What's New?
The all-wheel-drive and 170-hp GT versions are gone, leaving just the 126-hp front-wheel-drive base model in the 2007 Pontiac Vibe lineup. Also, a new exterior color—Wave Blue—joins the paint palette.

Overview
The Vibe was first introduced in 2002, part of the burgeoning class of small hatchback/SUV crossovers. The Vibe is essentially a tall compact wagon but has the flavor of a 5-door hatchback. A twin to the Toyota Matrix, the Vibe was developed in conjunction with Toyota. It is based on Corolla mechanicals and is built in California by New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., a joint venture of Toyota and General Motors that has been producing cars and trucks for over 20 years.

For 2007, Pontiac has narrowed the Vibe lineup, eliminating the all-wheel-drive version as well as the performance-oriented Vibe GT, which had a 170-hp engine and 6-speed manual transmission. What remains is the venerable Corolla powertrain, a 126-hp, 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine driving the front wheels through either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.

Part of the Vibe's appeal is its seating flexibility. The Vibe can seat up to 5 occupants, and both the rear seats and the front passenger seat fold down flat, allowing the Vibe to carry objects up to 8 feet in length. Air conditioning and a CD player come standard, while the options list includes power windows, locks, and mirrors; leather seats; a Monsoon stereo; anti-lock brakes; and side curtain air bags.

For 2007, General Motors has expanded its warranty coverage; in addition to a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, the Vibe offers 5 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage and roadside assistance.

The Competition
The Pontiac Vibe competes in the Compact Conventional segment, which consists of 20 models. Buyers in this segment look for fuel economy, reliability, and safety, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Avoider Study^SM and the Escaped Shopper Study.^SM

The top sellers in the segment during calendar year 2006, according to the J.D. Power and Associates Sales Report,^SM were the Toyota Corolla (328,699 units sold), Honda Civic (316,638), and Chevrolet Cobalt (211,449). The Pontiac Vibe sold 45,221 units in 2006, a decrease of 29.6 percent compared to the previous year. Other models offered in the Compact Conventional segment include the Ford Focus, Nissan Sentra, Toyota Prius, Volkswagen Jetta, and Saturn Ion. Joining the segment in 2007 are the Pontiac G5, Suzuki SX4, and Volkswagen Rabbit.