2003 Pontiac Vibe

Based on Toyota's fabulous little Matrix, the Pontiac Vibe is a sporty little wagon that offers all the utility of a CR-V or RAV4, but gets the gas mileage of a Corolla.

Handling on the Pontiac Vibe is small car tight, especially in the GT. The ride is typical small car choppy, but both 4-cyl's offer good power. Though wind noise can become annoying on long trips. All-Wheel drive is available and the GT adds a 180-hp engine, a sport suspension, 6-sp manual and Pontiac-typical body cladding.

The interior is funky cool and has a ton of useful features. There are storage cubbies, a 110 amp power outlet and the driver seat is setup higher than in most compacts which gives the driver a commanding view of the road. Cargo capacity rivals most small SUV's. There's a storage bin under the floor and plenty of tie downs to secure your cargo.

All this versatility makes the Pontiac Vibe a sensible alternative to an SUV. Add to that Toyota's legendary reliability and a Pontiac Vibe makes perfect sense as a 'lifestyle' vehicle.

When shopping for a Pontiac Vibe, look for harsh shifts between 1st and 2nd gear in automatic equipped cars. If you experience this, the transmission is about to have an expensive problem. Oil leaks are usually due to improper oil filter installation and the cigarette lighter may fall from its socket requiring a new lighter lamp lens. But that's about it. The Vibe may just be the most trouble free car to ever wear a Pontiac badge.