Pontiac Vibe 1.8 i 16V AWD (124 Hp)


Overall Rating

7.7 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.5 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 3.0 / 5
Comfort 3.5 / 5
People\'s Opinion N/A / 5
Not Rated

Pontiac Vibe:

The Pontiac Vibe is a compact car marketed by Pontiac for model years 2002-2010. The Vibe was a badged engineered variant of the Toyota Matrix, jointly developed by General Motors and Toyota and manufactured at their joint venture, NUMMI, in Fremont, California.
The Vibe succeeded the Chevrolet Prizm in production at NUMMI and like the Prizm, was derived from the Toyota Corolla, making it the last of the GM and Toyota developed S-body cars.
From 2002 to 2004, a rebadged right-hand drive variant of the Vibe was exported as the Toyota Voltz to the Japanese domestic market. The Voltz did not sell well in Japan and was discontinued after two model years....(Read more on Wikipedia)

Vibe Overview:

Pontiac Vibe (Vibe). With 160 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. It has moderate fuel consumption (~9.1 l/100km). With a weight of 1370 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. All‑wheel drive provides excellent grip, ideal for off‑road use. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 10 s). The top speed reaches 177 km/h. A car with an extended rear cargo area, combining passenger comfort with increased storage. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The Pontiac Vibe generation was primarily sold in North America and was not tested by Euro NCAP. North American safety ratings (e.g., IIHS, NHTSA) generally indicated acceptable to good performance for its class at the time, particularly in frontal crash tests.

1.8 i 16V AWD (124 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

While offering AWD capability, the lower horsepower means performance is more leisurely compared to the 130 Hp models. Adequate for utility, not for speed.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy is comparable to the 130 Hp AWD, with the AWD system adding a slight penalty. Still reasonable for its class.

Best Use Case: Budget-conscious buyers needing all-weather traction and utility, without prioritizing acceleration.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Exceptional Toyota-sourced reliability and durability
  • • Highly practical and versatile cargo space with flat-folding seats
  • • Available all-wheel drive (AWD) for enhanced traction
  • • Decent fuel economy from base 1.8L engine
  • • Vibe GT offers surprisingly sporty performance
  • • Good value on the used car market

Cons:

  • • Interior plastics feel somewhat cheap and uninspired
  • • Noticeable road and wind noise at highway speeds
  • • Base 1.8L engine can feel underpowered when fully loaded or at higher speeds
  • • Styling may be considered bland by some
  • • No Euro NCAP safety rating available

Specifications:

General:
Brand:Pontiac
Model:Vibe
Generation:Vibe
Modification (Engine):1.8 i 16V AWD (124 Hp)
Start of production:January, 2002
End of production:2008
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Station wagon (estate)
Seats:5
Doors:5
Engine:
Power:124 Hp @ 6000 rpm.
Power per litre:69.1 Hp/l
Torque:160 Nm @ 4200 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:LV6
Engine displacement:1794
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:4
Fuel injection system:Multi-port manifold injection
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Engine oil capacity:3.7 l
Coolant:6.5 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:79 mm mm
Piston Stroke:91.5 mm mm
Compression ratio:10:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:9.1 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:7.6 l/100 km
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h:10 sec
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph:10 sec
Maximum speed:177 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:11 kg/Hp, 90.5 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:8.6 kg/Nm, 116.8 Nm/tonne
Acceleration 0 - 60 mph:9.5 sec
Space:
Kerb Weight:1370
Trunk (boot) space - maximum:1533 l
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:547 l
Fuel tank capacity:45 l
Size:
Length:4365 mm mm
Width:1773 mm mm
Height:1580 mm mm
Wheelbase:2600 mm mm
Front track:1515 mm
Rear (Back) track:1495 mm
Powertrain:
Drive wheelAll wheel drive (4x4)
Number of gears4
Transmission typeAutomatic
Front brakesVentilated discs
Rear brakesDrum
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size205/55 R16
Front suspensionTransverse stabilizer
Rear suspensionTransverse stabilizer

Your first impression of the Pontiac Vibe in one word? Go!