I had one, liked it, my knees could not take the clutch, but I was
grateful it let me drive?

I have a Pontiac Vibe which is that same car but comes standard with a
roof rack and fog lights. Love it. It's the best car I've owned. . had
it for just a year

The only thhing I would change is the  steering wheel is is too far
away, and there is nothing to rest your elbows on (left or right side)
so you have to have both hands on the wheel (hey, maybe it was designed
that way !)

John

It's basically a Corolla with a hatch.  High roofline, and upright seating,
so it's easy to get in and out of.  It's got an efficient 4-cyl VVTi engine,
with plenty of aftermarket upgrades if you want it.  It has a long
wheelbase, so you want to watch out for steep declines that connect to a
flat street.  My Matrix has a chin spoiler that hangs too low to the ground
so the rare times when I go from a steep decline to a flat street it rubs
against the pavement.  However, don't let that stop you.  It's a very
versatile car and I can fit a big TV in the back when I fold the back seats
down.