OK, the name is a bit too hip, and the wagon body style doesn’t appeal to everyone, but the Vibe is a small car with a lot going for it.
This is the second time around for the Vibe, and like the first generation, the Vibe is an alternate styling exercise of the Toyota Matrix, which it shares virtually everything with. Both Matrix and Vibe are built off the new Corolla platform.
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2009 Pontiac Vibe
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New Vibe hits its groove
I tested a 2009 Vibe GT, and while I Iike the first gen, the second gen is better … as it should be.
Pontiac calls the 2009 Vibe a crossover because it offers all-wheel drive and has some mild SUV styling overtones, but it’s really a compact wagon. Yes the “W” word is not popular with manufacturers or buyers, but the scale dips to the wagon side verses the crossover side.
So, why do I like the Vibe? In word: Utility. I found that I could pack the proverbial 10 pounds of stuff in a 5-pound package.
Between the Matrix and the Vibe’s interior design, I prefer the Vibe’s sports car accented design. This time around the interior ratchets up with better materials, tighter tolerances and greater passenger comfort.
The GT test car came with a standard leather package including leather-trimmed seats, three-spoke steering wheel and shift knob. Base through GT models seat five, and the fifth person better be thin.
Vibe comes with creature comforts including a telescoping/rake adjustable steering column, a 115-volt, three-prong auxiliary power outlet (no razors or coffee makers please), individual headrests at all seating positions and active front head restraints. The split-folding rear seatbacks and standard flat-folding front passenger seat on 2.4L models provide great cargo-carrying options, especially for long items like small trees and step ladders. With the rear seats folded there is 49.4 cubic-feet of cargo space to work or play with. The 2.4L Vibes also come with a cargo management system that is great for keeping groceries or those pesky small items that seem to roll around or get smashed in open cargo areas. The under-floor storage bins and hooks add to the versatility. Additional storage solutions are included from an oversized glove box, an overhead console, a dual-tier center console and other storage bins and pockets located throughout.
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The Pontiac Vibe has “the look.” This refers to its taught, athletic lines, unique front fascia with large fog lamps and a lower-fascia air intake, flared rocker moldings, a roof spoiler and a chrome exhaust tip. Get used to the nose treatment as you’ll be seeing variations of it on upcoming Pontiacs. The Vibe has a high sweptback belt line accented by a steeper windshield rake and capped with a forward-peaking roof. GT-exclusive five spoke alloys circled by 18-inch 215/45-series all-season performance tires fill the wheel wells nicely.
Under the skin, standard Vibes come with a 1.8-liter four cylinder engine. Stepping up to a higher power, go for the larger, 2.4-liter DOHC engine with 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The 2.4-liter engine is standard on AWD and GT models, such as the test car, and optional on base models.
A four-speed automatic transmission is standard on AWD cars. Pontiac offers GT customers a standard five-speed manual transmission or a new, five-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission featuring Driver Shift Control (DSC). The test car came with the optional automatic allowing me to manually select gears via tap up/tap down controls. It was fun for a while, but I eventually became bored with it. These types of automatic transmissions just can’t replicate the “all in” experience of a manual.
A consideration for transmission choice is that Vibe GTs with manuals have EPA numbers of 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, and GTs with automatics are rated at 21 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway. Yes, that’s right, Pontiac indicates that the automatic gets better mileage.
The Vibe shares its strong foundation with the Corolla and near-twin Matrix. There are underbody rails running front to rear that serve as the base for the suspension. All models employ a MacPherson-strut front suspension design, and GT models are beefed up with an integrated tower-to-tower damper, and stiffer suspension settings. The AWD and GT models use a multi-link independent rear suspension for improved handling responses and enhanced driving control over base models.
A few nice standard features across the Vibe model range are four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, electronic stability control and traction control. The electric power steering system worked fine but did not return any meaningful feeling or connection to the road. It wasn’t over assisted or slow -- just numb.
On the road, the Vibe experience leans toward the firm side. This does work hand in hand with the crisp turns and minimal body sway. There were zero chassis rattles or slop when pushing this car through corners or executing fast maneuvers. The stability control, ABS and traction control are high-end driver/safety aids that really help elevate the Vibe GT above typical compact car fare. Acceleration was peppy, and the automatic did a good job of moving through the gears without any up/down shift hang ups.
Pontiac has priced the Vibe line to fit most budgets. The base models begin at just under $16,000. The Vibe GT test car started at $19,310, adding the automatic transmission for $1,050 and a power sunroof for $700. With the options and a $585 destination charge, the Vibe GT test vehicle checked in at $21,645.
The Vibe’s competitors are its twin the Toyota Matrix, the Dodge Caliber, Mazda3 five-door and the five-door Saturn Astra.
The Vibe is the new blend of an affordable sporty car and crossover packaged in a wagon body style. The Vibe’s performance and utility combined with decent fuel economy and pricing make it a viable alternative to the boring econo-car choices facing buyers who are looking to downsize.
source:suntimes
