AUTO RED BOOK REVIEW: 2010 PONTIAC VIBE

On The Cover Review: 2010 Pontiac Vibe

The Vibe is almost not worth reviewing here on its own merits, but it does have the distinction of being the last Pontiac expected to be produced in the company’s illustrious 83-year history. In 2009, Pontiac offered some great cars—the funky Solstice Roadster and the new Solstice Coupe, the world-class G8 GT and GXP, and the updated G6 convertible with its slick retractable hardtop. Now, from the company that brought us the Bonneville, the Super Duty, the GTO and the Trans Am, we’re down to this outdated hatchback that’s based on a Toyota Matrix, which itself is based on the coma-inducing Corolla. Still, if you’re looking for basic transportation in a practical package, you could do worse than the Vibe. It does have neat chrome bezels around the gauges and has the same quality as its Toyota siblings. It doesn’t use a lot of fuel and comes standard with a 1.8-liter engine that puts out 132-hp and squeezes out 31 miles from a gallon of fuel on the highway. You could also choose to burn a little more gas and get the 158-hp, 2.4-liter engine. Ultimately, the Vibe is a decent, practical everyday commuter. It just isn’t a fitting end to a company that brought us so much.