![]() ![]() The passenger quarters are nicely designed and the dashboard looks quite modern. On the other hand, this surface is quite slippery. ![]() In fact, with the rear seats up or down, the available room is greater than in any competitor except for the Compass. Talk about a clever way to ensure you don't break all your eggs on the way home! This system offers small, partitioned compartments in which you can store a few grocery bags or other compact items. To help owners, all Vibe models equipped with the 2.4L mill feature a nifty cargo organizer under the floor. On the other hand, this surface is quite slippery, so if you don't want your gear to slide all over the place, you'd better make sure to fasten everything. Plus, you don't have to worry about tearing the carpet. Inside, the cargo floor is made from composite material, making it easy to wash. While small, the rear hatch is extremely lightweight and opens up to a decent height. In terms of practicality, this car does not disappoint. The 60/40 split rear seatbacks of the Vibe fold in a flash to accommodate a big plasma TV, a stroller or all the boxes your college son decided to bring home for spring break. Hatchbacks like this one are mainly chosen for their versatile interior and flexible cargo area. ![]() At the end of my test week, the Pontiac wound up with a combined city-highway rating of 10.5 L/100 km. Of course, real-world fuel economy figures are approximately 15-20 percent higher than those posted by the federal government, which conducts laboratory tests. It should be noted that the Impreza, SX4 and Compass are available with a manual gearbox, unlike the Vibe/Matrix AWD.Īll five cars average about 9 liters per 100 kilometers With regard to fuel economy, all five cars average about 9 liters per 100 kilometers, according to Transport Canada. Like the GT, it uses a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine. With 158 horsepower on tap, my tester also fared quite well in the power department, as said competitors range from 143 to 172 horsepower. Like the GT, it uses a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that proves much more capable than the 1.8L unit of the base model. The Vibe AWD is one of three models in the lineup. Interestingly, Dodge no longer offers the four-wheel drive Caliber R/T. Both the Vibe and Matrix carry a higher base MSRP than the Impreza (about $500) and Compass ($2,000). The Vibe AWD is pitted against the Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4, Jeep Compass and, of course, the Matrix AWD. That should make the Pontiac quite popular in areas hit by major snowfalls. My tester, however, clearly stood out thanks to a new all-wheel drive system. There's a minuscule glass section inside the C pillars and the rear window seems better integrated, giving the Matrix at least one more point on a scale of 100 compared to the Vibe! (That's a disputable argument, I know.) In my eyes, the latter looks cleaner and better executed due to a more careful approach to design. Unlike, say, the Chevrolet Aveo5 and Suzuki Swift+, the Vibe and Matrix are styled differently. Of course, we're not talking about identical twins here. So, for the most part, my comments about the Vibe also apply to the Matrix. Their driving dynamics are also pretty much the same, as are their prices when you compare similarly-equipped models. These two cars continue to share platforms and powertrains. The "extreme" lines of this small wagon are indeed reminiscent of the cartoonish toy cars of our childhood.Įarly last year, compact hatchback buyers were treated to a completely redesigned Pontiac Vibe - not to mention its Japanese cousin, the Toyota Matrix. However, this design likely won't age very well due to its radical nature. As a result, Vibe sales jumped 32 percent in 2008. Such styling is clearly aimed at a specific group of drivers, namely the young and young-at-heart. The "extreme" lines of this small wagon are indeed reminiscent of the cartoonish toy cars of our childhood. The second-generation Pontiac Vibe is a life-size Hot Wheels. ![]()
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