even more.

Consumption in the city: 9-10l / 100km, on the highway 6-7l / 100km. The engine is best of all 1.8L: it accelerates quickly, and "eats" like 1.6. Although I changed the oil every 10,000 km (and not 15,000 km - as stated in the service) - at 200,000 km the "motor" began to "eat" a little oil. The dashboard of the Hyundai Matrix is ​​in the middle. I don’t know why this was done, probably part of the interior design. You get used to it in ten minutes, no problem.

Dignity : high waist. Spacious salon. Reliability. Ineffectiveness.

Flaws : brooding checkpoint. Design for an amateur.

Maxim, Moscow

Hyundai Matrix, 2004

I sit high, visibility is excellent, control is moderately easy, on the road Hyundai Matrix behaves confidently, regardless of speed. "Engine" 1.6 - a little more than the required minimum, with the included air conditioner with "nines" you can compete, but hard. The gearbox is good, but after 120 km / h you are looking for 6th gear. In the Hyundai Matrix cabin, as a whole, it is simple and comfortable (I regret that my “Mattress” does not have adjustments for the driver's seat in terms of height and inclination of the pillow), there is a lot of space behind, the seats move and fold. A bunch of all sorts of drawers, pockets.

The trunk for a small family is sufficient, but when transporting passengers with additional luggage (for nature, for example) it happens to be small, usually solved by moving the rear seat forward and removing the shelf. Gasoline consumption, in my opinion, is too big for the Hyundai Matrix - an average of 10 liters per “hundred”. Through the city until twelve. On the highway, I stopped driving faster than 120 km / h (well, only on the "extreme"), the higher the consumption increases sharply, although the ride is not bad, but the engine makes a lot of noise. With a crosswind after 120 km / h, a hum appears from the leeward side, but in general you drive quieter - maybe you will come. I personally like the design.

Dignity : ground clearance. Space in the cabin. Unpretentiousness, and much more.

Flaws : small trunk. Poor insulation.

Dmitry, Yaroslavl

Hyundai Matrix, 2006

We chose the Hyundai Matrix, it seemed that it had the most space (of the cars comparable in cost, at the time of purchase, the range of cars under consideration was in the range from 400 to 750 thousand rubles). In addition, I really liked the flat floor at the back, the children walk back and forth, very comfortable. The trunk is not huge, but 4 rubber disks fit easily, due to the configuration. We put the roof rails and crossbars on the roof, then they removed the crossbars and never used them. Served by officials (different), the mileage for a period of about three years is slightly less than 30,000 km (the second car in the family).

Hyundai Matrix always starts, it heats up for a long time in winter. The car is very unhurried for acceleration, it is reluctant to drive uphill when fully loaded, it is necessary to "spur", we often use the "overdrive" button on the automatic transmission lever (as far as I understand, it blocks the shift to the last, 4th gear). The pressed button slightly improves the situation. The salon is very austere, there is no "climate", only air conditioning. Visibility is good, which is facilitated by large rear-view mirrors, however, blind spots are present. The Hyundai Matrix's agility is good. Parking is easy because of the small outer dimensions of the car, parking sensors are not needed, however, the rear mudguards always touch the curb above average, you need accuracy.

Ruslan, Perm

The production of the Hyundai Matrix compact van was carried out from 2001 to 2010. The development of this model was carried out on the basis of the third generation Lantra station wagon. When creating a car, the automaker sought to ensure that a comfortable, convenient vehicle was obtained and it was possible to fully achieve its goals.

The compact van is ideally adapted to travel in dense urban environments. The small dimensions of the body allow you to easily maneuver in the traffic flow, park wherever the dimensions of the body allow. Thanks to the high roof, the reduced luggage compartment, there is enough free space inside the cab to accommodate five people. The initial equipment includes full power accessories, standard climatic equipment and car audio. In 2008, the compact van underwent restyling, according to its results, the composition of the line of power units changed, the appearance of the nose of the body changed noticeably.

Exterior

The flat surface of the Hyundai hood has the same tilt angle as the windshield pillars, the compact Matrix radiator grille is closed by two horizontal louvers, and the company logo is applied to them. The front lighting units are shaped like a rectangle with rounded edges. The upper edge of the bumper is framed with a narrow polymer lining, the same lining is present on the side surfaces of the body. An air intake slot is arranged under the radiator, niches with fog lights are made next to it.

The roof is tilted at a 10-degree angle and has high polymer roof rails. Stop lights are placed vertically at the bottom of the struts. The overall dimensions of the body are 4025x1740x1635 mm, the full turning circle is 10.4 meters. Its own weight is 1323 kg, at full load the weight of the car increases to 1800 kg, a volume of 350 liters is provided for the trunk, this space expands to 1284 liters.

In the second generation, the compact van has a new bow design. Head light blocks increased in size, took the shape of an extended triangle. The narrow pentagon of the radiator grille is covered with a mesh, over which the manufacturer's logo is applied. Almost the entire area of ​​the front bumper is allocated for the layout of the trapezoidal bell of the air intake system; it has an internal filling similar to that of the radiator. On the side surfaces of the bumper there are decorative, protruding lining, fog lights are built into them. There is a decorative polymer body kit on the side surfaces of the body. The overall dimensions of the body have remained unchanged.

Interior

Hyundai's high roof gives the Matrix a sense of ample headroom. There are three headrests built into the back of the rear sofa, the seats provide minimal support for the lateral parts of the body. Roomy, wide pockets are formed under the door armrests, personal items can be stowed on the back shelf or under the sofa. The driver's seat is divided by a narrow, wedge-shaped bollard with a 40-degree inclined surface. The transmission selector is located on it, then the T-shaped console begins to rise. It includes a block with regulators and buttons for controlling the microclimate, a block with controls for the functions of the stereo system. Above the console, a semicircular instrument board is mounted, into which four scales of different sizes are built. In the place where the dashboard is located on conventional cars, a narrow strip with colored indicators is made.

Specifications

The line of power units consists of two gasoline and a pair of diesel engines. The initial gasoline engine has a volume of 1599 cc. centimeters, develops power up to 103 liters. forces, acceleration to hundreds is achieved in 12.7 seconds. The most powerful gasoline unit has a volume of 1795 cubic meters. centimeters, develops up to 123 liters. forces, provides acceleration to hundreds in 11.3 seconds.

The younger diesel engine is represented by a power plant with a volume of 1493 cubic meters. centimeters, with a capacity of 82 liters. forces. Acceleration to hundreds takes 17.9 seconds, peak thrust - 187 Nm. The next in the lineup is a 102-horsepower diesel engine, which spends 14.3 seconds for acceleration to hundreds of seconds, peak thrust - 235 Nm.

The Matrix was designed based on the Lantra III, Hyundai Motor Company's first station wagon. However, the parameters of the body have undergone quite strong changes. The car is the second minivan of the company (the first was the Trajet) and the first compact van in particular. It first debuted in Asia with the Lavita, and then in Europe in 2001, where Hyundai introduced the same model, but called the Matrix. The version for the European market received a more powerful engine, a 1.5-liter unit with a capacity of 100 hp is installed on the Lavita.

While creating Matrix, Hyundai specialists, first of all, aimed to create a car in which it will be good, convenient and comfortable. It is perfect for family walks and business trips. In urban areas it is distinguished by good maneuverability and small dimensions (height - 1635 mm, length 4025 mm), but at the same time the car pleasantly surprises with its spacious interior.

Matrix is ​​designed by the legendary Italian studio Pinifarina.

It is easy to get inside through large doorways. The interior design is original. So, for example, in place of the dashboard there is an information display with a set of warning lamps, which greatly facilitates control over the state of all systems. And the dashboard itself is placed on the center console and turned to the side so that it is constantly in the driver's field of vision. As a result, the visibility is increased, and it becomes easier to follow what is happening on the road.

The seats are solid, moderately hard, with sufficient lateral support, the driver's - with an armrest. The rear seats are adjustable horizontally (195mm range) for extra legroom and vertically (23-58 degrees) for comfortable seating and better road visibility. The Hyundai Matrix windshield has a convex shape and is somewhat recessed - this improves aerodynamic performance and also increases visibility.

The transformation of the cabin allows the rear seats to be fully folded and get one flat surface, which is very convenient when transporting goods. The back door opens traditionally - up. The trunk, despite the short overhang, is large enough; a full-size spare wheel is located under its floor.

Provided in the cabin and many convenient storage compartments. Two niches in the side walls of the trunk and under the row of the rear seats are for tools. There is a shoe compartment under the front seat, and folding tables are installed in the backrests of the front seats. There are also many small containers on the dash and about 12 cup holders throughout the cabin.

For complete control of the situation on the road, an on-board computer is provided. It displays information about fuel consumption and distance to refueling, tracks the distance traveled, travel time and much more. A special sensor warns when the handbrake is on.

The heart of Matrix today can be one of three engines: 1.6 l / 103 hp, 1.8 l / 122 hp, as well as a three-cylinder turbodiesel with 82 hp. The car is delivered to Russia only with the most powerful 1.8 liter engine.

Transmission to choose from: automatic or manual.

The Matrix has anti-lock brakes, disc front and rear drum.

Front suspension MacPherson is the best option for equipping a passenger car. Rear suspension Dual - link successfully copes with the side roll of the car when entering a turn.

Matrix has a good security system. The body is the first line of defense. Critical body elements, made of high-strength steel, provide maximum rigidity and protect the driver and passengers. In a collision, the load-bearing structures of the body are deformed according to specially calculated schemes - this allows you to extinguish the main force of the impact. The presence of airbags and seat belts with pretensioners is natural.

The fuel pump and filter are combined into one unit and are located inside the gas tank. It is the most secure system in existence. Leakage and ignition of fuel after an accident are excluded.

The Hyundai Matrix comes standard with ABS and EBD. These systems provide an even distribution of braking forces depending on the road surface and interior load and shorten the braking distance.

The Hyundai Matrix headlights use the Multi Focus Reflector (MFR) system. The light from the lamp hits the reflectors, which refract the light into the guide lens and prevent oncoming drivers from being dazzled.

Hyundai Matrix combines all the advantages that a modern car should have: reliability, safety, comfort, convenience and power.