4 speed automatic transmission shifts VERY smoothly. Overall a great driving car for what it is. Cargo space is good and expandable to one back seat down, both and even the front passenger seat folds if needed. There's even (flimsy) cup holders in the back and storage space under the trunk floor (it's not much space though). Climate controls are Toyota and very easy to figure out. The ride can best be described as firm but not punishing, well controlled. A good driving position for tall people still leaves your feet a little closer to the pedals than you'll really be comfortable with, but, minor issue. The outlet will shut down if the limit is exceeded. XM radio and stability control are nice touches, although I've tried to provoke the VSC and it seems to kick in a little late (this could be due to Pontiac's marketing of a "sporting" demeanor.) They put an actual 115 volt household outlet in the car too, although there is a cutoff point to how many watts the plugged in object can be. Easier to get into and out of than lower slung cars. Great match to the automatic 4 speed transmission. This model was equipped with GM's auto-crank technology (flick the key to start and release, the starter will keep cranking until the engine catches.) It's the Toyota 1.8 from the Corolla and it's excellent in this car. The engine is great, starter is quiet for an economy car. It's what the Kia Soul should have looked like, if the Soul were a hatchback as in a normal, not boxy car. Result? Sensible shoes.This car is a real looker. But “GT,” in this case, stands less for “grand touring” than “general transport.” All the Vibe’s moves are admirable. The Vibe is a practical and justifiable small wagon that will face the likes of the Dodge Caliber (which it will trounce) and five-door Mazda 3 (which it might not). Plus, the right-front seatback folds flat, creating even more valuable space. With minor cursing, we stowed a bike back there. Fold them flat and you’re rewarded with 49 cubic feet of cargo space, and the floor is finished in easy-to-wipe-down plastic. Some engineers apparently still equate heaviness with sportiness. Strangely, the base Vibe’s rack was easier to spin at parking-lot speeds. The GT’s chief drawback is its electric power steering, which is leaden and numb at all speeds. With a tendency toward a small amount of lift-throttle oversteer, the Vibe’s tail can even be rotated. Body motions are masterfully controlled, and the platform feels reassuringly solid. In the hills, the GT’s ride is firm, occasionally choppy over truly scabrous tarmac. The pedals are arrayed for heel-and-toeing, clutch takeup is predictable, and the manual five-speed moves from gate to gate with satisfactory heft and accuracy, although reverse is often hard to find. The large HVAC controls can be operated while you’re wearing gloves, and the Toyota-derived wiper and signal stalks move with silky precision. The IP and the center stack are simple and ergonomically bang on. You sit high and upright in the Vibe, as if in a minivan. With so few ponies in harness, why? Sixty mph comes in 7.9 seconds, 0.6 second behind, say, a Mazda 3 s Touring. Full throttle in the lower gears reveals minor torque steer. Power flows effortlessly from 2000 rpm to redline, but the engine becomes a tad raucous above 4500 revs, where your ear suggests an upshift. What you first notice about the Vibe is that it is quiet and gratifyingly smooth at step-off, although it idles at so few revs-presumably to save fuel-that a few embarrassing stall-outs transpire before you get the hang of it. Stability control, ABS, and traction control are standard. The GT is notable for its stiffer suspension, chrome strut-tower brace, and aggressive 18-inch rubber. The AWD and the GT benefit from a 158-horse, 2.4-liter four, lending them a 26-hp edge over the starter kit. There are three Vibe-rations on tap: the base 1.8-liter (starting at $15,895), an all-wheel-drive version ($19,495), and the GT we sampled here ($19,895). Corolla, of course, was Chief Pontiac’s third mistress. In this case, a Toyota Matrix is the Pontiac Vibe’s progenitor and second-gen mechanical twin, both descended from the latest Corolla. ![]() He wouldn’t have known what a vibe was, but that’s okay, because he wouldn’t have known what a matrix was, either. ![]() It’s unlikely that Pontiac, an Ottawa Indian chief, ever expected a GM division to be named after him, although he might have had good vibes about the red arrowhead that serves as its logo.
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