![]() Other changes to the front - new headlights and a restyled lower bumper - give the Vibe a sporty appearance (see a side-by-side comparison with the 2008 model). Pontiac’s recognizable twin-port grille is prominent and resembles the one on Pontiac’s new sport sedan, the G8. On the flip side, I like the Vibe’s new front-end styling. The plainness of the doors, however, makes the Vibe look a little slab-sided, and I found its overall shape a little bloated and bulbous from some angles, where the previous generation offered more athleticism. The Vibe, which is related to the Toyota Matrix, receives all-new exterior styling for 2009 that gives the car a much smoother appearance than before thanks to flowing lines in the side body panels and the disappearance of its cladding. Aside from a few shortcomings in the cabin, it’s a well-executed model overall. It offers enough room for a family of four and their belongings, and is available with all-wheel drive - a must-have feature for some drivers. The Vibe is particularly well-positioned for buyers who want to wean themselves off their SUV addiction. All of this makes Pontiac’s redesign of its Vibe for the 2009 model year look very smart. Smaller is better these days, and the hatchback segment in particular is experiencing a resurgence. It wasn’t long ago that SUVs were the statement of choice for American drivers, but now, with the rapid rise of gas prices, they’ve gone from being coveted to being shunned. When it was new, the 2009 Fit earned our 2009 Best Subcompact Car for the Money award.It’s amazing how quickly things can change in the car world. The Fit has class-leading safety ratings. The highly-ranked 2009 Honda Fit is a compact car with an impressive amount of interior space, including a large, versatile cargo area. However, the Vibe edges out the Elantra with better safety scores. The Elantra has a nicer interior than the Vibe and was the 2009 U.S. Reviewers praised its roomy rear seats, and were impressed with its ample trunk space. The 2009 Hyundai Elantra isn’t a hatchback, but it’s one of the most spacious small sedans you can get. See the full 2009 Pontiac Vibe specs » Other Cars to Consider The Vibe does come standard with electronic stability control and electronic brake-force distribution, which aren’t standard in many 2009 small cars.ĭespite its mundane performance, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe has plenty of cabin space, class-leading safety features and good fuel economy ratings. Upper trims offer air conditioning, cruise control, steering-wheel mounted audio controls, an upgraded stereo and leather seats. The base model comes with a four-speaker stereo with an auxiliary input jack and satellite radio, but there’s no air conditioning. The Vibe’s list of standard interior features is mediocre. Though the base 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine has acceptable power, reviewers preferred the additional power from the 2.4-liter engine. However, reviewers weren’t enthused with its performance, which they characterized as competent, but bland. The Vibe has great fuel economy ratings of 26/32 mpg city/highway, considering it seats five comfortably and can carry a lot of stuff. All-wheel drive is also available, which is rare in this class. It also has a comfortable five-seat cabin with plenty of leftover room for cargo. If practicality is important, a used 2009 Pontiac Vibe could be perfect for you.
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