4 Star Reviews for 2009 Pontiac Vibe

Overview & Reviews

Average Score

4.67/5 Average
136 Total Reviews
This Year's Model Updates:

The 2009 Pontiac Vibe receives a complete makeover. The result is a more stylish, better-performing compact sport wagon.

Pros:
  • Roomy backseat, comfortable ride, versatile cargo area, peppy performance, generous standard safety features, reliable Toyota powertrain.
Cons:

User Reviews:

Showing 21 through 30 of 136.00
  • Fantastic Little Hatchback - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    I have only had this car a month and I love this thing. It is really fun to drive and seems to be really solid on the road even in the turns. It is no Mazda 3 but for me it is sporty enough with a lot of practical applications. I really wish GM had not killed this car off, they could have re-badged it to a Chevy or Buick nameplate which is a shame that they just let it drop instead. The cruise control takes a bit to get used to. The Engine is nice too, a little torquey on take offs but it is a solid engine and great for quick merges.

  • Practical But Fun - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    I bought my Pontiac Vibe GT, the first new car Ive owned, in April of 2008. I cross-shopped it against a Honda Civic and a Mazda3 sedan. I found the Vibe to be more practical than the Mazda and nearly as fun to drive. It handles with confidence, and the 2.4L engine has ample power and a somewhat sporty sound. The appearance and build quality of the interior are nothing special, but the controls are well laid out and there are some useful features, such as the bag hook in the passenger footwell and the rear cargo organizer. Despite some quality control issues, I would recommend the Vibe to anyone looking for a small car that is highly practical, but also offers some driving enjoyment.

  • 2009 Base 2.4 w/5sp auto, 80K Miles so far - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    Bought new in July of 09. Base model with 2.4L/5sp-auto, PS,PL,cruise, keyless. Now pushing 80K miles with few issues. On my second set of tires and brakes. My steering column rattles (very common), cold starts sometime produce a timing cam rattle (common) and the paint chips and scratches easily (common). Fully loaded with family of 4 + gear on trip to Tenn. got me just shy of 32mpg. Even with my heavy foot, I still avg. 28mpg in daily mixed driving. Great fun to drive. Does everything I need. Was cheap to buy and maintain. Sharp little car. I have truly enjoyed it. I just added a K&N CAI and she sounds great, any mpg increase will be a bonus.

  • an offer I couldnt refuse - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    We have an automatic 1.8L. Good basic transportation and safety features. An upgrade to ABS and traction control for us. Engine is peppy. Lots of things could be better: paint chips easily. Spoiler chips paint on hatch (check out those you see in parking lots). Big blind spot! Wind noise from somewhere. Tire pressure warning is incorrect. Interior could be roomier without making the car bigger. Design was superior in 2008. Still, we expect it will last a long time for us.

  • Great Car but has a few flaws - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    Pros: Toyota Engine -Great gas mileage -Sporty look Cons: Noise every time you go from park to drive and start to move. It is the anti-lock breaks kicking in. Drove three others. Same thing. Dealer said it was not designed very well because you could hear it kicking in. - XM radio cuts song title information off. I had XM 5 years ago and my radio could display the entire song. Cuts it off even if you switch to non-flashing mode and have to push info button. Bad design! - Doors make a slight vibrating noise when closing them. Again tried 3 others and same thing. Body design flaw - Little noises coming from the dash area even when driving on a smooth highway or road

  • Not just a city car - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    Purchased my Vibe one day and set out on a 2000 km journey the next and was very impressed with the ride and handling. Completing mostly highway driving the 2.4 L engine has lot of power and is able to cruise along comfortably at above average highway speeds. For a small car the gas mileage is not overly great and is better compared to a small SUV than a car of equal size. However, if the Vibe is going to be used for highway driving the bigger engine provides lot of power for passing and merging into traffic. One real benefit of this vehicle is that it is able to handle unpaved roads very well and the traction control is an added asset when coming upon loose gravel.

  • Cant believe I drive this over my 911 - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    I needed a second car after buying a 2006 Porsche 911S. GM was giving these Vibes away and all I needed was a basic car with decent space, room for 5, and AWD for trips to Lake Tahoe in the winter. Since I bought the Vibe, Ive put 3800 miles on it, and only 500 on my Porsche. I love this Vibe. It doesnt handle particularly well, it isnt that fast, it doesnt have any luxuries, and it isnt beautiful. But, I find myself drawn to its fun, comfortable, and easy to drive nature. My friends and family make fun of me for showing up in my Vibe while my Porsche sits in the garage, but I cant help from loving this stupid Vibe.

  • 2009 pontiac vibe - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    We like our new vibe because of its ease of getting around in traffic and parking. We like the mileage we are getting but feel it could do better with a 5-speed trans. But Pontiac chose not to offer it on awd model. We bought chrome wheels which turned out to be just plastic wrapped chrome that chips and peels. Pontiac does not stand behind these. The awd model gets a roof rack that is worthless. There is no option for leather or heated seats so we had these installed after market. Radio options are limited and no navigation system option. Pontiac needs to get off their rear and go to work with these option pkgs. Or people will just look elsewhere. I called Pontiac with chrome wheel problem an

  • At least I can still find a Matrix - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    Almost at 100k miles and I have only had to replace the breaks and the oil filter housing (cheap part). I love my Vibe, bought it with 50k on it and have put 50k on it in the last 2 years. Its comfortable enough for the average commuter and very reliable. Great for hauling stuff around, and although no sports car its fun to drive. Good fuel economy, easily get 31-32 mpg. Only a few gripes, rear visibility is so-so, paint chips/scratches easy, speakers could be better.

  • Outstanding Value, a Few Minor Issues - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
    By -

    Ive owned my very fun-to-drive Vibe GT for ~2 weeks and so far I love it, although I agree with others that there are a few things that it could use improvements which keep it from being a 10. I love the styling compared to its competitors (much cooler looks compared to Versa, Matrix, Fit, 10 Mazda3[what did they do to this cars front end?]). I love the value; it has everything you need a few great extras, and you can get a loaded GT for ~$19K if you shop around (again better than the competition). Nice standard extras are Monsoon w/ XM radio, OnStar, steering wheel controls, leather accents, ABS, traction, 18" alloys. Also love the cargo versatility of the hatchback.

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