![]() You sit high and upright in the Vibe, as if in a minivan. With so few ponies in harness, why? Sixty mph comes in 7.9 seconds, 0.6 second behind, say, a Mazda 3 s Touring. Full throttle in the lower gears reveals minor torque steer. Power flows effortlessly from 2000 rpm to redline, but the engine becomes a tad raucous above 4500 revs, where your ear suggests an upshift. What you first notice about the Vibe is that it is quiet and gratifyingly smooth at step-off, although it idles at so few revs-presumably to save fuel-that a few embarrassing stall-outs transpire before you get the hang of it. Stability control, ABS, and traction control are standard. The GT is notable for its stiffer suspension, chrome strut-tower brace, and aggressive 18-inch rubber. The AWD and the GT benefit from a 158-horse, 2.4-liter four, lending them a 26-hp edge over the starter kit. There are three Vibe-rations on tap: the base 1.8-liter (starting at $15,895), an all-wheel-drive version ($19,495), and the GT we sampled here ($19,895). Corolla, of course, was Chief Pontiac’s third mistress. In this case, a Toyota Matrix is the Pontiac Vibe’s progenitor and second-gen mechanical twin, both descended from the latest Corolla. He wouldn’t have known what a vibe was, but that’s okay, because he wouldn’t have known what a matrix was, either. When it was new, the 2009 Fit earned our 2009 Best Subcompact Car for the Money award.It’s unlikely that Pontiac, an Ottawa Indian chief, ever expected a GM division to be named after him, although he might have had good vibes about the red arrowhead that serves as its logo. The Fit has class-leading safety ratings. The highly-ranked 2009 Honda Fit is a compact car with an impressive amount of interior space, including a large, versatile cargo area. However, the Vibe edges out the Elantra with better safety scores. The Elantra has a nicer interior than the Vibe and was the 2009 U.S. Reviewers praised its roomy rear seats, and were impressed with its ample trunk space. The 2009 Hyundai Elantra isn’t a hatchback, but it’s one of the most spacious small sedans you can get. See the full 2009 Pontiac Vibe specs » Other Cars to Consider The Vibe does come standard with electronic stability control and electronic brake-force distribution, which aren’t standard in many 2009 small cars.ĭespite its mundane performance, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe has plenty of cabin space, class-leading safety features and good fuel economy ratings. Upper trims offer air conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, an upgraded stereo and leather seats. The base model comes with a four-speaker stereo with an auxiliary input jack and satellite radio, but there’s no air conditioning. The Vibe’s list of standard interior features is mediocre. Though the base 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine has acceptable power, reviewers preferred the additional power from the 2.4-liter engine. However, reviewers weren’t enthused with its performance, which they characterized as competent, but bland. ![]() The Vibe has great fuel economy ratings of 26/32 mpg city/highway, considering it seats five comfortably and can carry a lot of stuff. All-wheel drive is also available, which is rare in this class. It also has a comfortable five-seat cabin with plenty of leftover room for cargo. If practicality is important, a used 2009 Pontiac Vibe could be perfect for you.
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