2006 Pontiac Vibe

The Vibe is a 4-door hatchback with front- or all-wheel drive and a swing-up tailgate with a separate opening window. It's a "crossover" vehicle, offering attributes of a car, small station wagon and compact sport-utility vehicle. However, the all-wheel-drive system has no low-range gearing for tough off-roading.

Jointly Developed
The Vibe debuted as an early 2003 model and was jointly developed by General Motors and Toyota. It's mechanically identical to the Toyota Matrix, but has slightly different styling and features. It's offered with a wide range of engines, transmissions and drive systems for a small, fairly low-priced "crossover" vehicle. Some would call it a tall station wagon.

List prices range from $16,915 for the entry Base front-wheel-drive version to $20,240 for the Base all-wheel-drive version. The front-wheel-drive $19,890 GT is the sportiest version.

The Base engine is a small 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 123-130 horsepower. Although heavier, the all-wheel-drive version gets 123 horsepower—when it could use at least 130.

Lazy Acceleration
Either version of the Base engine is fine in town and decent during steady highway cruising. But both have lazy acceleration during passing maneuvers above 65 mph—even with just a driver aboard.

The GT has a high-revving, sophisticated hot rod version of the 1.8 four-cylinder that produces 170 horsepower. It would be even better suited to the all-wheel-drive Vibe. However, that engine is from the racy Toyota Celica GTS coupe and really belongs in such a fast, sporty car—not in the economy-oriented Vibe.

A dealer-installed supercharger kit is offered for about $3,000 for the Base front-wheel-drive version and is said to produce about 175 horsepower. The kit is basically for the "fast and furious" crowd, which is better off with the Vibe GT.

Easy With Fuel
Most Vibe buyers are best off with the 123-130 horsepower engine, which provides an estimated 26-29 mpg in the city and 31-36 on the highway, with the lighter front-wheel-drive version getting the higher figures. The GT provides 25 and 30.

The Vibe GT appropriately comes only with a 6-speed manual gearbox, which must be shifted a lot for the best acceleration. One must pay $440 extra to upgrade from 16-inch to 17-inch wheels with wider tires, which should come as standard equipment for the GT, considering its extra power.

The 130-horsepower engine comes with a standard 5-speed manual gearbox or $850 4-speed automatic transmission. The all-wheel-drive version of the Vibe only is offered with the automatic transmission.

The best acceleration is gotten with the manual gearbox, but the responsive automatic is the most convenient transmission for most Vibe buyers—slightly more than half of whom are women.

New Features
The 2005 Vibe has slightly revised front and rear styling. The all-wheel-drive and GT versions get a new standard tire-pressure monitor, and front-wheel-drive versions are available for the first time with a $445 anti-skid system.

Another new option is $745 head-protecting side-curtain airbags. Also newly available are $700 leather upholstery and the GM OnStar assistance system, which costs $695.

Base Vibes are fairly well equipped, with items including air conditioning, an AM/FM/CD player, power mirrors, a tilt wheel, a split-folding rear seat and fold-flat front passenger seat that allows 8-foot-long cargo when rear seatbacks also are flipped forward.

However, power windows and locks with remote keyless entry cost $850.

Many vehicle buyers insist on a sunroof. The Vibe's sunroof comes in a $840 "Moons and Tunes Value Package" that includes a premium sound system.

The dimensions of the Vibe make it easy to maneuver and park. The power steering is responsive, although it has a rather stiff feel that takes some getting used to. The ride is firm but compliant, although it sometimes becomes a bit jittery with the GT. Handling is nimble and is enhanced by the 17-inch wheels and wider tires. Stopping performance is good, and the brake pedal has a nice feel.

Roomy
There's good room for four tall adults in the airy feeling interior, which is quiet except for excessive engine noise during hard acceleration.

It's easy to get in and out through high, wide doors, which have large, easily grasped handles. The upright front seats are supportive, although the rear bench seat isn't especially comfortable on long trips.

Climate controls are large, but small sound system controls call for excessive driver attention while underway. The cargo area is roomy with rear seats in their normal position, and rear seatbacks easily fold flat to create a large, flat load floor.

The Vibe has proven Toyota components and is an attractive alternative to a compact wagon or sport ute.