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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  Vibe experience - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Roger J - January 9 - 10:00 am

  I like the styling of the vibe. The seats are a little short but the height of the seats helps greatly for comfort. Fun to drive. Great fuel economy. No problems yet.

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  Mischievous car - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By Stina - January 5 - 7:33 pm

  This car is so fun to drive, my husband who has a car worth $10,000 more wants to drive it! It is great in fuel economy, plus has good pick-up for a 4 cyl. car. I would only say that the paint is not really up to par since the edges around my doors are chipping. Just get some paint to cover these and you will still love this car!

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  Great Car thus Far - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By JStroke - January 2 - 10:00 am

  I have owned my Pontiac Vibe since December of 2002 and I have about 30K (19000 miles)on it so far. I drive 200k round trip daily plus other road trips. I find the gas mileage very good, the body and fit very tight and overall I rate the vehicle highly satisfactory. I selected the vibe from the lot(it was the only one!) and have been pleased with its performance.

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  Great Little Car! - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By TW - December 28 - 7:20 am

  Bought 9 months ago with 100,000 mi. LOVE this little car. It runs like new and never have a problem. Good mileage 28/33. Great design, part minivan, part SUV, part sports car. Very comfortable seating for 4 six footers. ONLY problems are: clicking behind clove box, could fix but is harmless, cold idle is too high cant fix, red dashboard light is hard to see in bright daytime. Other than that its perfect! I expect it to go another 100,000 miles.

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  LOVE THIS CAR! - 2008 Pontiac Vibe
  By SHELLY - December 25 - 12:53 pm

  Purchased this car on ebay from a dealer in texas. paid 13,000 car had 13,000 miles on it. i love the roomy interior. i use this more as a truck sometimes than a car. always seems i have something to haul and the fold down back seat is a lifesaver. we used this on a trip from NW indiana down to mississippi and had no problems. we use this car now more than our other one. havent had any problems and have owned for about six months but have made several long distance trips in it.

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  Comfortable Transportation - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Joem - December 21 - 2:00 am

  All in all this vehicle is everything I thought it would be. I wanted a comfortable ride for back and forth to work with good gas milage. The Vibe has excelent acceleration with 1 or 2 people. It does get a bit slugish with more people or a lot of gear on hills but still very acceptable. For a small car it is quite roomy with lots of headroom. My "6 foot plus" children fit well. I would recommend this car to anyone.

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  2004 AWD Vibe in Colorado - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Carl Almgren - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Wonderful car. Good design - seats 5 adults when needed. Best car that we own for driving in winter waether. Can accelerate UP an icy hill. 30 MPG on a ski trip, fully loaded. Very easy to drive - almost as easy as riding a bicycle. This ones a keeper

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  Vibe GT Auto/trans - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By KingRumble - December 21 - 2:00 am

  Very nice little car. fun to drive, not that great in snow. get a little tail happy in snow turns.Looks very diffrent with the front and rear spoilers. add something to the car above the normal Vibe.

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  Love The Vibe - 2008 Pontiac Vibe
  By BMW - December 20 - 6:26 pm

  This is now our second Vibe based on our great experience with our 05 Vibe. It is used as a commuter and vacationing vehicle - it has great fuel economy and comfort for long trips. We are both over 6ft tall and have had trouble finding a comfortable seating arrangement that is not a SUV. Headroom is great but *watch out for the sunroof if your any taller than 6ft*.

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  Good Vibe-rations! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Shane4252 - December 19 - 5:23 am

  Fantastic in every way! Pontiac definitely has a winner here. Be sure to testdrive the Vibe before you make a car-buying decision. You wont be disappointed!