2006 Pontiac Vibe

The 2003 four-door hatchback Vibe is made in California and was jointly developed by General Motors and Toyota, which sells a Canadian-built version called the Matrix.

These mechanically identical vehicles should benefit from Toyota's high quality because mechanical components are from that Japanese automaker.

However the Matrix looks rather conservative next to the Vibe, which has Pontiac's typically aggressive styling. For instance, the front appearance practically shouts "Pontiac!" Even the "Vibe" name is sportier.

Brand Preferences
Besides the different appearances, there are enough pricing and equipment differences between the Vibe and Matrix to prompt people to choose one over the other, although none of those differences are major.

It's just that some Toyota buyers wouldn't be caught dead in a Pontiac showroom, while many folks like Pontiac's sporty image and domestic vehicle status.

As with the Matrix, the Vibe essentially is a tall station wagon that, like most crossover vehicles, is versatile because it combines attributes of a car and a small sport-utility vehicle. For instance, this Pontiac has higher seating. And its rear seatbacks flip forward and sit flat to provide impressive cargo space. Even the front passenger seatback can be folded forward.

The base Vibe comes with front-wheel drive for $16,340 and also with all-wheel drive for $19,540. The hot rod GT version is priced at $19,340 and only has front-drive.

Fun to Drive
Although the zoomy GT has the most power, all Vibes are fun to drive, with quick steering, good handling, sure braking and a comfortable ride.

There is no hairshirt trim. Even the base front-drive Vibe is fairly well equipped with such standard items as air conditioning, AM/FM/CD player, tilt steering wheel and rear wiper for the tailgate's handy pop-up window.

The all-wheel-drive trim adds anti-lock brakes. Besides the strongest engine, the GT features disc brakes at all wheels (instead of front discs and rear drum brakes), a leather-wrapped steering wheel and racy alloy wheels.

However, despite its added power, the GT doesn't come with larger (17-inch) wheels and wider (50-series) tires unless a buyer pays an extra $400. On the other hand, fairly large 16-inch wheels and 55-series tires are standard for all Vibes.

Key Option Packages
Power windows and door locks come in a $600 (after a manufacturer's discount) option package that also contains cruise control and remote keyless entry. A moonroof and a premium sound system are in a "Moon & Tunes" package that costs $500 after such a discount. Both packages are expected to be popular.

The front-drive base trim has a 1.8-liter 130-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and can be had with either a 5-speed manual gearbox or 4-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive version has a 123-horsepower version of that engine and is available only with the responsive automatic transmission.

Hot GT Trim
The GT has a race-style Yamaha-built 1.8-liter 4-cylinder motor. It produces a rousing 180 horsepower and only can be hooked to a 6-speed manual gearbox, which is notchy if rushed but has a conveniently high-mounted shifter.

All Vibe engines need lots of revs to deliver the best performance and are noisy when pushed. Performance is lively in town, but the GT engine does much better at highway speeds. However, a downshift to fourth gear in a test Vibe GT was necessary for a swift 65-75 mph passing time.

The heavier all-wheel-drive trim is slower than other Vibes, but a front-drive Vibe—especially the GT—has appreciable torque steer (front wheels dart slightly to the left and right) when accelerating quickly from a standing start on slippery roads. All-wheel drive would cure that problem.

High Fuel Economy
As expected with a small engine, fuel economy is good. Depending on its engine and transmission, the Vibe delivers an estimated 25-29 mpg in the city and 30-36 mpg on highways.

Fairly trim exterior dimensions, with little overhang, make the Vibe easy to park and maneuver.

Roomy
Four tall adults have impressive room, and tall, wide doors make it easy to get in and out. Large outside door handles are easily grasped, and there are a decent amount of cupholders and storage areas. Even the glove compartment is large; it almost seems like an afterthought on many vehicles.

The sporty looking interior has large climate system controls, but annoyingly small sound system controls can cause a driver to pay too much attention to them.

Odd Gauge Markings
Here's a flaw that shows practicality being compromised for the sake of flair: Speedometer and tachometer markings are offset, as in a race car.

That leaves, for example, the 80-mph speedometer mark where 60 mph would be on typical speedometers and the 5000 rpm mark about where the 3000 rpm mark would be on conventional tachometers.

Such a setup is fine for race tracks, where fast-moving drivers usually only glance at the top gauge markings, but it's not a good setup for street driving.

However, even the best of vehicles have flaws. The Vibe generally is a solid, versatile, attractive package.