Positive Vibe Leaves Us Feelin' Groovy

2009 Pontiac Vibe

Pontiac Did Well With Vibe Redesign

Pontiac redesigned the Vibe for 2009, and I got a chance to check it out for a whole day recently. It’s still a small hatchback, but it’s cuter than before and more functional than ever. The peace, love and happiness starts with three trim levels (including an all-wheel-drive version and an upgraded GT) that start under $16,000 and feature about as much stuff as you can cram into a five-seater.

We’re talkin’ moonroof, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, six airbags, antilock brakes and the coolness that is OnStar. OnStar, by the way, now offers navigation sent directly to your car, so no internal navigation system is necessary. Stop, children, what’s that sound? Oh, it’s the XM Satellite Radio.

While all that is righteous, the cargo space is where I really start feeling the love vibe. The large center console actually holds a purse, and there are small bins everywhere else for containing the inevitable car clutter. The rear seats fold completely flat, and rubberized strips along the floor keep your stuff from sliding around. Also, every version of the Vibe comes with a really nifty pop-up divider system to keep everything organized. And yes, it has bag holders. Right on, Pontiac.

The good vibrations keep on keepin’ on while driving the Vibe. Pontiac gave it more power and a smoother ride, which translates into good times on the road. Both the AWD and GT models come with a 158-horsepower 2.4-liter engine that seriously rocks. Through hill and canyon, the Vibe is a blast to drive, especially while blasting the stereo (which you’ll need to do, because there is a fair amount of road noise to mask).

A teeny turning radius makes U-turns and city driving easier, and sporty bolstered seats are comfy even on longer trips. Honestly, I initially had a feeling that the Vibe was going to be a whole lot of hype and not much more. But as soon as I got a chance behind the wheel, I changed my tune. It’s just like they say: quick and agile. The Vibe is even — dare I say? — groovy.