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2009 Pontiac Vibe

*Est. $16,735 to $21,510
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2009 Pontiac Vibe

Pros
  • Less expensive than its twin, the Toyota Matrix
  • Better powertrain warranty than Matrix
  • Lowest annual fuel cost of any wagon
  • Roomy for a small wagon
  • Reliable
  • High resale value
  • Available all-wheel drive
  • Sporty styling
Cons
  • Sluggish, noisy base engine
  • Mediocre fit and finish
  • Limited rear visibility
  • Front seats not the most comfortable

March 2009. The Pontiac Vibe and its near-twin, the Toyota Matrix (*est. $16,290 to $21,950), are identical under the skin, but reviewers recommend the slightly less expensive Vibe more often. The compact Pontiac wagon has a longer powertrain warranty and fresh new styling that critics prefer.

The five-passenger Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe has the lowest annual fuel cost of any wagon, according to EPA estimates. The new clean-diesel version of the Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen (*est. $19,075 to $23,870) gets more miles per gallon, but it uses pricey diesel fuel. Both the Vibe and Matrix get decent safety ratings and good scores for reliability and resale value. Both offer optional all-wheel drive, and both are among the least expensive wagons you can buy.

The Pontiac Vibe is slightly cheaper than the Toyota Matrix, and it's covered by a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (the Matrix's is five years/60,000 miles; both have a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty). But reviewers say the main difference is the new styling. Both wagons were restyled for 2009, but the Vibe's exterior enjoys adjectives like "boy-racer" while the Toyota Matrix earns descriptions like "snail from outer space."

The Vibe wagon does have its drawbacks, reviewers say. It isn't as roomy as some other budget wagons, such as the Scion xB (*est. $15,750 to $16,700), although testers say the Vibe offers better visibility than the Scion's dark, thick-pillared, boxy styling does. Critics do find the Vibe's rear visibility somewhat limited, but About.com's Andrew Gold says the oversized side mirrors make up for it.

Although the Vibe's cargo bay is small -- 25 percent smaller than the full-size Subaru Outback's (*est. $22,295 to $32,095) -- reviewers say it's versatile, with a pop-up cargo organizer that keeps groceries from skating around on the smooth, easy-to-clean plastic cargo liner. Testers say the Pontiac wagon's back seat is comfortable for two adults, but three would be a tight squeeze. The front seats aren't particularly comfortable, and the entire interior seems a little cheap, reviewers say.

The base Pontiac Vibe 1.8L (*est. $16,100) is named for its 132-horsepower, four-cylinder engine. It offers either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, delivering the best fuel economy of any Vibe trim: 28 mpg combined, or 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway (31 mpg highway with automatic transmission) according to the EPA. Testers say it delivers adequate power, but when you're accelerating or passing you'll wish for the step-up Pontiac Vibe 2.4L (*est. $16,495) with its 158-horsepower, 2.4-liter four-cylinder.

The Pontiac Vibe GT (*est. $20,875) adds a double-wishbone rear suspension, choice of five-speed automatic or manual transmission and niceties like aluminum wheels and leather seats. Fuel economy suffers substantially with the bigger engine. The Pontiac Vibe 2.4L and GT models get 24 mpg overall, or 21 mpg city/28 mpg highway (29 mpg highway with automatic). The Vibe AWD (*est. $20,475) -- available only with the bigger engine and the four-speed automatic transmission -- achieves just 22 mpg overall (20 mpg city/26 mpg highway).

ConsumerReports.org' analysis of the Pontiac Vibe station wagon is far more comprehensive than any other review, covering everything from performance and comfort to reliability and resale value. Reviews at MotherProof.com and About.com aren't quite as authoritative, but they provide a good glimpse into the Vibe's real-world practicality. Reviews at Edmunds.com, MotorWeek, Car and Driver and The Wall Street Journal are also based on hands-on testing, although they are not as thorough as the best reviews. We found gas mileage and pollution ratings at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website and the nonprofit GreenerCars.org site. Safety ratings at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety aren't as helpful as they usually are, due to incomplete information about the Vibe, but the 2009 Pontiac Vibe has been crash-tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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Our Sources

1. ConsumerReports.org

ConsumerReports.org reviews the Pontiac Vibe wagon and its twin, the Toyota Matrix. In fact, editors base the Vibe's ratings on their test of the 2009 Matrix. The review rates the Vibe's predicted reliability and depreciation as well as providing owner-satisfaction survey results and road-test ratings of the Vibe's ride, fuel economy, comfort and more. This report is accessible only to subscribers.

Review: Pontiac Vibe, Editors of ConsumerReports.org

2. MotherProof.com

Emily Hansen tests the Pontiac Vibe with her children, ages 7, 9 and 16. She concentrates on practical matters other reviewers miss, such as the fact that little kids can't see well out of the small back windows. She says her teenager loves the power outlet for his electronics.

Review: Despite its Name, Car Gives Off a Good Vibe, Emily Hansen, June 2008

3. About.com

The Pontiac Vibe is the only wagon on About.com's list of the best 2009 cars. After road testing the Vibe, Aaron Gold, About.com's guide to cars, declares it better than its near twin, the Toyota Matrix. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: 2009 Pontiac Vibe Test Drive, Aaron Gold

4. Edmunds.com

Edmunds.com names the Pontiac Vibe one of its top wagons under $20,000. Testers judge the Vibe's design and performance, comparing it briefly with other small wagons and hatchbacks.

Review: 2009 Pontiac Vibe Review, Editors of Edmunds.com

5. Motor Week

PBS's auto program tests a top-of-the-line Pontiac Vibe GT, which has a more powerful engine than the base model. Testers find acceleration disappointing, but they like the Vibe's styling.

Review: Road Test: 2009 Pontiac Vibe, Editors of MotorWeek

6. FuelEconomy.gov

This chart shows government fuel-economy estimates for most 2009 small wagons, including all five versions of the Pontiac Vibe; all are among the most fuel-efficient in this class. You can click on each model's link for detailed information, including pollution scores.

Review: 2009 Small Station Wagons, Editors of FuelEconomy.gov

7. SaferCar.gov

The Pontiac Vibe's government crash-test ratings place it in the middle of the wagon category for safety. It earns perfect five-star ratings in frontal tests, with four-star ratings for rollover potential and for protecting rear passengers in a side crash, according to this National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website.

Review: 2009 Pontiac Vibe, Editors of SaferCar.gov

8. Car and Driver

Car and Driver reviewers tend to concentrate on whether a car is fun to drive. For the Pontiac Vibe, the answer is an emphatic no. Testers award it only two points (out of 10) for enthusiast appeal, but six points for consumer appeal. This review is brief, but it includes user ratings and links to longer reviews and news articles about the Vibe.

Review: 2009 Pontiac Vibe, Editors of Car and Driver

9. The Wall Street Journal

This review, in slideshow format, shows various photos of the Pontiac Vibe's interior and exterior features along with two-or three-sentence explanations of its good and bad points. Reviewer David Patton praises the Vibe's fuel economy and styling, but he criticizes its comfort, interior design and engines.

Review: Photo Review: Pontiac Vibe, David Patton, June 27, 2008

10. GreenerCars.com

GreenerCars.org is part of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. It rates cars' emission standards and fuel economy and averages the results into a "green score." The Pontiac Vibe is one of the greenest small wagons you can buy, according to this site.

Review: The Best Vehicles by Class: 2009 Small Wagons, Editors of GreenerCars.org

11. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

This chart shows how small cars compare in IIHS's crash tests. The Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe fall in the middle of the pack, but their scores are incomplete: IIHS has not tested the Vibe's rear-impact safety, and ratings do not take into account its new standard electronic stability control.

Review: Small Cars, Editors of Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

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