When is a Pontiac not really a Pontiac? When it’s a Toyota in drag. General Motors’ California-based joint venture with Toyota has some new life, or maybe just some botox, injected into it for the 2009 model year with a full redesign of the Pontiac Vibe and its kissing-cousin Toyota Matrix.
What is it?
The Vibe is Pontiac’s economical, compact wagon. This wagon with the red arrow is basically a Toyota Matrix with uniquely sculpted sheet metal that makes it a Pontiac. It also has moderately different suspension and steering tuning than its Toyota counterpart.
The Vibe comes in four flavors; Vibe 1.8L, Vibe 2.4L, Vibe 2.4L AWD, and Vibe 2.4L GT. The 1.8-liter and the 2.4-liter inline-fours are both products of Toyota engineers, with the 1.8-liter seeing duty in the Corolla and the 2.4-liter pulled from the Camry and RAV4.
What’s it up against
In the compact wagon, crossover, utility, cute-ute, hatchback, five passenger, et cetera, et cetera market, the Vibe is mainly looking to steal from the Dodge Caliber, Mazda Mazda3 and the Suzuki SX4. Of course GM would certainly rather see you leave the lot in a Vibe than a Matrix, as well.
Any breakthroughs?
Uh, no.
If you’re looking for nifty gadgets and technologies, this base level Pontiac Vibe will leave you more disappointed than “Chinese Democracy.”
How does it look?
Much better, thanks. Design-wise, the Pontiac actually is now more of a long-lost brother to the Toyota Matrix instead of a twin. The Vibe’s front end is aggressive and sports two chrome-ringed grills with inspiration from Pontiac’s G8. The rising beltline, and character lines in the doors, lead you to a pair of properly funky, clear taillights at the rear. Overall, it’s a quirky look with a bit of attitude and it works. Quirkitude.
And inside?
Here’s where things start to go wrong. Yes, this is an $18,000 car, so I’m not expecting brushed aluminum. However, I want the trim pieces to be fitted to the console properly. Some pieces on this Vibe weren’t. These trim parts moved around at the slightest touch. Gaps around trim were not consistent and a bit on the wide side. Looking around the cabin further, the plastic used for the dash is quite hard, but more importantly, not pleasing to look at and mars easily. Giving hard plastic a nice, grained look is not tough to pull off. Just ask Honda – they do it all the time.
On the plus side, it’s nice to see a gauge cluster staring back at me that, for once, does not consist of three, chrome-ringed circles. The Vibe’s two circles and a rounded off rectangle make for a nice visual along with easy-to-read displays.
Cramped is not something I want to feel when I’m in the driver’s seat and the Vibe leaves me feeling just that. With the seats as far back as they will go, which is not far, my knees feel too far forward. While any potential back seat passengers will be thrilled to see the limited movement of the driver’s seat, people over 6 feet are probably not going to enjoy being behind the wheel for extended stints. The seats also felt more narrow than most and might cause problems for bigger people.
This Vibe also had some plumbing issues. Turn on the heat, set it to blow from the console vents and it does just that. Set it to defrost and it will also blow out the console vent next to the driver’s door. Set it to the floor and it will also blow out the console vent next to the driver’s door. Set it to the floor, plus defrost, and it will also blow out the console vent next to the driver’s door.
Poor HVAC venting? Vacuum leak? Hard to say. It wasn’t just a little air leaking through the system either.
But does it go?
The Vibe 1.8L has the pulling power of three caged parakeets. I’m not sure who deserves more blame here: Toyota for making such a gutless wonder, or GM for not using its own, superior Ecotec motor.
If you’re going to drive the base level Pontiac Vibe, you need to be resigned to several things. First, you’re going to have to rev the motor past 4,000 rpm to get much out of it. Second, if you have the five-speed manual transmission, the only usable gears are one, two and three. Fourth and fifth are really only there to increase your fuel economy. Shifting through those gears is an easy task, but the extremely light clutch pedal takes some getting used to.
Another thing you’ll need to be ready for is not going around corners with any sort of speed. Normal, around the town driving should present you no problems. But, take that off ramp a little too quickly or goose the throttle even a little going around any corner and the understeer pops up pretty quickly. Add in the Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires that have a grip rating of “suck,” and things can get very exciting. Exciting like sliding into the opposing lane with a Dodge Ram bearing down on you.
In the positive column, the Vibe does not suffer from any noticeable torque steer. Mostly because there is no torque. Zero steering feel is also par for the course.
The four wheel anti-lock disc brakes feel solid, but under simulated emergency stopping, the Vibe’s front end was unsettled, pulling somewhat to the right.
With mixed driving during the week, the Vibe averaged just under 28 mpg.
Why you would buy it:
Honestly, I don’t know. The Vibe with the 2.4L motor is only $400 more, and it’s definitely the one you want if you’re buying a Vibe. Sure the 1.8L will sip a little less fuel, but in this case, it just isn’t worth it.
Why you wouldn’t:
See above.
2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L base price, $15,310. As tested, $17,940.
Preferred package, $945; Air conditioning, $950; AM/FM/CD/MP3 player, $150; Destination, $585.
Words and photos by Chris Doane.
12/22, 12:57 PM
posted by:
Tritonpower5.4
This article just proves what I have been saying forever. This car and the Matrix are freakin twins but the one with a Toyota badge is praised and the one with a GM badge is bashed. Its all onthe label that sits on the front of the car and that is it. Kinda sad really.
12/22, 1:10 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
Yet another lame GM rebadge… does Pontiac even sell any of these things?
12/22, 1:13 PM
posted by:
trantz
That’s the power of perception Triton. I never knock a foreign product to someone who is partial to foregin products like they knock a domestic to people who are partial to domestics.
12/22, 1:25 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
This review pulls no punches and is dead on. Matrix/Vibe are so meh.
12/22, 1:34 PM
posted by:
Brendino
Chris, how does it compare to the last-gen Vibe? I’ve driven one of those and I thought that it wasn’t a bad little car…anemic and boring but efficient and practical. Did this just get worse or did you not like the outgoing build either?
I like the styling…good refresh, though the beltline seems a bit impractical. And the advantage of buying Pontiac is that you usually get better incentives.
12/22, 1:36 PM
posted by:
RaineMan
I believe the problem is more perception of the brand than it is perception of the car itself.
Toyota… “Everyday People” makes bland and uninspiring (yet practical and reliable) cars… so people are willing to accept something like the Matrix for an A-B hatchback. It doesn’t need to be impressive in any way to sell.
Pontiac… “Driving Excitement” has given us cars like the Trans-am, GTO and G8. These cars are serious about performance and very driver-oriented. To put something from Toyota’s “plain ol’ cars” lineup into Pontiac’s stable just doesn’t work. The Vibe would have done better as a Chevy… after all the Corolla was marketted as a Geo for a number of years, and Cavaliers were badged as “Toyota” and sold in Japan for some time.
How and when Pontiac became the brand for quirky little cars that don’t fit anywhere else in GM’s lineup I have no clue… at least they got Solstice right… now if they can produce the coupe version before they go bankrupt I’ll be happy.
12/22, 1:39 PM
posted by:
Chris_Doane
“Tritonpower5.4
This article just proves what I have been saying forever. This car and the Matrix are freakin twins but the one with a Toyota badge is praised and the one with a GM badge is bashed. Its all onthe label that sits on the front of the car and that is it. Kinda sad really.”
I’ve never driven the Toyota Matrix so I don’t really have an opinion on it. Though if it’s anything like the base Vibe (and it should be) I would guess the result would be the same.
“Brendino
Chris, how does it compare to the last-gen Vibe?”
I couldn’t say, I never had the chance to drive the last gen. You’re right though, the exterior styling on the new one is pretty nice.
12/22, 1:57 PM
posted by:
dskh
Not to nitpik or anything, but the Yaris has the 1.5.
12/22, 2:14 PM
posted by:
Andrew
dskh, You’re right. I’ve edited the article. Thanks for pointing it out… the Leftlane staff has been drinking too much egg nog.
12/22, 2:29 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I for one, think the matrix looks like sh!t compared to the vibe! I would always take the vibe over the matrix. the gt looks nice too
12/22, 2:41 PM
posted by:
Tripleoneflipper
The Matrix is a very reliable and quality piece. The Vibe is junk, I see these on the side of the road all the time on fire.
12/22, 2:46 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Congratulations Chris. You win the award for refusing to sugarcoat a sh*tbox. I’d tell you your cheque is in the mail but due to the poor economy I’ve been forced to concentrate on my own liquidity first. Unlike the auto sector however having excess inventory in the fridge is a solution and not a problem.
12/22, 2:59 PM
posted by:
dskh
Andrew – no problem. I just noticed the error because I used to sell cars for Toyota. After test driving the Yaris (both 3 and 4 door models), I’m not sure why anyone would buy the Yaris when they can move up to a Corolla for a few thousand more (larger engine, side-air impact bags and the same miles per gallon – only a difference of 2 mpg in the city between the Yaris and Corolla 1.8L).
I’ve never driven the Vibe, but I know the current Matrix has a horrible blindspot because of the wide pillars in the back. The small rear quarter panels don’t help either, especially if they are tinted. What is good about the Matrix (and probably Vibe) is that the 2nd row seats fold flat creating an entirely flat floor that creates a plastic floor for easy clean up, loading and unloading.
I have a friend looking at getting a Vibe this weekend. Anyone buy a Vibe recently, how much and what trim, OTD price?
12/22, 3:04 PM
posted by:
Borat
I drove rental Vibe with slush box and it was not better or worse then anything rental. As a matter of fact it is a notch higher, then the rest of rental fleet: Fusion, Focus, Cobalt, Siebring.
under non-rental situation I drive last generation Vibe GT. It is 1.8L motor with 6 speed manual. Same set up as in base Lotus Elise. OEM tires suck during rain and impossible to control in the light snow: I did not have testicles to venture out in this car in heavier snow. With GT engine there is enough torque after 4K RPM and it red lines at 7.4K, so if noise is not bother it moves fast. For a tall station wagon it is very enjoyable car, except for GM service. Clutch is wearing out at 20K miles and everyone I’ve seen with this car replaced clutch. GM blames it on operator error, they must looking for bad operators – 100% repeatable error. Dealing with this car (or GM reps) convinced me that GM has no reason to be in auto business. Let them go into finance.
12/22, 3:54 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
I’m not getting any Vibe on this.
12/22, 6:44 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
Kill that thing.
Even TOYOTA doesn’t take their Matrix seriously!
Build the Ultra WTCC!
A sport Compact for the new age that can take it to SUBARU and Mitsubishi in the US, Peugeot and FORD in Europe. This thing is a veritable can’t miss. Lesser versions for the every day, a fully loaded and a race loaded version for the racer or the the maniac. With Rally coming up in the US their is a market here to be tapped. After this winter I think more people will take AWD seriously.
BUILD THE DANG THING ALREADY!!!
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2006-Chevrolet-WTCC-Ultra-Concept.htm
I’d buy one and I swore off four-cylinders.
12/22, 7:45 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Much better looking than the Matrix
I like it!
But needs more chutzpah under the hood!
DrFill