2009 Pontiac Vibe has room to spare

Now in its second generation, hatchback has kept the practicality, but lost a bit of the fun

Aug 23, 2008

Special to the Star

The best cars are the ones with personalities. They become part of the family, and maybe even get a name. They're fun to drive, but beyond that, they make you want to drive them.

I always thought the Pontiac Vibe – along with its twin sibling, the Toyota Matrix, both based on the Toyota Corolla – fell into that category, with its funky styling and quick, tossable handling.

But both models have now morphed into their second generation, and while they're still both eminently practical and now receive some long-overdue safety features, there's something missing:

They've matured too much, losing some of their fun factor along the way.

Like the Matrix – built exclusively by Toyota in Ontario, while the Vibe comes from a joint GM/Toyota plant in California – the Vibe comes with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine in the base model, and with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder in my all-wheel-drive tester, as well as in the top-line GT.

That's one more engine than last year; for the last two model years, pending the new generation, the Vibe was available only with the smaller engine and strictly with front-wheel drive.

The five-speed manual on the base and GT models can be optioned to a five-speed automatic, but the AWD model comes strictly with a four-speed automatic.

On the media launch of the Toyota version earlier this year, an engineer said the five-speed couldn't be fitted to the AWD unit, and the four-speed was all that was available to them. Maybe so, but while the transmission shifts well overall, you do miss that fifth cog.

The 2.4-litre is a strong choice, able to haul the Vibe around even when the car is loaded up. However, it's loud and has a rougher idle than expected (enough to set up an annoying rattle in a loose rear taillight that hadn't been properly installed).

Overall, it's still a very good choice for a city commuter, especially given its price – the AWD model starts at $21,270, although mine had been goosed with numerous options. It's definitely not as much fun though. Its handling isn't as sharp as before, and that body roll is more pronounced.

The all-wheel system normally runs as a front-driver. Should it detect slippage, it seamlessly sends power to the rear wheels as well, to a maximum of 45 per cent. The base model comes with a rear torsion beam, but the AWD and GT models have an independent rear end.

A big improvement over the 2007 Vibe model is the number of safety features that used to be extra-charge options. Now, standard equipment on all models are anti-lock brakes (and now on four-wheel discs, rather than the previous disc/drum setup), and curtain and front-seat side airbags.

Most redesigns involve bulking up the new model, but thankfully, the Vibe remains virtually the same size as before. The new version retains its wedge shape, but the corners are more rounded and the wavy body line is more pronounced.

The rear lights change dramatically from a solid shield to twin chrome-ringed pods behind a clear cover. I find them too big and busy for the car, and I'm guessing they cost a lot more to replace if someone taps you in the rear corner.

The new design also includes a thick C-pillar, and this creates a large blind spot for the over-the-shoulder glance, although the rest of the car's visibility is good. It's also still roomy inside, with considerable legroom in the back seat, and comfortable chairs all around.

The dash is redesigned, but retains the superb simplicity of the last generation, with big heater control dials and vents that easily spin or close completely. I'm less taken with the instrument cluster, though. The previous one had chrome rings around the pods, which could be blinding when the sun hit them; a heavy dash eyebrow now eliminates that problem, but the instruments are set so deeply that they can be tough to read.

Unlike many vehicles these days, the Vibe doesn't automatically come with all the toys, which will turn off some drivers but resonate with others who prefer simplicity.

Air conditioning is optional on the base model; before you add any extra packages, the base and AWD models come with crank windows, manual locks, fixed-delay intermittent wipers, and no cruise control.

Its Toyota heritage also means it's missing the automatic headlamp switch that GM usually puts on all its vehicles.

As before, this Vibe is all about being able to cram as much as possible into its compact footprint. There are cubbies and pockets everywhere, including two under the cargo floor; one's a deep, divided bin tucked in behind the spare tire, while the other one contains a cargo organizer (optional on the base model, standard on AWD and GT) with removable nets that act as dividers to keep items from sliding around.

The cargo area is still easy-clean plastic, and there are grocery bag hooks along the sides. The previous model had tracks in the floor with movable tie-downs. These are gone, and in their place, the plastic floor has textured strips that help somewhat to keep stuff from sliding around.

All of that adds up to a hatchback that's extremely useful, especially at a time when larger vehicles are falling out of favour.

The Vibe works well and it does what it's supposed to do, but like the Matrix, it seems a little sterile. I can't help but think I would have liked all of the improvements to build on the funky, edgier little wagon that it used to be.

The new Vibe reminds me of a surfer dude who cut his hair and grew up; problem is, I liked him a little better the old way.

Toronto Star