Overview & Reviews

The Pontiac Vibe began life as a Toyota Matrix twin and ended it as the answer to a trivia question: "What is the only Pontiac model to be produced for the 2010 model year?" That's right -- while all other Pontiac models went the way of the dodo after GM's 2009 bankruptcy fiasco, the Vibe stuck around for a last hurrah. It's gone now, though, and that's a real shame. Of all the compact cars that wore Pontiac badges, the Vibe was by far the best.

Smart packaging is what made this small wagon desirable, as the Vibe combined clean styling, a roomy interior and exceptional utility under one affordably priced roof. A peppy powertrain was another welcome feature. The fact that the Vibe also got above-average fuel economy and had a solid reputation for reliability only added to its appeal among budget-minded consumers.

There were two generations of the Pontiac Vibe. Both are distinctive in appearance without looking overdone and resemble a sporty four-door hatchback rather than a frumpy station wagon. The Vibe offered a lot of functionality for not a lot of money, and Toyota-sourced parts and powertrains counted as another point in its favor. Despite Pontiac's demise, the Vibe should enjoy a long life on the used-car market.

Most Recent Pontiac Vibe

Produced for 2009-'10 only, the second-generation Pontiac Vibe is the corporate twin of the Toyota Matrix. What this means for pre-owned models is that the Vibe has reliable Toyota genes and will likely provide years of dependable service. The Vibe was treated to distinct exterior styling, however, as well as its own trim levels and options.

Pontiac sold this Vibe in base, AWD and GT trim levels. Base Vibe models were front-wheel-drive only and had a 1.8-liter 132-horsepower four-cylinder engine and a torsion-beam rear suspension. AWD models had -- you guessed it -- all-wheel drive, as well as an independent rear suspension and an upgraded 2.4-liter four good for 158 hp. The sport-themed, front-wheel-drive GT had the more powerful 2.4-liter engine along with the independent rear suspension.

All models came standard with a five-speed manual transmission except for the AWD model, which could only be equipped with a four-speed automatic. A five-speed automatic was optional on the GT, while the four-speed automatic could be added to base models. Base Vibes could also be equipped with the 2.4-liter engine at extra cost, in which case the five-speed automatic replaced the four-speed on the options list.

Inside, this Vibe featured simple and intuitive gauges and controls. Build quality was good, with most of the interior bits and pieces sourced from Toyota. Thanks to the Vibe's elevated roof line, there was plenty of room for passengers. In the safety department, the Vibe came standard with antilock disc brakes, OnStar, stability control and a full complement of airbags.

In reviews, we noted that acceleration was sluggish in the base Vibe but peppy otherwise, especially in the GT, which wasn't noticeably weighed down by the all-wheel-drive system. Expect fuel economy of nearly 30 mpg or more on the highway in all models. The four-speed automatic was rather anachronistic for a new model, though the five-speed automatic was a satisfactory unit. Handling was capable in all trims and even somewhat entertaining in GT models.

Used Pontiac Vibe Models

The first-generation Pontiac Vibe was sold from 2003-'08. It was available in base and GT trim levels. Base Vibe models had a 126-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and could be equipped with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (AWD). Non-AWD models were equipped with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission, both of which yielded adequate response in traffic and fuel economy in the low 30s. The AWD model was rated at 118 hp due to its different exhaust routing, and the four-speed automatic was mandatory. Acceleration was sluggish in the AWD Vibe, but it was still a useful option for buyers in harsh climates who needed a low-cost snow vehicle.

Aimed at a small niche of performance-minded consumers, the Vibe GT came with a Yamaha-designed high-revving 1.8-liter four-cylinder rated for 164 hp at a lofty 7,600 rpm. Sold in front-drive form with a six-speed manual transmission only, the GT was much quicker than the base Vibe, provided the engine was kept on boil. Ride and handling dynamics, however, were largely the same as in other Vibe models -- adequately comfortable and responsive for commuting purposes, but underwhelming from an enthusiast's perspective.

Other than the elimination of the GT and AWD models after 2007, the first-generation Pontiac Vibe received minimal changes. However, there are some equipment differences of note if you're shopping for a used one. A DVD-based navigation system was offered as an option from 2003-'05, but Pontiac discontinued it for 2006. Used-car shoppers interested in this feature will likely have difficulty locating models with it installed, as it was a rare selection when new. Also, while front seat-mounted side airbags were always optional on the first-generation Vibe, full-length side curtain airbags weren't available until the 2005 model year. That was also the first year that buyers could get stability control, but availability was limited to front-wheel-drive base Vibes equipped with the automatic transmission.

User Reviews:

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  Solid car/wagon - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Deborah - May 17 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive! Best feature is gas milage: 34 miles on the highway. Roomy for boxes, and comfortable seats.

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  Great car - 2010 Pontiac Vibe
  By Dan P. - May 13 - 10:33 pm

  Bought the last new Vibe GT in the northeast. Traveled almost 200 miles. Worth every mile. Great acceleration with the manual trans. Comfortable seats. Roomy enough to store all my junk and then some. Better looking than the Toyota Matrix. Even my 9 year old son likes the looks of this car. I stole this car for $15k after all the discounts. Finally I have a car that I enjoy driving.

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  Less Than Happy - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By LESS THAN HAPPY - May 12 - 5:33 pm

  I find it difficult to give this car much of a rating. I take my dog with me most everywhere I go, so I decided on the Vibe based on its size and practicality. I am very disappointed. This is by far the noisiest vehicle I have every owned! I find myself checking the windows to see if I left one of them open. There seems to be no sound deadening insulation in this vehicle at all. This makes long trips very tedious - and also makes listening to music impossible. Also, the AWD model should be available with a manual transmission - the automatic doesnt allow you to coast freely - its always holding you back causing you to play with the accelerator to hold a constant speed.

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  Love this vibe! - 2008 Pontiac Vibe
  By CR - May 11 - 11:12 pm

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  1.8L Auto (STYLE CHOICE NOT AVAIL ABOVE) - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By Bob S. - May 11 - 9:06 am

  Drives much better than the Cobalt I traded in for it. Some have mentioned blind spot but I think its much easier to see out of than the Cobalt.

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  love this car - 2007 Pontiac Vibe
  By caleb - May 10 - 12:40 am

  well i just got this car it is a wonderful vehicle. i love it so far. gets great gas has a lot of room. i went from a jeep wrangler to the 2007 vibe best car i have owned so far a lot of fun

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  Unbreakable - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By JK - May 8 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car 4 years ago with 20,000 miles on it and it is up to about 110,000. So far the only failures were a belt tensioner ($100 fix) and two of the digital display lights in the radio went out. The car runs like the day I bought it. Mechanically, it seems indestructible. The body and paint are both solid too. I tend to neglect the body and on the rare occasion I wash and polish it, it always looks like it great. Not only is it well built, but it is very comfortable. With some years on the Vibe name now, more and more reviews are from people with 200k+ miles and I hope to be one of them. When the day comes to replace this, I only hope its twin, the Toyota Matrix, is still around.

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  Satified - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By 2005 Vibe - May 5 - 1:03 pm

  I own a 2000 Toyota Camry, which I love. I bought my wife a used 2005 Pontiac Vibe. I knew that part of the Vibe was built by Toyota, much like their Matrix. I was convinced that the Vibe was as good as the Matrix, and cheaper, so I bought it. My wife is very happy with this car, and so am I.

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  So far, so good - 2007 Pontiac Vibe
  By lovin it - May 4 - 12:36 am

  Love mine and love fuel economy, averaging 27.5 mpg city. Seats fold down easy and lots of storage/hauling room. Good acceleration when needed. Will keep this fuel efficient hard worker for a long time.

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  Versatile, reliable, affordable - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By emilymode - May 1 - 2:10 pm

  I bought mine in July 2006 and have had no problems so far (except for the front window bolt recall replacement which GM took care of). I drove from New York to California with this car. I absolutely love my Vibe.