With the launch of the new 2009 Pontiac Vibe, I’ve heard the little hatchback lovingly referred to as the Vibé (Vi-BAY). Hearkening back to the Targét (tar-JAY) phenomenon, this economy car is heading upscale.
Even though the base model, with a 1.8-liter four cylinder engine, starts at $15,895, there are a lot of thoughtful standard features included in this sub-$16K car. Key items include: front and rear side-curtain airbags, XM Satellite Radio with a three-month trial, rear child security door locks, OnStar with a one-year Safe and Sound plan, a three-prong household-style power outlet, manual seat height adjuster and a telescoping steering wheel.
Something else that comes standard with the base model is excellent fuel economy. In this $4 a gallon economy, city/highway fuel consumption is playing a larger role than ever in vehicle purchases. If this is a concern for you, the 26/32 mpg Vibe should be added to your list of vehicles to research.
By having a wide variety of safety and premium amenities standard at a base level, the Vibe doesn’t force a consumer to choose one over the other, you can have both … and then add more if the mood (and budget) strikes.
Luckily, the new Vibe is also attractive, so there’s no sacrifice there either. I had the opportunity to park next to a previous-generation Vibe, and the difference is night and day. Where the previous generation was a bit chunky and clunky, this new model is sleek and sexy. The exterior lines are sharp and modern, and the taillights look like they belong more to the aftermarket arena than factory-installed fare. The 2009 Vibe looks sporty, yet oddly elegant at the same time.
The interior, perhaps, is a bit more basic, but still nicely styled. The silver-tipped glowing red gauges are easy to read behind the steering wheel, and all the buttons and dials on the center stack are easy to reach. The cloth seating surfaces are simple, and the seats themselves are comfortable. And, women, take note: The glove box is large enough to fit a decent-sized purse or bag.
Another bonus: Cargo volume. With the rear seats up, there's a generous 20.1 cubic-feet of cargo volume. Fold the rear seats down, and the cargo volume expands to a very nice 49.4 cubic-feet. Rear legroom might seem tight in the with just 36.2 inches, but smaller adults and children will have plenty of room. Plus, to solidify the Vibe as a potential family car, Pontiac execs stated that it will fit three car seats in the back seat.
Due to the height adjustable seats and the telescoping steering wheel, I was able to get an excellent driving position that provided a great view out of the front and rear of the vehicle.
There were, however, a couple of positional quirks that provided some difficulty for me as a petite driver. Because I had a far-forward, super-high driving position, my head was quite close to the ceiling of the Vibe. This wasn’t really a huge problem … until I needed to use the sun visor. When I tried to lower it, the visor bonked me on the top of my head. So, I had to tilt my head sideways to raise or lower it. Also because of my seating position, the large left side mirror provided a bit of a blind spot if I was checking traffic at a 45-degree angle, like at a four-way stop.
The last issue I noticed concerned the manual transmission model that I drove during a short regional preview of the Vibe. In order to depress the clutch all the way, I inched my seat forward a tad more than I would in an automatic vehicle. That combined with the high sit height left my legs trapped between the seat and the underbelly of the dash. I drove the automatic during a longer test period and did not have this problem.
Because Pontiac realizes that there is more to a car than fuel economy, they’ve offered a few different model variations that are sure to please a wide range of consumers. The next step up from the base model is the 2.4-liter model, which adds 26 horsepower under the hood and $400 to the price tag. It also has an available five-speed automatic transmission and a front-passenger flat-folding seatback.
The next step in the model line up adds $3,000, all-wheel drive, a roof-mounted luggage rack and stability control. The top-of-the-line model is the GT that has a base price of $19,895 and a standard 7-speaker Monsoon sound system. All models, except for the base, have the same 2.4-liter, 158-horsepower engine that delivers city/highway fuel economy ratings of 21/29 mpg.
Both Vibes I test-drove recently were GT models. While I rarely prefer an automatic to a manual transmission, I have to say in this instance, the extra $1,050 for the five-speed automatic is well worth it. It provided smooth, seamless power while accelerating to highway speeds, yet still offered the driver tap shift if you wanted to exert some extra control over the gearing. The five-speed manual transmission was a bit tough, and I didn’t feel like the power was quite as aggressive.
The ride in the Vibe was certainly more sporty than luxurious, and while the “Vibé” is heading upscale, it still has some rough edges. Some of the finishes – though attractive – were plasticky, and the engine noise was definitely noticeable. But features like standard OnStar and satellite radio more than make up for it.
The Vibe is one of those vehicles that flies under the radar. But with the slick new design, bevy of standard features and a top-of-the-line, completely loaded GT model that just hits $22K, the 2009 model will be one to watch.
DriveLive around Chicago in a VW Eos
