The Contenders

2009 Pontiac Vibe

What They Did Right: Roomy backseat, multiuse cargo area, quiet ride

Room For Improvement: Dull styling, passion-free performance, out-dulls the Matrix

On paper, there is little to distinguish Pontiac's Vibe from Toyota's Matrix. Both wagonettes offer up front- and all-wheel drive variants, with the same combination of four-cylinder engines (1.8- or 2.4-liter) and transmissions (five-speed manual and four- and five-speed automatics).

Differences are mostly confined to sheetmetal and interior treatments, though neither found favor with our panel. Kiino characterizes the Vibe as "pudgy" while Reynolds finds it "difficult" both inside and out.

In the plus column are fuel economy and packaging efficiency. Along with an EPA-estimated 29 mpg on the highway, our Vibe packed numerous cubbies and a spacious rear seat that folds nearly flat to reveal a configurable, multipurpose cargo hold.

Too bad such features couldn't hide the faults. Kiino calls the steering "rubbery" and notes a whine from the 2.4-liter engine not present in either the Corolla or Matrix. "Tranny seems hyperactive and has a nasty surge. We'd almost accept this in a Korean or Chinese car. GM [and Toyota] have no excuse," says Markus, though he does credit the Vibe for a slightly quieter ride and intriguingly, better handling from the torsion beam rear (versus the Matrix's IRS).

While some may take comfort in the Vibe's Toyota-sourced mechanicals, our judges criticize Pontiac for not doing more to separate the two.

"The Vibe has no brand DNA. Slapping on a Pontiac nose and some unique sheetmetal doesn't connect it with anything else Pontiac sells. [StabiliTrak] beeps at you in fast corners, just like in a Toyota, and that's supposed to be the antithesis of Pontiac," says Lassa.

While there are a few reasons to consider the Vibe over the Matrix, including a lower cost of entry and better 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, our judges agree there is a good argument for selecting neither. Mazda3 5-door, anyone?
- Edward Loh