2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD.
Friday, May 30th, 2008 in Advanced Auto NEWS, Pontiac
After recently testing the 2009 Toyota Matrix, we ordered up a new Pontiac Vibe AWD for a one-week stay in our test fleet. While the Vibe didn’t knock our socks off with outstanding performance, we commend the little five-door on its all-around usable nature.
Nate Luzod
Art Director
I was pleasantly surprised with the new Matrix last month, and can only say more of the same for the new Vibe. I actually prefer the “muscular stance” look of the Vibe over the odd, bubbly form of the Matrix, though inside I’m hard pressed to recall any noticeable differences. It’s a very obvious cocktail of parts from both the Toyota and GM bins, but it works out well. I found it suitably comfortable, spacious, and incredibly functional: everything seems perfectly within reach and easy to operate. You can tell that serious thought was given to creating the passenger’s environment, and I can appreciate that.
The all-wheel drive works well and gives you a definite sense of sure-footedness. Steering was responsive at every imaginable daily-drive speed, and the car had a reassuring amount of power that we enjoyed in all gears. The Vibe isn’t overwhelming nor overly exciting, but it can hold its own at speed, and the performance seems well rounded and very solid. It seems like a very practical choice, but I would have difficulty making a strong case for it against the Mazda3, or even the cheaper and smaller-but-roomy Honda Fit.
Steven J. Ewing
Production Assistant
Unlike Nate, I much prefer the look of the new Toyota Matrix. Even though our Matrix was front-wheel drive versus this Vibe’s all-wheel-drive setup, I didn’t notice a huge difference in road manners, at least on dry pavement. The Vibe is pleasant and moves down the road with appropriate power. I never felt like I didn’t have enough oomph to move around slow semi trucks, and at the same time, keeping the Vibe at 75 miles per hour was an easy task. The interior looks nice, and there’s a lot of space, but I must also agree with Nate: a Mazda3 seems like a better buy all around.
Laura K. Cowan
Chief Copy Editor
I didn’t find many surprises inside the new Vibe, with the possible exception of the loose-feeling steering. I got used to this but found it a little sloppy at first. The shape of the seats was pleasing to the eye, a little different and boxy looking around the shoulders, but otherwise the interior is what you would expect from a just-above-entry-level vehicle such as this. Cargo space is good, there is plenty of legroom, the ride height is pleasant, and ingress and egress are easy, but the vehicle isn’t so low that it scrapes curbs. I didn’t keep track of my exact fuel mileage, but I hardly noticed the gauge move below full my entire overnight drive, which consisted of over thirty city and highway miles. For the price, this really is a great value, and the car feels lighter and more powerful than the spec sheet suggests. Just don’t look for any great performance or sporty touches.
Adam Morath
Associate Art Director
The redesigned 2009 Pontiac Vibe AWD never surprised me, good or bad. Among today’s CUV saturated market, the once unorthodox styling no longer stands out as all that original. Technically a small wagon, the Vibe’s rear cargo storage system offers much greater capacity than a standard sedan, yet falls short in terms of utility when compared to most small SUVs, while its car guts offer only marginally improved handling. An EPA estimated 22 MPG average isn’t much to brag about these days either, especially within the segment.
The AWD system keeps the car feeling planted through rough pavement and sharp corners, but a soft suspension made such driving uncomfortable none the less. This, coupled with the wagon’s high center of gravity, results in excessive body roll regardless of the road conditions.
The no nonsense interior is spacious and well laid-out. GM seems to be doing more with less by using inexpensive materials effectively, with a focus on fit and finish rather than frills. However, I was put off by the ill-conceived adjustable cup holder, complete with two small removable (read: misplacable) plastic pieces.
Finding the right seating position may take a moment due to the driver chair’s elevated hip point. The default seating position is a bit more minivanish than you might expect for a hatchback that sits so low to the ground, but once settled in I remained comfortable for the duration of a long weekend road-trip. The ’sun and sound’ package provides welcome options such as a power sunroof, 7-speaker Monsoon audio system, and leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls that supplement the Vibe’s otherwise unremarkable ride.
If you’re determined to avoid the growing CUV and small SUV markets, the Pontiac Vibe AWD offers a pragmatic and sporty alternative, but can’t be called a steal at $22,615.
Chris Paukert
Editor-In-Chief
Like the front-drive Toyota Matrix we sampled recently, this all-wheel drive Pontiac Vibe is a competent all-‘rounder.
Boasting good space, solid ergonomics, and a cooperative (if unremarkable) 2.4-liter powertrain, the Vibe strikes a compelling balance for those seeking secure foul-weather handling without the extra height, weight, and cost of a compact crossover. Oh, the Vibe is a bit of a top-heavy handler and feels vulnerable to crosswinds, but this isn’t the sort of device that attracts the canyon carvers among us anyhow. At $22,615 including destination, it also doesn’t strike me as a bad value for an AWD vehicle, especially considering that I would rather save $650 than splash out for chrome wheels.
To be clear, the Vibe offers solid utility and value, but it isn’t a vehicle our staff was able to get passionate about. Thus, it still seems at odds with Pontiac’s posturing as General Motors’ “Excitement” division (a badly outdated bit of positioning that the General is hoping to restore some luster to with cars like the G8 and its pending car-based pickup companion). Wouldn’t the Vibe really have made for a better Chevrolet or Saturn the second time through?
2009 PONTIAC VIBE AWD
Engine: Inline-4, 2.4 liters, 16v
Output: 158 hp/162 lb-ft
Transmission: Four-speed automatic
Weight: 3295 lb
Fuel Economy, city/hwy: 20/26 mpg
Base price: $18,910
Sun and sound package: $1285
Preferred package: $1070
17” aluminum wheels, chrome-clad: $650
Front foglamps: $115
Destination: $585
Price as tested: $22,615
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