Background: Pontiac, General Motors’ sports-oriented division, has added a new multi-use vehicle aimed at drivers between the ages of 20 and 30; the all-new, 2003 Vibe four-door hatchback.
The Vibe can’t be classified as a true sports car as most other Pontiacs claim; it’s more of a versatile, moderately-priced wagon-inspired creation able to transport lots of stuff. Visually, it resembles something between a small sport utility vehicle and compact station wagon.
The car went on sale this past February, about the same time its automotive twin, the 2003 Toyota Matrix, began appearing in showrooms. Both vehicles were co-developed by General Motors and Toyota and share the same platform as the all-new compact-sized 2003 Toyota Corolla sedan.
General Motors and Toyota cemented a business relationship in the mid 1980s with the opening of the NUMMI (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.) production facility in Northern California.
The plant is jointly owned by the two auto giants and produced the Toyota Corolla and its twin sister car, the Chevrolet Prizm, for years. The 2002 model year was the last for the slower-selling Prizm, which was scratched in part to make room for Vibe assembly at NUMMI .
The 2003 Toyota Matrix is built in Canada.
Vibe sales in July were 3,553 units and 16,028 so far in the calendar year. Since plant capacity at the NUMMI facility in Freemont, Calif. is close to maximum, only about 40,000 Vibes will be assembled the first year. That number is projected to reach 60,000 units in two years.
Pontiac’s 2003 lineup now consists of Vibe, subcompact Sunfire, compact Grand Am, mid-size Grand Prix, full-size Bonneville, Montana minivan and the SUV-styled Aztek.
Engine/Trim level: The three Vibe trim levels include a Base front-wheel drive edition, an all-wheel drive offering and a front-wheel drive GT edition for the sports enthusiast.
The GT edition is one of the few GM products with an available six-speed manual transmission. The only other cars with this feature are the Chevrolet Corvette, Chevrolet Camaro and its automotive twin, the Pontiac Firebird. Both Firebird and Camaro will cease production after the 2002 model year.
The six-speed manual transmission is unique to the Vibe and not available in the Toyota Matrix. The all-wheel drive Vibe comes solely with an automatic transmission while Base editions have a standard five-speed manual transmission or optional four-speed automatic.
Each trim level has a specifically tuned four-cylinder engine.
The Base model’s 1.8-liter inline engine cranks out 130 horsepower while the all-wheel-drive edition delivers 123 horses. The GT model’s 1.8-liter engine ups the horsepower ante to 180.
Premium fuel is recommended for GT engine, a Toyota powertrain also found in some Celica models. The other two engines require regular 87-octane grade. The fuel tank holds 13.2 gallons.
Our all-wheel drive test edition with automatic transmission registered 26 miles per gallon in city driving and 31 m.p.g. highway. For best results, the Base model coupled with manual transmission provides 30 m.p.g. in city travel and 36 m.p.g. highway.
Price: The lowest-priced Vibe is the front-wheel drive Base model with five-speed manual transmission that checks in at $16,340. Sporty GT editions start at $19,340.
The folks at Pontiac supplied the Daily Herald with a salsa red, all-wheel drive edition with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $19,540.
After factoring in a $1,000 power package (power windows, locks, cruise control), moonroof ($800) and aluminum wheels ($400), the bottom line reached $21,340 after adding in a $560 destination charge.
Pricing for the three Toyota Matrix selections are in the same ballpark.
By comparison, the lowest-priced 2002 PT Cruiser from Chrysler starts at $16,450. The lowest-priced 2002 Ford Focus wagon with automatic transmission checks in at $17,010.
Standard features: All three editions come with power steering, tilt-adjustable steering wheel, intermittent rear and front wipers, air conditioning, power outside mirrors, AM/FM compact disc player sound system, roof rack and rear window defroster.
Optional across the board is a power package (door locks, windows, cruise control, $500), moonroof with six-speaker sound system ($500), engine block heater ($35), and DVD navigation system ($1,600).
Inside: A great aspect of the Vibe-Matrix architecture is the roominess provided in a relatively small vehicle. Generous headroom coupled with a slightly higher seating position than what’s normally found in the compact segment provides comfort and safety. In fact, Vibe includes a driver’s seat with manual height adjustment (a round knob rotates, cranking the seat up or down). Limited blind spots provide drivers with decent road views in all directions.
While the promotional literature touts this compact vehicle as a five seater, two adults fit most comfortably in back; three’s a crowd. Rear seatbacks have a 50/50 split and fold flat onto cushions, creating a level extension into the rear region containing 54.1 cubic feet of cargo volume. Headrests flip backwards when folding seats down, eliminating the need for removal. The backsides have the same easy-slide, grooved plastic material as the cargo floor.
The driver’s door is home to power window and lock functions angled at 45 degrees and rather small handles. Power mirror controls are on the far left side of the dashboard.
In between front bucket seats are dual in-line beverage holders, hand-operated parking brake and an arm rest/storage bin combo. Our automatic transmission shifter was up from the floor, extending out from the bottom of the central dashboard, a design also found in the Matrix and Lexus RX 300 sport utility.
Like most Pontiacs, the instrument panel illuminates with red backlighting at night.
The panel consists of three deep set gauges with a central speedometer (with digital odometer insert), left side tachometer and right side temperature/fuel gauge combo. The dashboard includes four circular vents with thick slats for monitoring blower direction.
The stereo with a digital clock in the frequency display window, is flanked by hazard and rear window defroster buttons on the top and an air conditioning button to the side. All this gets housed in a pewter-colored trapezoid-shaped center console.
Below is the ventilation system with three large dials controlling fan speed, direction and temperature. Near the bottom is a cigarette lighter and two-prong household-like outlet for plugging in laptops and other electrical gear.
Headlights are activated via the turn signal stalk.
Front and rear windshield wiper controls are found on a right-hand side stalk. All cruise control functions operate via a square steering wheel appendage also on the right side. The outside fuel door unlocks via a pull lever on the floor left of the manually-operated driver’s seat. The temporary spare tire stows under the flat floor cargo region.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase: 102.4 inches
Overall length: 171.9 inches
Overall width: 69.9 inches
Overall height: 63 inches
Curb weight: 2,980 pounds
Outside: All Vibes have integrated roof racks for cargo-hauling purposes. Also on top is the angled radio antenna.
The roof peaks at a point above the B pillars dividing the front and back windows, than slants down on both sides. Gray body-side molding adorns wheel wells and side door bottoms.
In front, large cat’s eye headlights flank the familiar Pontiac twin-port honeycomb grille. The four side doors open via black strap-like handles.
Side view mirrors share the same black hue but beware, they are not the fold-in or break-away variety so take it easy at the drive-thru bank teller. The rear hatch opens two ways: The glass flips up for quick trips into the cargo area and the hatch door flips down for easier loading and unloading. Taillights are positioned low next to the hatch door.
Warranty: The Vibe is covered by GM’s three year or 36,000 mile (whichever comes first) Basic warranty. The powertrain and roadside assistance program are also good for three years or 36,000 miles.
The corrosion warranty is for six years or 100,000 miles.
Safety features: Dual front air bags, rear child safety locks, daytime running lights and shoulder and lap belts for five seating positions come standard across the board. Head airbag protection is not offered. Seat-mounted side air bags are optional. Four-wheel anti-lock brakes are optional in Base models, but standard in the other two. Remote keyless entry is available in an option package in all three trims.
Final thoughts: Our all-wheel drive edition provided sure handling on slippery surfaces, but is not designed to go off-roading in heavy duty situations. There are no buttons to push or levers to pull activating all-wheel drive, it’s always engaged.
Vibe is a great choice for shoppers of any age (not just the twenty-something crowd) who don’t want to drop lots of cash but still desire versatility. I would not hesitate recommending this for the empty-nester crowd.
Vibe and Matrix join other recently introduced, roomy, four-cylinder offerings including the Ford Focus four-door hatchback, Chrysler PT Cruiser and new Suzuki Aerio wagon targeted to the same budget-minded audience. |