Pontiac Vibe 2008 review.
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe will be completely redesigned and re-engineered when it goes on sale in early 2008.
Since its original introduction as a 2003 model, the Pontiac Vibe has shared its basic design with the Toyota Matrix. Toyota has redesigned the Matrix for 2009 and Pontiac is doing the same with the Vibe.
Offered only as a compact four-door hatchback (though Pontiac calls it a crossover utility vehicle), the 2009 Vibe will come with front- or all-wheel drive.
The lineup will include the base model, the All-Wheel Drive model and the GT. The base model comes with what Pontiac calls a semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension with a trailing link, coil springs and a stabilizer bar. GT and All-Wheel Drive models have a multilink independent double wishbone rear suspension. The GT can be distinguished by its larger fog lamps, larger lower front fascia air intake, rocker panel moldings, roof spoiler and bright exhaust tip. The GT also gets leather upholstery and 18-inch wheels; the other models come with 17-inch wheels.
The 2009 Pontiac Vibe will be completely redesigned and re-engineered when it goes on sale in early 2008.
Since its original introduction as a 2003 model, the Pontiac Vibe has shared its basic design with the Toyota Matrix. Toyota has redesigned the Matrix for 2009 and Pontiac is doing the same with the Vibe.
Offered only as a compact four-door hatchback (though Pontiac calls it a crossover utility vehicle), the 2009 Vibe will come with front- or all-wheel drive.
The lineup will include the base model, the All-Wheel Drive model and the GT. The base model comes with what Pontiac calls a semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension with a trailing link, coil springs and a stabilizer bar. GT and All-Wheel Drive models have a multilink independent double wishbone rear suspension. The GT can be distinguished by its larger fog lamps, larger lower front fascia air intake, rocker panel moldings, roof spoiler and bright exhaust tip. The GT also gets leather upholstery and 18-inch wheels; the other models come with 17-inch wheels.
Compared to the first-generation vehicle, the 2009 Vibe is one inch shorter and one inch lower, and it has a slighter wider track. Pontiac says this makes the second-generation Vibe handle better than its predecessor.
On the inside, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe will have 49.4 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded down. That’s about five cubic feet less than in the previous generation.
A Toyota 1.8-liter engine returns, but it is said to be all new. This aluminum dual-overhead cam 1.8-liter has dual variable valve timing and makes 132 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque. It is mated to a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic. The 1.8 is standard in the base model.
The 1.8-liter engine is joined for 2009 by a 2.4-liter, the same engine that powers the four-cylinder Toyota Camry models. This aluminum DOHC 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine makes 158 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque. The 2.4-liter is optional in the base model and standard in the All-Wheel Drive and GT.
Base and GT models come standard with a five-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic. The five-speed automatic has Pontiac’s Driver Shift Control, which allows the driver to choose gears via a manual shift gate. A four-speed automatic is the only transmission offered with the All-Wheel Drive model.
Pontiac says the GT model is capable of an 8.4-second 0 to 60 mph run with the manual transmission.
Fuel economy numbers range from 26 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway for the 1.8-liter with the manual transmission, to 21/29 mpg for the 2.4-liter with a manual transmission, to 20/26 mpg for the All-Wheel Drive model.
