2009 Pontiac Vibe

Vibe (and its corporate cousin, the Toyota Matrix) first rolled onto the scene in 2003. At the time, crossovers were hot, but not like now. Five years removed from its debut, Vibe reloads and returns to a field that is filling with new buyers, and new competitors. Buyers want the versatility that they used to get in their SUV, in a more economical package. Competitors want as much of Vibe’s market share as they can eat.

Interior Versatility & Cargo Capacity

Crossovers are basically wagons, and wagons earn their keep with versatility. Swing up the lift gate in back and you have access to 20.1 cubic feet of cargo space. Fold down the split back seat and you get a nearly flat load floor and room for 49.4 cubic feet of stuff. Rubber stripes run lengthwise in the cargo bay and they do as they’re designed to—keeping items from slipping around in back. Models fitted with the 2.4-liter engine pick up a couple of additional stowage options. First, the passenger’s front seat folds flat forward (of course, when unoccupied), so you can carry long items. Anything from surfboard to stepladder will fit, with the hatch door closed. Also, a cargo organizer provides net-divided compartments and hooks to get your stuff together in back, and it folds flush into the floor when not in use.

Up front, the cargo content theme continues with an oversized glove box and a smattering of cubbyholes and cup holders. The cover of the dual level, center console doubles as an inside armrest, and would work better if it slid forward. The dash display is colorful and readable. The speedometer’s scale runs to an optimistic 150 mph; however, the dial isn’t spread out over a full circle, because the fuel/temp gauges overlap. As a result, when you’re doing 50 mph, the needle hasn’t even reached the “9:00” position, so to speak. One can imagine that any number of interesting discussions have taken place with members of the law enforcement community over this point. Vibe’s interior will hold four comfortably, although those over six feet will find driver’s legroom just a little short. The steering column tilts and telescopes for a personalized fit. Such is the slope of the Vibe’s nose that the driver can’t see the front end of the car. Visibility is otherwise generally good, with the exception of the wide d-pillars, which hinder the rear, three quarter views. Pontiac scores points for a straightforward array of switchgear—intuitive and easy to reach. An auxiliary input jack standard and the available, seven-speaker Monsoon sound system packs a sonic wallop, with 320 watts.

Models, Power & Performance

With the 2009 rollout, All Wheel Drive and GT models return, thus restoring the same breadth of the Vibe lineup that it had at the beginning of its first generation. The base, front-wheel-drive model has a starting sticker price of $15,895. AWD models begin at $19,495, and the sportier GT version is offered at $19,895. Vibe shares its platform and powertrain choices with the Toyota Matrix. The base engine is Toyota’s 1.8-liter, 132-hp four, linked to either a five-speed stick or optional four speed automatic. A 2.4-liter, 158-hp four is optional on base models and standard on GT and AWD versions. All AWD models get a four speed automatic transmission. Buyers of the 2.4 on either base or GT models can opt for a five-speed automatic, or stick with the five-speed stick.