Receiving a complete interior and exterior refreshing this year, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe is a compact four-door hatchback/wagon or a sport crossover, depending on your perspective, that seats five passengers comfortably. The Vibe is powered by a 1.8L four-cylinder engine that produces 132 hp and 128 lb-ft of torque or a 2.4L four-cylinder engine that is good for 158 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard on front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive comes with a four-speed automatic transmission. Pontiac Vibe EPA-rated fuel economy is at its best with the 1.8L FWD for 26 mpg city/32 mpg hwy, while the 2.4L FWD gets 21/28 mpg and the 2.4L AWD gets 20/26 mpg. Standard safety equipment features antilock disc brakes, the OnStar communications system, stability control and a full array of airbags, including front-seat side and full-length side curtain.
2009 model year changes
The Pontiac Vibe has been completely redesigned for 2009, with AWD (all-wheel-drive) and sporty GT models returning to the lineup, more safety features, and the availability of a new, more powerful 2.4L engine.
Competitive comparison
Fuel efficiency; safety features; roomy interior for its compact size; available all-wheel drive.
Special features for 2009
The economical and sporty 2009 Pontiac Vibe is a tall hatchback model--based on the Toyota Corolla and closely related to the Toyota Matrix--that handles just like a car and is a great alternative to some of the larger, heavier crossover SUVs. With its improved safety equipment, good fuel economy, available all-wheel drive, and a torquier, more responsive engine available for those who plan to carry heavy loads, the Vibe is now a much-improved value.
