Is the Pontiac Vibe too cool for you?

With its active-sports-friendly carpet-less cargo area, cubbies designed specifically for cellphones and PDAs, laptop plug in the dash, a color palette with names like “Envy,” “Salsa” and “Frosty,” and a sunroof/CD upgrade package called “Moon And Tunes,” you’d certainly be forgiven for thinking so.  But underneath all that attitude, the all-new Vibe is actually a nice little car.

Apart from a name that will have teenagers giggling, the Vibe combines the versatility of a minivan with the size and maneuverability of a subcompact car, with great success.  Best of all, thanks to the magic of corporate cross-pollination, if you love it but just can’t stand the idea of buying a Pontiac, you can run over to your Toyota dealer and purchase the somewhat wackier-looking Matrix, which is the same car.  Both cars share basic platforms and drivetrains.

Yeah, sure, people are going to take one look at the Vibe and call it ugly, but most of those people automatically hate anything General Motors builds anyway.  Don’t listen to them.  If Chevrolet built a bolt-for-bolt replica of a Ferrari, those people would find a reason to hate it.  The Vibe is actually a good-looking car.  Crossover vehicles like Suzuki’s Aerio and Pontiac’s own Aztek have been plagued by the gawky look inherent to a high-roofed, compact-sized car.  The Vibe manages to look cool though, with a muscular one-box body, big fender flares and a lot less plastic cladding than the average Pontiac.  The face is a large-grilled affair with prominent cat’s-eye headlamps and a nicely creased hood.  At the rear, the roofline drops as the beltline rises, resulting in a strangely shaped D-pillar.  It takes a bit of getting used to, but the quirk effectively breaks up the typically boxy station-wagon/SUV silhouette and looks good.  A roof rack is standard equipment.  Standard 16″ wheels can be swapped out for even larger 17″ alloy wheels, and even the hubcaps on the base model look good.

From the driver’s seat, it looks like Pontiac let Toyota take care of the interior, and that’s a good thing.  Handsome seat cloth is the only thing that looks like it came from Pontiac’s style bin–the rest is pure Toyota.  There are lots of circles.  The deep-set gauges are ringed with chrome and the air vents and ancillary controls put more round holes in the dash.  The shifter is mounted high in the console, because of the tall body, but the high seating position keeps it from being awkward.  The three-spoke steering wheel and switchgear are straight out of Toyota’s parts bin.  The only ergonomic complaint we had with the Vibe’s interior were door pulls that were hard to grasp.  In addition to the usual power outlet in the dash, there’s a household-style plug, which allows Vibe owners to run laptop computers and other appliances without power inverters or other expensive adapters.  Does it work?  A Detroit area Pontiac dealer reportedly ran their office computers from one of the Vibes on their lot during a power outage!

The Vibe’s cargo area is ready for extreme sports gear.  It’s lined with plastic instead of carpet, the better to hose the car out if necessary.  Multiple cubbyholes and cargo tie-down hooks live back there as well.  The lack of carpet is a good thing for carrying dirty or sharp-edged things like mountain bikes, but smaller objects tend to slide about.  Listening to a pair of rollerblades bang around in a fifty-seven cubic foot, plastic-lined echo chamber gets very old, very quickly.

The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine uses variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) technology borrowed from Toyota to make the most of its 130 horsepower.  By varying valve timing to increase torque at low speeds and efficiency at higher speeds, VVT-i makes the Vibe feel more powerful than it is.  Equipped with the standard five-speed manual transmission, the Vibe is more than capable of dealing with hostile traffic and freeway speeds.  As a commuter, the Vibe offers a raised seating position and decent visibility, in spite of those squashed back windows.  The noise and drivetrain thrash that GM’s small cars are notorious for is absent; around town, your Vibe is your friend.  An available Vibe GT model adds fifty horsepower and a six-speed manual transmission to the mix, turning Pontiac’s little do-all into a serious performer.  A four-speed automatic transmission is also available.

An all-wheel drive model is also available, to compete with cars like the Subaru Forester and Honda CR-V.  The Vibe AWD is an automatic-only model.

A MacPherson strut independent front suspension is used, with a twist beam rear axle.  As a result, the Vibe can haul like a minivan, but doesn’t ride like one.  The ride is perfectly carlike, and never tippy or unstable.  Disc brakes are installed up front, with drums in the rear.  The Vibe GT comes with four-wheel discs, and antilock brakes are available on all models.

Of course, there’s still that attitude we mentioned before.  Like many cars directed at younger buyers, the Vibe can be personalized in many different ways.  Available accessories include: a computer desk that buckles into the passenger seat and holds files and supplies; backpacks that can be worn or attached to the front seats; a “Gearbox” cargo storage system which attaches to sliding racks in the back; and a set of auxiliary storage compartments with a first aid kit.

It’s priced right for first-time buyers, too.  Vibe pricing starts under $17,000 goes up to $19,900 for a Vibe GT and $20,100 for the AWD model.  We drove a base Vibe, with no options whatsoever, and it wasn’t a stripped-out car by any stretch.  Standard equipment includes a CD player, tinted windows, air conditioning, and that cool laptop plug in the dash.  Side airbags, a moonroof, a GPS navigation system and a monochrome appearance package are options.  Our test car stickered for $16,800.  Don’t worry, the Vibe isn’t too cool for you, even if it looks like it is.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2002 Pontiac Vibe, which we tested.
Length:     171.9 in.
Width:        69.9 in.
Height:        62.2 in.
Wheelbase:    102.4 in.
Curb weight:    2700 lb.
Cargo space:    24.6 cu.ft (seats up); 57.2 cu.ft. (seats folded)
Base price:    $16,340
Price as tested: $16,800
Engine:     1.8 liter DOHC 16-valve four cylinder
Drivetrain:     five-speed manual, front wheel drive
Horsepower:     130 @ 6000
Torque:     125 @ 4200
Fuel capacity:    13.2 gal.
Est. mileage:    30/36
Towing capacity:    1500 lb.

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