2009 Pontiac Vibe

My sampling of the new Vibe came from the model that will find the fewest buyers: the one with the big 2.4-liter engine and a 5-speed stick. This combo sure gives the Vibe more vroom, though the shifter is a little long (and tilted to the right) and the clutch is a mile off the floor. The new steering is heavier, but basically, the Vibe still drives like the reskinned Toyota Corolla it is. Seems more fitting to just get the economy model.

The interior is basically well done, even if it seems less stylistically congruent than the one I admire so much in my own 2004 Vibe. The new seats are composed of this weird blend of nylon(?) and leather(?), though they're as roomy as ever. There is at least one cause for celebration: GM replaced the muddy old radio with a unit packing way more power and clarity.