2009 Pontiac Vibe Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The Pontiac Vibe has been completely redesigned for the 2009 model year. In addition to fresh interior and exterior styling, the sporty compact wagon also gains new trims and a more powerful engine. The 1.8-liter engine has been kept for the Vibe base trim, but all others will now be powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, borrowed from the Toyota Camry. The Vibe shares a number of engineering attributes with the Toyota Matrix, but Pontiac's wagon is differentiated by unique exterior styling and a stiffer suspension.
The Vibe faces some stiff competition in the rapidly expanding compact wagon segment. While all choices offer a considerable amount of cargo space without significant bulk, the Vibe's competitors have each carved out a specific niche. Alternatives include the retro-styled Chevrolet HHR, the sporty MAZDA3, and the eye-catching Scion xB. While Pontiac's model may not offer any exclusive characteristics, buyers can expect an impressive cargo capacity of 49.4 cubic feet, a strong and reliable Toyota powerplant in the 2.4-equipped models, and a composed ride in any type of driving.
The Vibe 1.8L was the only trim available in 2008, but Pontiac has expanded the lineup considerably for 2009. The new 2.4L comes similarly equipped to the base, but includes the bigger engine. The Vibe AWD is also new this year and the only Vibe to offer a four-speed automatic transmission as standard equipment. The top-tier GT gets exclusive features like a rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels, an upgraded 320-watt MP3 audio system, full power accessories, cruise control, and keyless entry. And inside the well-appointed GT you'll find leather-and-cloth combination sport seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
Although the modest 1.8-liter engine returns in the base trim, it has been enhanced for more power. This mill now generates 132 horsepower and 128 ft-lbs of torque and achieves impressive 26/32 mpg fuel economy. All other Vibes are powered by the 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, which makes 158 horsepower and is mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Optional transmissions include a four-speed automatic and a five-speed automatic; the latter is part of the 1SB package. When equipped with the larger engine, the Vibe speeds from 0 to 60 in about 8 seconds. Fuel economy with the 2.4-liter engine is estimated at 21/28 mpg.
User reviews for 2009 Pontiac Vibe
Write a review2009 Pontiac Vibe Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 4
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 10.8 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 10.2 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Front power outlet: 115V · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks · Vanity mirrors: dual
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.31
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · License plate bracket: front · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Satellite communications: OnStar
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: steel
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: intermittent
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Monsoon · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 7
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.7 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.0 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Front power outlet: 115V · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: door pockets · Vanity mirrors: dual
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.31
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: chrome surround · License plate bracket: front · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rack: with crossbars · Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat folding: folds flat · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: semi-independent · Rear Suspension Type: torsion bar · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Satellite communications: OnStar
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: chrome aluminum
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: with washer
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Monsoon · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Total Number of Speakers: 7 · 320 watts
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.7 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.1 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Front power outlet: 115V · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: storage organizer · Vanity mirrors: dual
Drivetrain
Axle ratio: 4.24
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · License plate bracket: front · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: low fuel level
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: rear
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat folding: folds flat · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: leather-trimmed
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: double wishbone · Stabilizer bar(s): front
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Satellite communications: OnStar
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: aluminum with painted accents
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: with washer
Air Conditioning
Single front air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Front side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: mast · Single disc in-Dash CD · MP3 player: CD MP3 Playback · Premium Brand: Monsoon · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · Total Number of Speakers: 7
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Front brake diameter: 11.7 · Front brakes: disc · Rear brake diameter: 11.1 · Rear brakes: disc
Comfort Features
Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ashtray: with lighter · Center console: front console with storage · Cupholders: front · Front power outlet: 115V · Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Steering wheel: tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: front seatback · Vanity mirrors: dual
Drivetrain
4WD Type: on demand · Axle ratio: 2.81
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust tip color: stainless-steel · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · License plate bracket: front · Mirror color: body-color · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of rear headrests: 3
Instrumentation
Warnings and reminders: maintenance reminder
Lights
Headlights: auto delay off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power · Inside rearview mirror: manual day/night
Rear Seats
Type: 60-40 split bench
Roof
Roof rack color: black · Sunroof: power glass
Safety
Active head restraints: driver · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Crumple zones: front
Seatbelts
Rear center seatbelt: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front
Seats
Driver seat manual adjustments: height · Front seat type: bucket · Passenger seat folding: folds flat · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: flat · Upholstery: cloth
Spare Tire
Mount Location: inside · Size: temporary
Spare Wheel
Rim Type: steel
Suspension
Front Arm Type: lower control arms · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: coil springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: MacPherson struts · Rear Shock Type: coil over shock · Rear Spring Type: coil springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: double wishbone · Stabilizer bar(s): rear
Telematics
Phone: voice activated · Satellite communications: OnStar
Tires
Type: all season
Tires and Rims
Wheels: aluminum
Wheels
Wheel covers: full
Windows
Front wipers: variable intermittent · Liftgate window: fixed · Rear wiper: variable intermittent
