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2009 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

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2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

Hyundai has given its Hyundai Matrix a facelift for the 2009 model year and the mini-MPV now features Hyundai’s new corporate nose, similiar to the one on the new generation Hyundai i30. There are minimal changes on the rear.

Three engine choices are available - a 103 PS 1.6 liter from the Alpha family of engines, a 128 PS 1.8 liter from the Beta family of engines, and a 1.5 liter CRDi turbodiesel putting out 110 PS. The Malaysian Inokom Matrix is only available with the petrol engines.

More photos and a video after the jump.

VIDEO: 2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

2008 Hyundai Matrix Facelift

35 Comments »

  1. xenith said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 4:20 am

    Is the facelifted front designed by Pininfarina too?

  2. naikmotoje said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 6:37 am

    same old hyundai matrix except the front lamp
    like the 2002 hyundai atoz…

  3. abtm said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 7:12 am

    i thought there will be a new one, not a facelift, this car is getting old

  4. azrai said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 7:37 am

    Quite a bit like Santa FE face.

  5. normaluser said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 7:52 am

    At least a lot better from the old one. They have also painted black on the C-pillar side of the rear window, probably after realizing that customers don’t like much the step-up side windows design (like the savvy).

  6. ka_one2000 said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 8:49 am

    Side profile looks like Naza sutera.

  7. raptorclans said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 8:49 am

    I find the new front cute :)

  8. raptorclans said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 8:55 am

    PS: I kinda prefered the step-up windows… it adds some character to the car, like the Savvy. Wish they didn’t blacken it up, makes it look so generic.

  9. sxe10r said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 9:28 am

    if sell 1.5 liter CRDi turbodiesel in malaysia will sell well … but the rear it is same …

  10. I my said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 9:56 am

    I like their CRDi car too . hv test out the Tucson 2.0 VGT(??) auto before feel good. but problem is here the diesel is bad & most of us dont seem the new diesel power is a good car, (diesel = lorry). Also the road tax is higher then the petrol ver too.

  11. hazri99 said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 10:09 am

    lok like nazacitra/kia karen a bit… infront like more longer..

  12. dr_carz said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 12:05 pm

    YES THE DIESEL WILL SELL! I WILL BUY IF THERE IS A DIESEL VERSION. BUT SAD THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE MONKEYS

  13. sxe10r said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 12:07 pm

    but in sabah diesel car roadtax is cheeper … dimax 3.0 only rm300++ .. if this 1.5 CRDI maybe like our petrol below rm100 … hehe anywhere 1.5 CRDI turbo maybe nice torque compare with Avanza 1.5 … + low FC also on diesel

  14. jaygan said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 2:51 pm

    Looks like the same old same old :(

    But auto diesel is available and sell cheap, not more than 1.8L petrol’s price, that will be GREAT.

  15. proton GL said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 3:06 pm

    incoherent front and the body,

  16. renyeo said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 3:50 pm

    The face is friendly with a feminine touch. I was put off by the old Matrix because I wasn’t fond of the way it used to be. I hope the new powertrain will give the Matrix a new lease of life - the old one was crude and feels dated. Matrix is truly a standard bearer in terms of packaging. It packs in loads of space within a small body.

  17. mitlanevo said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 8:55 pm

    old one = ugly

    facelifted = even more ugly…..

  18. BrakeFader said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 9:24 pm

    Why did they bother facelifting this? This is the 2nd facelift for matrix after changing the grill and lamps. Isn’t the i30 the replacement for the matrix in the first place?

  19. Paul Tan said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 9:31 pm

    I also find this facelift strange. Where is the Hyundai version of the Kia Rondo? And on the Kia side, where is the Kia version of the Santa Fe?

  20. brutus said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 9:56 pm

    is that a rear disc brake?
    seems our Malaysian companies are very ignorant about bring in diesel powered cars! sad!
    think the 1.5CRDi putting out 110hp would even beat the 1.8i in town driving!

  21. bluebeam said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 10:10 pm

    It does look a lot more cheeful..but I wished they did something at the back too…

  22. transformer said,

    March 7, 2008 @ 10:49 pm

    Others get Rondo as Matrix replacement but what the shit we are getting?????? another “nasional” car kah?

    Bolehland are being used as dumpsite for old automobile(more than 24months after initial launch)….

    Latio, Cefiro (Teana), Belta(07Vios), Rush….

    Too many example…

    Paul Tan says: er, no one is getting a Rondo as a Matrix replacement. that was what I was talking about earlier… there’s no Hyundai version of the Rondo anywhere in the world. This Matrix facelift was a world premiere at Geneva 2008

  23. BrakeFader said,

    March 8, 2008 @ 10:27 am

    Hyundai kia might be taking a different approach for some models. Not all hyundai would be direct convert to kia while some kia would be for kia only. Eg hyundai getz, santa fe and kia rondo. However, if you compare this matrix and i30, which one will you prefer? Both are 5 seater wagons with 5 doors. And both are having similar engine cc range but i30 is using newer generation engines up to 2.0 similar to kia ceed. Looks like another case of our local atos. Newer front, the rest are the same.

  24. 4G63T DSM said,

    March 8, 2008 @ 6:17 pm

    Paul,

    Wasn’t the Rondo the replacement for the Carens/Citra? There is no Hyundai equivalent.

    Paul Tan says: er, wasn’t that’s exactly what i was saying? where is the hyundai equivalent of the Rondo?

    I don’t think Hyundai has a direct replacement for the Matrix…at least yet.

    The i30 wagon is just an Elantra wagon. Begining to wonder if the Matrix is the end of the line, both KIA and Hyundai seems to have given up on this segment/Platform.

  25. transformer said,

    March 8, 2008 @ 9:03 pm

    ya… maybe Hyundai are following Porsche 911 design languages for its rear…

    (911 30years ago didn’t looks much diff from today’s 911… exterior wise!)

  26. charles27 said,

    March 9, 2008 @ 6:05 am

    paul.. any news about the upcoming new HYUNDAI SONATA 2009?
    hear that its already release in US, and not sure when is malaysia turn.

    i see the photo, interial is much much better and with forced induction engine. almost matching the current accord power.

    hope to see this car review soon :)

  27. lantoi said,

    March 10, 2008 @ 11:57 am

    Not much difference, only front look and rear bumper. Wonder if any major changes inside

  28. figo said,

    March 11, 2008 @ 9:23 am

    They should provide the 2.0 cc(like kia citra) with the new facelift and selling at ~70K. As we are aware, this car is heavy as compared to most 1.6/1.8 car in the market.

  29. juanbeibei said,

    March 12, 2008 @ 6:37 pm

    front looks cute! but when it comes to the rear.. juz a minor changes.. will be nicer if they change the side and rear a bit.. haha..^^

  30. nmh said,

    March 13, 2008 @ 12:02 am

    UGLY

  31. nuajon said,

    March 17, 2008 @ 8:43 pm

    ug ly lohhhh

  32. kadir said,

    February 13, 2009 @ 1:18 pm

    hello all. i am contemplating a purchase the new hyundai matrix 1.6 auto. but the front is the older model styling, maybe old stock. i am wondering how is the car in terms of consumption per km and cost in maintaining it in 12 months. anyone who could help, please drop me a line at balanced.equilibrium@yahoo.com. thank you all - kadir

    *and thanks paul tan.

  33. zaid said,

    February 17, 2009 @ 2:11 am

    This look is defintly more appealing but i like the older look better , the biggest problem with matix is the cv-joints and thier trasmission colapes very fast,the bushings should be made more durable and i suggest ,tetron. and the Radiators should be made off steel rather than plastic.

    Tel; 1(868) 794 9564
    by Zaid Allaham
    Automotive Analyist
    Trinadad and Tobago

  34. Terence said,

    March 16, 2009 @ 11:01 pm

    Please can someone tell me when this facelifted Matrix (130 front) is going to be on sale in uk?

  35. K.BALENDRA. said,

    June 23, 2009 @ 12:19 am

    I have Matrix 2001 model imported to Srilanka as a used car from Singapore.I came into possession of it 2004. It is quite comfortable and roomy. But the petrol consumption is rather high in that it does 5or6 kilometers only per liter in the city.However it does about 10km outstation. Is there any way I can improve the petrol consumption to be economical. It is an Auto transmission
    I don’t see any latest models in Srilanka I wonder why ?. I wonder whether spares will be continueosly available What will be the approximate CIF price of a latest model Matrix.
    Await your response please

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