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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  Love my vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By nosredna - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I have always driven big cars, Cadilac, Chev Lumina, Chev suburbans, my wife said try it out. I drove it but said it was too small. A week later trial drove again. Needed a car so thought I would try it. Fell in Love. Use it to drive all over grass delivering stuff on Golf course. Never out of room with lay down seats. A real blast, and a head turner also. Fun to drive, and great to haul everything.

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  2004 model - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Busta Capps - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Its Great to drive fun to look at and gets everyones attention I love it

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  Great car - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Steveinglin - June 27 - 2:00 am

  The VIBE is a great vehicle, a sleeper car as it looks great, handles well and is fun to drive. I tinted the windows and took the plastic appliques off the car and cleaned it all up and people turn their head and look and dont know what it is. The interior cabin is big, the fold down seats make the inside very accomodating for any situation, and the hatch is there to load whatever you need to haul. Overall, a great performing car, handles great, fun to drive.

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  great car - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By jgb - June 27 - 2:00 am

  i bought this car before the sales crew knew much about it.it has been very reliable. i was an on the road salesman and gas milage became an issue. the fold down seats and 115v outlet was a selling point as the toyota frame and motor with the pontiac styling. good combination.

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  vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By chevy16 - June 27 - 2:00 am

  What a fun car to drive. I have never had a car thats felt like I am in complete control with great handling and control and a really different design thats nice looking.

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  Vibe Review - Vincent De Beer - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Vincent De Beer - June 27 - 2:00 am

  Styling - New, fresh & modern. Performance & economy is very good. The GT will surely be my next car. Overall, this car seems very well "thought out," eg. the standard 115V oulet, fold down passenger seat that acts as a table and the extra 12V outlet. Love the stick shift. Sturdy handling & solid feel. Had a very good experience at the dealer. They went above and beyond to find the exact car I was looking for in a very short time. Very happy with my Vibe thus far.

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  My Sons Funmobile - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Hockeyref - June 27 - 2:00 am

  I bought our Vibe as my teenage sons first car. Our family buys new cars and drives them for up to 10 years, so we thought getting him something new would be wise, especially at the price we paid. It satisfies both our needs for something small enough for him to handle, and his desire for something sporty, not to mention the hatch holds two hockey bags, or all his equipment plus an overnight bag for tournaments. Were very happy with it so far as an "in-town" car, and a couple of highway trips (200 mi. RT) have shown it to be peppy and comfortable for a small car. Sometimes Ill use it myself for errands around town.

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  Not Just For Young Drivers - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By vibeowner - June 26 - 6:33 pm

  My wife and I are in our mid 40s which is probably older than the target age for this car. But we love our Vibe for the most part. We looked at the Matrix but went with the Vibe because it looks better, has better stereo (even with the standard system) and roof rails. The 2005 didnt include cross bars so we paid extra for them so we could put stuff on top. There was a problem with intermitent hard/extended starting and GM issued a service bulletin. We took it to three different dealerships to get it fixed but they wouldnt do anything about it until we got lucky and the hard start happened with the service rep. GM is really bad about warranty service. Next time well go with Toyota.

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  Miss my Aztek!! - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By Trinity - June 26 - 11:36 am

  I bought the vibe wanting to get better mileage than my Aztek. Better mileage is about all Ive gotten. From day 2 Ive had troubles, constantly in the shop and theres no pep to this car. The front seat folds down for use, but doesnt lay flat, visibility is awkward also. Not great...although many people love them.

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  Hatchback Problem - 2008 Pontiac Vibe
  By Kay - June 24 - 1:30 am

  As you can see from our ratings, we are enjoying the comfort and gas mileage of our Vibe. However, we are experiencing one problem other Vibe owners do not seem to be having: a poor fitting hatchback. We live on a dirt road and dust accumulates inside the hatchback top, bottom and side ridges. Moisture, leaves, and twigs also are in evidence when it rains. Daylight is seen through the top of the hatchback when it is closed. This is either a poor design or a fabrication error. We intend to pursue this problem directly with General Motors as the dealership was unresponsive.