The Pontiac Vibe is a compact car manufactured and sold by Pontiac, a division of General Motors, from 2002 to 2010. Toyota, which makes the mechanically comparable Toyota Matrix, and General Motors co-created it. Like the Chevrolet Prizm, the Vibe was based on the Toyota Corolla and produced at the Toyota-General Motors manufacturing joint development NUMMI in Fremont, California.
History of the Pontiac Vibe
First Generation Pontiac Vibe (2002–2008)
Toyota and General Motors collaborated on developing the Pontiac Vibe. Until 2008, it had the best fuel economy of any GM car sold in North America. In 1984, General Motors extended a promise of cooperation to Toyota at its manufacturing plant in California. The resulting acronym was "NUUMI" (New United Motor Manufacturing Inc.). It was a loss-making facility for both companies until Toyota decided to shut it down in 2009 after General Motors withdrew support following the closure of the Pontiac brand. The Vibe and Matrix were Toyotas; they shared the same base and many components. The combined aesthetic elements of Toyota's signature angular appearance with those of the relatively new crossover market. Several different Toyota motors were available for the Vibe. Pontiac offered a 5 or 6-speed manual transmission. The automatic transmission with four gears was an available extra depending on the engine.
Vibe GT
In 2003, Pontiac released the Vibe GT as a combination of other vehicles, making it one of the greatest crossovers at the time. The Vibe GT for Pontiac and Matrix for Toyota resulted from a joint effort between Toyota and General Motors. It was rare for rival businesses to engage in this form of badge engineering with one another; such collaboration usually occurred only amongst brands belonging to the same family. However, the Matrix/Vibe GT was a risky undertaking, and the car companies knew that failure would be better supported if split between them. Unfortunately, this is what happened, and it contributed to the demise of the Pontiac brand. Yamaha improved Toyota's 1.8L engine that sits under the hood. It was the only one of its kind to come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission and could thus produce more horsepower than its siblings.
Second Generation Pontiac Vibe (2008–2010)
New for the 2009 model year, the revamped Vibe debuted at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December 2007. It shared its base with the Toyota Matrix. In April 2008, GM announced on its website that it had delivered the first vehicles to dealers and that early sales had been strong. Customers began receiving their units as early as the first week of March.
Vibe GT
The GT version of the Vibe had a roof spoiler, lower intake ducts, larger fog lights, and polished exhaust tips, giving it a sportier appearance. Leather seats and a three-spoke steering wheel were standard on GT variants. The GT models came standard with a 2.4L engine producing 158 horsepower and a 5-speed manual or automatic gearbox.
Price
In 2009, Pontiac retailed the Pontiac Vibe with a starting MSRP of around $16,000 ($22,135 in 2022) for the base model, rising to just below $20,000 ($27,669 in 2022) for the top-of-the-line GT trim.
- Base - $16,000 ($22,135 in 2022)
- AWD Variant - $19,500 ($26,977 in 2022)
- Loaded GT - $20,000 ($27,669 in 2022)
Features
Exterior Features
The revised sheet metal on the 2009 Pontiac Vibe makes it look more athletic than its predecessor, thanks to its wider wheel arches and wider wheels. The AWD comes with a roof rack as standard equipment, while the GT adds larger fog lights, a roof spoiler, a chromed exhaust tip, and lower intake ducts. All-wheel drive (AWD) models come standard with 18-inch aluminum wheels, whereas the base and AWD trims get 17-inch steel wheels with full-wheel covers.
Interior Features
The knit material in the base and AWD trimmings is excellent, and the buttons and gauges have been redesigned and simplified for simpler usage. The GT's cabin is more luxurious than the regular model's thanks to upgrades like cloth and leather seats, and a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel. Both the rear and front passenger seats fold flat to increase the storage space offered for longer objects. A telescoping steering column and a 115-volt outlet are included as standard equipment.
Standard Features
- Anti-lock Disc Brakes
- 16-Inch Wheels and Tires
- Driver's Seat Six-Way Adjustable
- Four-Speaker Sound System
- AM/FM Radio With CD
- XM Satellite
- Auxiliary Input Jack
- OnStar
- Stabilitrak With Traction Control
- Tire-Pressure Monitoring System
- Side-Impact
- Head-Curtain Side Airbags
GT Trim
- Above Features
- 18-Inch Aluminum Wheels
- Premium Sound
- Leather-Trimmed Interior
Specs and Performance of the Pontiac Vibe
Engines:
- 1.8L 2ZR-FE I4
- 2.4L 2AZ-FE I4
The Pontiac Vibe's 2.4L engine delivers 158 hp (118 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 162 lb-ft (220 Nm) at 4,000 rpm of torque. Pontiac marketed the Vibe as a front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle, and it was available with a 5-speed manual transmission. The Pontiac Vibe accelerates from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 kph) in 8.4 seconds, with a top speed of 125 mph (201 kph). Dimension-wise, the Pontiac Vibe AWD measures 4,366 mm (171.9 in) long, 1,763 mm (69.4 in) wide, and 1,593 mm (62.7 in) high. Its wheelbase measures 2,600 mm (102.4 in) and has a curb weight of 2,976 lbs (1,350 kg).
Release Date
Motors released the Pontiac Vibe from the 2000 to 2010 model years for its Pontiac division. As part of General Motors' Chapter 11 reorganization, Pontiac was discontinued, and NUMMI was shut down in 2009, effectively ending Vibe production.