2008 Pontiac Vibe

Interestingly, the Pontiac Vibe isn't recommended nearly as often as the nearly identical Toyota Matrix (*est. $15,510 to $17,820). The main difference seems to be predicted reliability: The Toyota Matrix's is excellent, as are most Toyotas, while some reviewers don't expect the Pontiac's reliability to be quite that good. The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix have slight styling differences, but both post best-in-class 29 mpg mixed fuel economy. Reviewers praise the Pontiac Vibe's comfortable front seat, easy-access rear seat and flexible interior. But like the Toyota Matrix, testers find the Pontiac Vibe noisy. More than one reviewer found the Pontiac Vibe's steering wheel positioned too far away. Critics say the Pontiac Vibe doesn't hold its value as well as the Toyota Matrix.

Reviewers usually pair the Pontiac Vibe with its twin, the Toyota Matrix (*est. $15,510 to $17,820). Both share the same Toyota Corolla base and come off the same production line. In thorough road tests, Consumer Reports finds the Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix almost identical. Comparative reviews at BusinessWeek and Kiplinger's Personal Finance don't differentiate between the Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix, ranking them both ahead of competitors for best-in-class fuel efficiency. IntelliChoice.com names the Pontiac Vibe wagon to its Best In Class list, awarding it a Smart Choice award for 2007 and noting that it costs less to operate than any other small wagon. CarCritic.com finds the Pontiac Vibe a "very nice choice" in its non-comparative review.