The 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS compact wagon arrived a year later than most people expected, but at the perfect time.

Skyrocketing fuel prices have boosted small-car sales, and the Matrix - and its GM sibling, the Pontiac Vibe - hit the road with an appealing combination of high miles per gallon and affordable sticker prices.

Add a roomy passenger and cargo compartment, and both cars should win plenty of buyers.

Prices for the new version of the Matrix start at $16,190 for a base front-wheel drive model with a 132-horsepower, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. A four-speed automatic adds $810.

The S and XRS models come with Toyota's excellent 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual. Prices start at $18,260 for the S and $20,660 for the XRS.

The S also offers an all-wheel drive model priced at $20,400. Adding the four-speed automatic adds $1,190 to the price for an S or XRS. The all-wheel drive system is available only with the automatic transmission.

I tested an XRS with the manual transmission and a couple of options that sells for $21,820. All prices exclude destination charges.

The Matrix and Vibe share all their major mechanical systems - engines, transmission, safety and electrical systems, etc. - but Pontiac and Toyota have greatly increased the exterior styling differences. They have the same basic profile, but nearly every piece of the exterior is unique to each car.

The original Matrix went on sale as a 2002 model. A 7-year run for a car used to be unheard of at Toyota, but it has lengthened its product cycle as it builds a wider variety of vehicles.

The wagon uses the same platform as the Corolla, but it's aimed at a younger, hipper crowd. It hits that target, but well outside the bull's-eye scored by sportier and more appealing compacts such as the Mazda 3 and Honda Civic. The exterior styling aspires to their modern appeal, but the Matrix falls short on performance and interior look and feel.

The Vibe is the Matrix's most direct competitor, although very few people seem to shop at both Toyota and Pontiac dealerships. That's because the brands have very different characters, and Pontiac hasn't been able to cash in on Toyota's reputation for superb quality, despite the Vibe's trouble-free history.

The Toyota mystique for reliability and the brand's higher used-car values appear to be the primary reasons for a price premium on the Matrix that ran from $810 to $1,350 across model lines.

That being said, the Matrix is an appealing little car. The interior provides plentiful space for front and rear passengers, and the cargo area makes it more useful than compacts such as the Civic, Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Elantra and Mazda 3, despite the fact that those cars measure 3 to 6 inches longer.

The interior suffers badly from wind and road noise, however, and some pieces of trim did not fit together with the precision we've come to expect from Toyota. The materials generally felt and looked good, though I was surprised to find a softer material padding the armrests of a less expensive Vibe GT.

The instrument package is absolutely lovely, however, with big white-lit gauges and lighted red needles. Interior storage space is also generous, with lots of cubbies for cups, mobile phones and whatever other gear you're likely to want close at hand.

The useful layout is maximized by moving the shifter to the center stack - on the instrument panel below the audio and climate controls - rather than having the conventional placement on the center console between the seats. The shifter is smooth, and the 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter engine - the same power plant that's standard in the bigger Camry sedan - provides plenty of power.

The Matrix XRS - and the Vibe GT, which shares its powertrain - has EPA fuel-economy ratings of 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, average for its class.

The steering and brakes are tuned to provide good feedback and response, but the suspension leans more toward comfort than sport driving. It absorbs bumps smoothly, but body roll and a tendency to push quickly become apparent in spirited driving.

Shoppers who want to fly around curves are no more likely to flood Toyota dealerships than Matrix customers are to hang out in Pontiac showrooms. But buyers who want value, fuel economy and practicality shop for Toyotas, and the 2009 Matrix has arrived at just the right time for them.

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2009 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS

Vehicle type: Front-wheel drive five-passenger compact wagon

Base price: $20,660 (excluding destination charges)

As tested: $21,820

Standard equipment: Antilock brakes; electronic brake force distribution; engine immobilizer; tire pressure monitoring; electronic stability control; front-seat side air bags; curtain air bags; halogen headlights; power sideview mirrors; front fog lights; rear spoiler; variable intermittent windshield wipers; intermittent rear wiper; roof rack; auxiliary audio input; manual tilt and telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel; fold-flat front passenger seat and 60/40 split rear seat; 115-volt AC outlet; power locks and windows; keyless entry; 18-inch alloy wheels.

Options: Hands-free phone capability; JBL stereo with AM/FM/in-dash six-disc CD changer with WMA/MP3 playback capability and nine speakers; steering wheel audio controls; heated sideview mirrors; rear heater ducts.

Specifications as tested

Engine: 2.4-liter variable timing DOHC 16-valve four cylinder

Power: 158 horsepower at 6,000 r.p.m.; 162 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 r.p.m.

Transmission: 5-speed manual

Fuel economy: 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway

Wheelbase: 102.4 inches

Length: 173.0 inches

Width: 69.5 inches

Height: 61.4 inches (with roof rails)

Curb weight: 3,140 pounds

Where assembled: Cambridge, Ontario

Comparative base prices:

Manual transmission models, not including destination charges

Honda Civic sedan EX-L: $19,910

Mazda 3 s Grand Touring hatchback: $20,296

Pontiac Vibe GT: $19,310

Subaru Impreza Outback Sport: $19,995