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2008 Pontiac Vibe Review

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Manages to be both smart and edgy at the same time
Edmunds

Offers customers a sporty small wagon wrapped in distinctive Pontiac sheetmetal
Kelley Blue Book

The Vibe displays basic styling cues that suggest an SUV
Cars.com

The styling of the 2008 Pontiac Vibe is getting a bit long in the tooth, but reviews read by TheCarConnection.com still praise it for being a distinctly Pontiac take on the traditional wagon design.

The exterior styling of the 2008 Pontiac Vibe, which Edmunds describes as "a compact, five-passenger wagon that comes in a single trim level," first debuted five years ago, but it still earns respectably high marks in reviews read by TheCarConnection.com. Cars.com reports that the Pontiac Vibe features "a sleek wedge profile and short overhangs," and overall, they feel that the Pontiac Vibe "displays basic styling cues that suggest an SUV." Car and Driver mentions that the 2008 Pontiac Vibe has a "sporty appearance," and while much of the design and architecture is shared with the Toyota Matrix, Automobile says "a double-kidney grille and cats-eye headlamps lend a Pontiac face to the Vibe." Edmunds reviewers also contend that, between the Pontiac Vibe and the Toyota Matrix (which shares its mechanicals), "the Vibe is the more handsome of the two with its chiseled lines and distinctive trademark grille."

The interior of the 2008 Pontiac Vibe wins praise from reviewers, although a few more complaints arise here as well. Edmunds appreciates that "the upward architecture with its elevated seating makes for a spacious cabin," while Kelley Blue Book reviewers note "inside, the Vibe is loaded with visual eye-candy." That eye candy includes "chrome-trimmed gauges in the driver-oriented cockpit" that Cars.com says "feature the traditional red Pontiac backlighting." On the negative side, ConsumerGuide mentions that the Pontiac Vibe's "smallish, deep-set gauges aren't easy to read in some light conditions," and they also point out "the navigation system absorbs some audio functions, has undersized buttons, and is overly complex."

Conclusion

With the 2008 Pontiac Vibe, consumers are buying an older, but still attractive, overall design.


Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

There are few vehicles of a similar size to the 2008 Pontiac Vibe that offer such versatility and usable interior space. Other than the closely related Toyota Matrix, the Scion xB is another possibility. Its boxy body affords an impressive amount of space, while offering good fuel efficiency. Along more conventional lines, the Kia Spectra5 is an economical five-door hatchback model that's definitely more fun to drive than the Vibe, though it might not be as spacious inside. The Dodge Caliber also competes in this class; it offers impressive features, such as tailgate speakers, but it has a rather loud interior and isn't as comfortable. And if you're willing to go up a little bit in size, the Subaru Forester might fit your needs. It's more of a sport-utility vehicle, but it's small with the most carlike driving position, and it's one of the best handling and easiest to park among them.

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See the Pontiac Vibe in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003

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