2009 Pontiac Vibe Review

PROS
Versitile interior, Compact and maneuverable, Good fuel economy

CONS
Mediocre acceleration with 1.8-liter engine, Firm ride on GT, Too much engine noise when accelerating

Twenty years ago, people called vehicles like the Vibe a station wagon; today automakers insist they are crossovers. Wagon or crossover, they are versatile people and cargo movers that make a lot of sense for people with active lifestyles.

The Vibe is completely redesigned for 2009 with fresh styling, additional power and more features--key among them is the return of all-wheel drive. It remains an underskin clone to the Toyota Matrix. Both are compact four-door wagons that come with either front- or all-wheel drive. Interior and exterior dimensions change little, and Vibe competes with vehicles like the Chevrolet HHR, Dodge Caliber, Ford Focus, Jeep Compass, Nissan Rogue, Scion xB, and Subaru Impreza.

Two trim levels are offered: Base and GT. Base models come with either a 1.8-liter four cylinder engine that makes 132 horsepower or a 2.4-liter four with 158 horsepower. The GT gets the 2.4-liter. Standard on all models except for the Base AWD is a 5-speed manual transmission. Standard on Base AWD and optional on other 1.8-liter Base models is a four-speed automatic. Optional on the GT and front-drive 2.4-liter Base models is a five-speed automatic with a separate shift gate for manual control.

Standard safety equipment on all models includes antilock four-wheel disc brakes, stability control, tire-pressure monitor, and dual front, front-side, and curtain-side airbags. OnStar assistance with one year free service is also standard. Park assist and rear-view monitor are not offered.

Base models with the 1.8-liter engine come with tilt-telescope steering wheel, cloth upholstery, front bucket seats, height-adjustable driver seat, center console, split-folding rear seat, power mirrors, AM/FM/CD player, satellite radio, rear defogger, automatic headlights, floormats, 205/55R16 tires. Base models with the 2.4-liter engine add a fold-flat passenger seat. Base models with all-wheel drive add air conditioning, interior air filter, and roof rack.

GT adds to Base with 2.4 air conditioning, interior air filter, leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel with radio controls, cruise control, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, Monsoon AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, variable-intermittent wipers, variable-intermittent rear wiper/washer, roof rails, rear spoiler, sport suspension, 215/45R18 tires, and alloy wheels.

Key options include sunroof, cargo cover, cargo organizer, alarm, fog lights and chrome alloy wheels. Prices start at $15,310 for the Base with 1.8-liter and manual transmission and climb to $19,310 for the GT. All models have a $585 destination charge and are assembled in Fremont, California.

Get Up and Go
The Base's 1.8-liter engine provides merely adequate acceleration and is best mated to the five-speed manual transmission where the driver can change ratios in advance to keep the engine in its power band. Acceleration drops to dull in 1.8-liter models when there are more than two adults on board.

The 2.4-liter engine has noticeably more pep in every situation. Even with a full-load of passengers, the larger engine boasts impressive passing punch. The available five-speed automatic shifts smoothly and downshifts promptly when additional power is needed. It does hunt a bit when climbing mild grades, but that's not uncommon in this class.

Both engines idle smoothly but groan coarsely in hard acceleration. Once up to speed, the engines cruise quietly.

Vibe's all-wheel-drive system does not have a low range and is not intended for severe off-road use. It is very capable on slippery roads or in the snow, however.

The GT with automatic is EPA rated at 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. Though not impressive, those numbers are about average for wagons in this class. In real-world driving, Vibes equipped this way are likely to get about 22 mpg around town and perhaps 27 mpg on the highway. Pontiac says that all Vibe engines will run fine on regular-grade gasoline.

On the Road
If you're looking for a smooth-riding wagon, stick to the Base. With its 16-inch wheels, it has the softest ride. GTs get 18-inch wheels, low-profile tires, and a sport suspension. That combination leads to a busy ride on bumpy roads. Both models are subject to bouncing oscillations on scalloped expressway surfaces.

The upside to a firmer suspension is usually a more controlled ride. Thankfully, that's the case in the Vibe. On Base models, body motions are kept well in check with little bobbing or bouncing on rough roads. GT models ride with significantly more tautness and have little body lean.

When the road grows twisty, you'll want to be in the GT, with its stiffer suspension and larger tires. Yet, the base model is quite nimble and is a good fit in cut-and-thrust city driving. Both models have nicely weighted and accurate steering and impressive brakes. No Vibe is a sporty as a Chevrolet HHR SS or Dodge Caliber SRT4, but those models cost thousands more and have a significantly harder ride.

Like most tall wagons, the Vibe gets blown around a bit by crosswinds.

As noted earlier, the Vibe's engines aren't as quiet as they could be. Thankfully, wind noise is low at highway speeds and tire thrum is only a problem on coarse concrete roadways.

Behind the Wheel
With its '09 redesign, Vibe gets a completely new interior. General control placement is similar, but materials are upgraded and completely appropriate for the class. Gauges are deeply set, with the speedometer placed directly in front of the driver. Radio controls are highlighted by two dials, one for volume and another for tuning. Buttons are nicely arranged and easy to reach. Climate controls are also simple and clearly marked. In all, the interior is functional without any glaring flaws.

Front-seat passengers sit upright on firm but only mildly supportive seats. Head room is adequate on models equipped with the optional sunroof. Taller drivers will want a trifle more leg room. Outward visibility is fine and the side-view mirrors are generously sized. The tall dashboard and thick rear pillars lead to a slightly closed-in feeling.

Rear-seat room is surprisingly good. There's adult-size head room and leg room only grows tight if the front seats are moved all the way back. The seats themselves were designed more for utility than comfort. The seat bottom is completely flat, which is ideal for folding, but not so great for long-haul comfort. Though the flat seat bottom is great if you actually want to seat three kids back there. Adding to middle passenger comfort is a very small driveline bump.

Since the Vibe is a wagon . . . er . . . crossover, utility is paramount. The cargo area is plenty large for a weekend's worth of luggage or a week's worth of groceries. The rear seats fold flat in a snap and there's even a fold-flat front-passenger seat. A cargo management system is optional. It pops up from the cargo floor and creates a number of compartments for small item storage. There's also a bin for wet-gear storage. Interior storage is plentiful with a large glove box, front and rear door map pockets and a couple of open bins in the center console. There's also a 115-volt power outlet that provides enough juice for laptops or video game systems.

Bottom Line
Station wagon or crossover, Vibe is a versatile performer. There's enough room for four adults, utility that would make a Swiss Army Knife jealous, reasonable fuel economy, and class-appropriate pricing. It's also got a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde personality. The Base is more suitable for everyday city driving, while the GT is more fun on twisty roads. In either case, you'll want to get the 2.4-liter engine, unless ultimate fuel economy is your goal.

With its '09 update, the competes well against vehicles like the HHR, Caliber, Ford Focus wagon, and Scion xB. Prices are reasonable but can climb quickly if you check off too many options.