Outward visibility is slightly cluttered over-the-shoulder, but good otherwise.īackseat comfort is nothing special, but two adults enjoy good head clearance. Seat comfort is good overall, but spirited cornering reveals a lack of lateral bolstering. Front head room is great even with a sunroof, but long-legged drivers might want more rearward seat travel. The fine driving position is slightly higher and much more upright than in typical small cars. Cabin finish and materials are sturdy and appropriate for the Vibe’s new-vehicle pricing. Pontiac’s optional navigation system absorbs some audio functions, has undersized buttons, and is overly complex. Red night lighting is not universally appreciated. So, they’re not that easy to see in some daytime conditions and their bright trim rings can reflect in the windshield. Wind rush and coarse-surface tire thrum are fairly constant, too.Īlthough the dashboard design is mostly good, gauges are a bit small and sit within deep, dark tunnels. A general mechanical buzz is felt through the seat, steering wheel, and pedals. ABS-equipped models have good stopping performance.īoth engines are loud at full throttle and not so hushed in gentle cruising, either. Gusty crosswinds cause mild wander, but steering is crisp, responsive, and direct. Handling is good with standard 16-inch tires, and nimble with optional 17s. Optional 17-inch tires increase harshness further yet.įor a relatively tall wagon, the Vibe corners without undue body lean. AWD models are more jittery over patchy pavement and freeway expansion joints. Ride quality varies somewhat according to model and equipment, but it’s acceptable with 16-inch wheels. Premium-grade gasoline is recommended for the GT regular for other Vibes. A Vibe GT with manual transmission averaged 24.8 mpg. AWD versions with 123 hp averaged 25.4 mpg. Test 2WD models with the 130-hp engine and automatic transmission have averaged 26.6 mpg. Heavier AWD models take about 11.5 seconds to achieve that velocity. Pontiac said the base manual-transmission 2WD Vibe needed about 9.5 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph. In fact, 130-hp models have more usable torque at much lower rpm, and feel almost as strong as the Vibe GT and equivalent Matrix XRS. Vibes competed against vehicles as disparate as the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Ford Focus wagon, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Jetta wagon.īoth engines need high rpm to deliver decent power–especially the GT version. So were antitheft and navigation systems, a sunroof, and in-dash CD changer. A power window/mirror/lock package, with keyless entry, also was optional. GTs added alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and special trim.įront-drive Vibes could be equipped with optional 17-inch wheels. A household-type two-prong power outlet sat in the dashboard. Front side airbags were optional curtain side airbags were not offered.Īll Vibes had a separate-opening window in a swing-up tailgate, standard 16-inch wheels, fog lamps, tilt steering wheel, CD player, and air conditioning. GTs included rear disc brakes rather than drums. Antilock braking was standard on AWD and GT models, and optional for the base 2WD Vibe. Unlike the similar Matrix XRS, Vibe GTs were not available with an automatic transmission.ĪWD Vibes were not intended for off-roading, and had the same ride height as their 2WD counterparts. Vibe GTs held a 180-horsepower engine and a six-speed manual gearbox. Engines in AWD models produced 123 horsepower, driving only an automatic transmission. Front-drive base models had 130 horsepower and either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission. Vibes came in base trim with front-wheel or all-wheel drive, and in sportier GT form with front-drive only. Vibes were built in California rather than Canada and differed in styling and features, but they used the same Toyota-sourced platform and 1.8-liter four-cylinder engines. The timestamp is only as accurate as the clock in the camera, and it may be completely wrong.Pontiac’s new crossover compact wagon shared its basic design with Toyota’s 2003 Matrix. If the file has been modified from its original state, some details such as the timestamp may not fully reflect those of the original file. This file contains additional information such as Exif metadata which may have been added by the digital camera, scanner, or software program used to create or digitize it.
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