Used 2009 Pontiac Vibe Hatchback Consumer Reviews
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2009 Vibe 1.8 automatic
I bought this car with 8000 miles on it and put on an additional 60,000 miles before it was totalled out in a crash with a 4 wheel drive pickup truck. We were driving almost 50 mph when the truck turned into us from the turn lane. We hit drivers side bumpers and came to an instant stop. My wife and I were banged up and bruised but able to walk away. We found out it had 4 and 5 stars in crash tests. We loved this car and got between 32 and 36 mpg depending on driving habits and time of the year. We never had a single problem with it and are now in the process of finding another one to purchase.
Great little car
Very reliable. Found many good condition cars with 200k miles.
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- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $7,95078 mi away
- Base 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $4,99587 mi away
- GT 4dr HatchbackMSRP: $5,99587 mi away
This car does everything well (almost)
This car is a real looker. It's what the Kia Soul should have looked like, if the Soul were a hatchback as in a normal, not boxy car. The engine is great, starter is quiet for an economy car. This model was equipped with GM's auto-crank technology (flick the key to start and release, the starter will keep cranking until the engine catches.) It's the Toyota 1.8 from the Corolla and it's excellent in this car. Great match to the automatic 4 speed transmission. Easier to get into and out of than lower slung cars. XM radio and stability control are nice touches, although I've tried to provoke the VSC and it seems to kick in a little late (this could be due to Pontiac's marketing of a "sporting" demeanor.) They put an actual 115 volt household outlet in the car too, although there is a cutoff point to how many watts the plugged in object can be. The outlet will shut down if the limit is exceeded. A good driving position for tall people still leaves your feet a little closer to the pedals than you'll really be comfortable with, but, minor issue. Handling is stable but not sport worthy. The ride can best be described as firm but not punishing, well controlled. Climate controls are Toyota and very easy to figure out. Lots of cupholders and storage space. There's even (flimsy) cup holders in the back and storage space under the trunk floor (it's not much space though). Cargo space is good and expandable to one back seat down, both and even the front passenger seat folds if needed. Overall a great driving car for what it is. 4 speed automatic transmission shifts VERY smoothly. if it doesn't something's wrong. Keep up on the maintenance and repairs and this car will run forever. I did the normal maintenance (update 1-15-21), and have not done any unexpected repairs, replaced shocks and brakes (normal wear/tear), and the car has been very good to me. Road and engine noise are not the best, but hey it's an economy car. The VSC computer has a feature, where if it senses you are rolling downhill and if you apply more than a certain amount of pressure on the brakes, the transmission will actually downshift to keep your speed in check. Nice feature.
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Fantastic Little Hatchback
I have only had this car a month and I love this thing. It is really fun to drive and seems to be really solid on the road even in the turns. It is no Mazda 3 but for me it is sporty enough with a lot of practical applications. I really wish GM had not killed this car off, they could have re-badged it to a Chevy or Buick nameplate which is a shame that they just let it drop instead. The cruise control takes a bit to get used to. The Engine is nice too, a little torquey on take offs but it is a solid engine and great for quick merges.
Good Vibes!
I was looking for a luxurious sporty car, and test drove the Vibe on a whim because it caught my eye. I fell in love with this car and could not be more happy with my purchase. The Vibe is well built for a car of it's class. I feel confidant that I will be driving my Vibe for many years. Mine had 36k on it when I bought her. I was able to buy a GMAC warranty for a whopping $1100. due to the low miles. I have my oil changes done at the dealership due to the type of oil the Vibe requires. I have my dogs kennel tethered to the child seat restraint hooks in the back seat.
Great small white utility car 1.8 Automatic
I got mine when the model was new in late 2008 , and over the years the car had a bunch of recalls on both the GM and Toyota component but no problem getting them done by the dealership.The biggest recall was on the CV boots. At 82,000 miles I am on my second set of tires, brakes .Some small chip paint on the hood , no discoloration on headlamps.Inside ,the volume knob is only part that is loose . I do notice the accelaration from 0-65 is not as fast as it use to be but once you are there it accelrates to 75-85 pretty fast . I am fast safe driver on the freeway. Some rattling here and there but nothing unusual. I augmented the visual side mirrors since I had a few close call of the blind spots. When the back seat are folded it creat a hugh loading space where we can feet 5-6 feet long objects from Ikea , a projector screen. So my car has become the utility car . Always love the high sitting position, with my bad back and hip ,it really helps a lot .Too bad they stopped making this model, they should have converted this into a hybrid . I think this is one of the better designed compact utility hatchback body car out there, escpecially with the high rating crash test.
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Great car for great price!
I was on the search for a car for two weeks and almost bought a Mazda3 so glad I didn't! This little car is very well made and i've always loved pontiacs as my first car was one and never had an issue with it till it got in an accident. I thought i couldn't afford this car when I first test drove it but I got it right in my price range per month had great credit and apr and I knocked them down to 13grand :) basicly for the price you just can't beat the deal on a reliable car like this. Oh I chose the GT model cause thats what I have...but its an auto but has the option to switch to manual sooo 5 speed manual? only option they had lol.
At least I can still find a Matrix
Almost at 100k miles and I have only had to replace the breaks and the oil filter housing (cheap part). I love my Vibe, bought it with 50k on it and have put 50k on it in the last 2 years. Its comfortable enough for the average commuter and very reliable. Great for hauling stuff around, and although no sports car its fun to drive. Good fuel economy, easily get 31-32 mpg. Only a few gripes, rear visibility is so-so, paint chips/scratches easy, speakers could be better.
MyVibeGT
Just about the best car I have ever owned! Best things: Super reliable, Toyota sibling but with Pontiac styling. At 170,000 still going strong. Peppy acceleration, great handling, awesome sound system, 30+MPG Hwy. Worst things: Ride is stiff, seats somewhat uncomfortable for long trips. Engine vibration, I think I need new motor mounts. Wish they still made them, I'd but another one today!
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Great Versatile Car!
We bought our 09 Vibe AWD when it was a year old and had 11K miles. It has 90K, now. My wife drives it most of the time and she liked the size and control layout. The interior is nice and the seats are comfortable. We often take this car on a 4 hour road trip to visit family and my back does not hurt. We average 28 mpg. Have gotten as high as 32. It swallows up cargo. Have hauled tall filing cabinets, 8Kw generators, lumber, etc. With the higher ground clearance and AWD it gets around great in Ohio winter snow. It could use more sound insulation. You hear a lot of road noise. New tires at 58K helped but still noisy. No major repairs, only normal maintenance items. Overall, great car!
Delivers On Target For Its Design!
Ok, I bought this as a lease return with 15k. But it's GM Certified. Now, review for what it is, not for what is not. It delivers on every aspect of its designed mission. It's an AWD AT SUV/5 door lift back, with comfortable seating for 4 (5 if you have kids). Great space to load stuff with seats down. Peppy, quiet, nice handling, not too stiff or spongy, and fuel economy is pretty darn good for an AWD. It's easy to get between 25 and 30 mpg normal driving. Sound system/CD/MP3/XM is very nice, and On Star is a plus. Mostly Toyota Matrix twin, so I know it's gonna be durable and last (parts will always be around). AWD w/AT will use more gas than 2WD, but that's expected. 2 Thumbs Up!
Very reliable toyota matri... errr pontiac vibe
I love this car, I use it every day as a courier in minnesota. It gets around like a boss in the winter with AWD & winter tires, I never worry about getting stuck. It fits much more than you would think, with the hard plastic fold down seats. The MPG for me is about 25 city 30 highway. I bought this car november '13 with 45,000 miles on it, today it has 230,000 miles. Only thing that broke by itself with the car was the transmission(mechanic put in a used one from a pontiac vibe with only 21k miles on it SCORE). Things I fixed because I broke it or it was a weird thing that was not the car makes fault: Evaporator(rock got in it and I lost defrost) 4 new wheels (flimsy steel core chrome plated rims bent when I curbed the car, couldn't unbend) everything else has been regular maintenance. I am having a problem with my coolant turning red(rust) right now but it's been a hot summer so I'd say my water pump or thermostat is on the fritz but even those are expected repairs with most any car eventually. Overall I don't have a single complaint with this car it has been so perfect and reliable for me
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After 2 years and 40K, no regrets!
Bought this car new from a dealer a couple of years ago. I am 6'4", and I loved the headroom/interior space in this vehicle. I am a single father and was looking for value, reliability and gas efficiency. After a couple of tanks of gas driving in the city, I realized I was getting 7L/100km. Awesome! I am over 40K now and have only had it into the shop for 2 recalls. It has never let me down. It is not super powerfull on the highway. (slow going up a hill with the kids in the back) But I will trade that for the gas mileage I get any day. On-star in-car phone was interesting for the first year, but I let it expire because I didn't want to pay the fees.
Good Vibes
Was skeptical at first as it looked really small from the outside. My husband said "get in and try it out". Once seated in drivers seat, I was hooked. There is a lot of room in this car. I was impressed. The car has a lot of zippiness and it fun to drive. Purchasing gas is also sweet. I can go 7 days on a tank of gas (back and forth to work (60 miles a day) and tooling around town). Very impressed with that aspect. Stereo has nice sound. I like the storage system in the back of the car for shopping. Backseat is roomy for a 6' person to sit comfortably. All in all I'm very happy we purchased this vehicle when we did.
Great little car for Arizona
We are Canadian snowbirds & bought this car a month ago to leave in Arizona. Very happy with our purchase from Auto Nation USA. Road tested it "illegally" at over 100 MPH on the freeway, no vibrations or problems. Very good little car for our purposes here!
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Can't believe I drive this over my 911
I needed a second car after buying a 2006 Porsche 911S. GM was giving these Vibes away and all I needed was a basic car with decent space, room for 5, and AWD for trips to Lake Tahoe in the winter. Since I bought the Vibe, I've put 3800 miles on it, and only 500 on my Porsche. I love this Vibe. It doesn't handle particularly well, it isn't that fast, it doesn't have any luxuries, and it isn't beautiful. But, I find myself drawn to its fun, comfortable, and easy to drive nature. My friends and family make fun of me for showing up in my Vibe while my Porsche sits in the garage, but I can't help from loving this stupid Vibe.
2009 Base 2.4 w/5sp auto, 80K Miles so far
Bought new in July of '09. Base model with 2.4L/5sp-auto, PS,PL,cruise, keyless. Now pushing 80K miles with few issues. On my second set of tires and brakes. My steering column rattles (very common), cold starts sometime produce a timing cam rattle (common) and the paint chips and scratches easily (common). Fully loaded with family of 4 + gear on trip to Tenn. got me just shy of 32mpg. Even with my heavy foot, I still avg. 28mpg in daily mixed driving. Great fun to drive. Does everything I need. Was cheap to buy and maintain. Sharp little car. I have truly enjoyed it. I just added a K&N CAI and she sounds great, any mpg increase will be a bonus.
A Great Little Car that GM Killed
A great vehicle that unfortunately fell due to the fate of GM. Purchased 2 years ago and no issues at all - always follow the scheduled maintenance and visit a GM dealer. I would purchase a Vibe as my next vehicle if it still existed.
2009 Pontiac Vibe
Great Value for dependable car to run around town. We bought ours for our teen drivers to use. It had ESC which is hard to find in a base model affordable car before 2010.
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Still happy after all these years !
Bought the car new. Roomy enough for me. I like this size car because it's easy to park and maneuver around. Gas fill ups aren't as costly, it doesn't block people's view. Easy to work on when needed. Tire replacement doesn't break the bank. However, this one is an oil consumption vehicle so I add oil and do frequent oil changes. 176,000 miles , no problems so far👍
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Love my vibe....But!
I have the 2009 base model 1.8 liter engine with automatic transmission. Great little car...good on gas very few repairs plus one set of new tires. 2 complaints, one it drives awful in snow, 1 inch or more...Tried 3 sets of different brands of dedicated snow tires and found that The Dunlap winter sport 3D's worked the best on this car.... in any snow, can't drive with all-season tires tried it twice not good ! Second problem is it is hard to see out the back side window if any cars are coming your way when backing out of a parking space.
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Great little car
I have had two years of fun and economical driving. It has lots of space for carrying people and cargo. The cargo area is high enough that I was even able to get a boxed dishwasher in the back with the seats folded and the lift gate closed, yet it still feels like a compact vehicle. Manual driver's seat adjustment up and down is possible (not just sliding the seat back and forth), a plus for short people. Mileage is 30-33 on the freeway. I would buy another in the future if they were still making them. Dealer and service are great.
The Mighty Vibe
This car is great! We've had it for about 2 1/2 years and it's running strong, even being driven by a teenager. We are pleased with the mileage, styling, comfort and power of this car.
I would buy another if they still made them!
This is the best little car I've had. My only complaint is that it's not the quietest ride, but not terrible either. I wish they were still in production, I would buy another. The Matrix's outside isn't as appealing, otherwise I would have considered one of those. With tree GT trim, you get a whole lot of power in a compact package.
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More room than you think
The front passenger seat folds down as well as the back seat, loads of cargo room.
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Love my Vibe
Looked for a 2009 Pontiac Vibe based on a Consumer Reports recommendation when I was looking for a good used car at the end of 2013. I continue to be very pleased with my sporty little car. My mechanic said it was "kind of peppy." He likes it too, and he said they are easy to work on.
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interior durability
Very happy with my Vibe so far except that I notice the interior scratches easily. I don't have kids or dogs and I am not hard on my cars . I haven't even gone camping yet and my interior is all scratched up. Anyone else have this problem?
Worth every penny
Needed AWD due to living in Northern New England. Vibe was cheaper than Matrix with better warranty. Paid less than invoice. Needed versatility which Vibe had. People love the way it looks. Good value with Sun and Sound Package, AWD and Convenience package.
Second Time Around
1-12-09 replaced '03 Vibe with '09 AT Pwr Pkg msrp 19,480 due to adv deal I couldn't refuse, 11,913+tax/title; 2000 under invoice, 1500 rebates, 3000 GM Card (upped from $1850 by GM offer), 250 dlr coupon. Free Garmin GPS. Sold '03 33m miles for 9,500. Only issue so far is a few rattles. Less engine/road noise than the '03 and many extra safety features - 4 whl disc ABS, Stab Ctrl, 6 airbags. Just enough bigger than the FIT to be practical with nearly same mpg. Getting used to electric power steering but that is the current trend. Drive by wire seems no different. Just as comfortable, no harder to see out of than the '03 - got to use your mirrors. Hope to keep this Matrix twin 10+ yrs
Love the Vibe
I just bought this car and love it! It is fun to drive, great radio, and I love the room in the back with the fold down seats. I am able to fit my two dogs back their easily. I look forward to many years driving this car.
Great Value
This car has been a great buy! Purchased new. After one year of ownership, absolutely no problems (especially related to the accelerator recall). Have performed all regular maintenance, taken several long trips (1000+ miles) and the car has performed flawlessly. I am 6'2" and have plenty of room and don't feel beat up after a long trip. Love the extras that I couldn't find on a comparative Honda Fit, including Onstar, XM radio, traction control, AC Power plug, and spacious interior for a compact wagon. 2.4 liter engine is great for quick acceleration. Have gotten up to 35 mpg on highway at 70 mph. Deals were so good at the time, I wish I had bought two!
Too many major problems in less than 30K miles
In less than 30,000 miles we replaced the water pump and will rebuild parts of the timing chain tensioner components which have been acting up for the last three winters. We believe this is very poor quality/reliability for such a low mileage car. We like it otherwise...
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Great Car
I purchased this car in late June and it has been fantastic! Great gas mileage (50% HWY) @ 28 MPG. I am 6 ft 3 in and I am very comfortable in the Vibe. The 2.4 L engine has plenty of passing power and climbs hills with no problems. I would recommend this car to anyone.
Great little car
I'm very pleased with my Vibe. It's the AWD model. It handles well and is pretty zippy with the 2.4L engine. Upgraded factory sound system with Sirius/XM is great. Mileage has consistently been around 26-27 mpg. The car is great in the snow with or without snow tires. With the back seat down it has an amazing amount of cargo space. The back seat has a lot of leg room for a small car. Too bad they discontinued this car, I'd buy another one!
Looks like a $30,000 Car!!!
I bought the 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT for my wife last week and so far its been the best car either one of us have owned. For $21,000 you get so much for your money plus the advantage of great gas mileage. It's really quick with the 2.4 L GT engine and the 18" wheels ride smooth. The interior is so sexy with all the leather accents and styling. The exterior is eye popping and catchy. Its a very stylish ride and we love it so much. Also the XM Radio and OnStar is a plus!!!
Post recall thoughts
Much better than the previous model. Much more comfortable. Much peppier. No problems merging on to hi-ways and fun on back roads. Great in rain and snow. If you have a strong ego it's more car than you'd ever need.
It's a winner for GM
Car is attractive, roomy, and has lots of pep - all with great mpg (expect 35 mpg highway or more). Sound system is average. For the money, you can't go wrong - and, basically, it's a Toyota in disguise.
Basic Transport with attitude!
My family needed to replace a very unreliable Volvo and decided to go with this Vibe. Toyota build at a GM price. Of course since the purchase we've had to deal with the gas pedal recall but otherwise it's been flawless. During the recent Atlanta ice storm we parked my 4WD pickup and drove the Vibe. It was great in the icy conditions. Stability control is awesome! Good gas mileage, decent handling and (subjective) good looking. Everyone in the family loves driving the Vibe, it's no race car, but then it's not supposed to be...
safe reliable commuter car
Son drives to school 25 miles. Mileage is great on highway. Not a lot of bells and whistles but is a safe and reliable car. XM is nice, and on star is great for college kids and parents peace of mind. Car can store a lot. I wish that they did not get rid of the separate opening glass on the rear door this year, but all in all it is a great first car, well above the typical entry level vehicle.
miss my vibe
2009 vibe was the best vehicle I've had--lost it after 11 yrs when stolen ram driver smashed into it--totalling two othercars in the process. Manual transmission was a dream to drive. Plenty of cargo room without the bulk. Solid, smooth drive. Low maintenance cost.
Practicle
This car does a little bit of every thing. I can haul a trailer, put the seats down, seat 4 adults 6 ft or taller and get good mileage. This car does it all. Pluses include room, ceiling height, get up and go, mileage and style. The biggest negative is road noise, just turn up the XM radio. 17,000 miles after a year and 2 months of ownership, just change the oil and rotate tires. MPG is 28-30 with mixed driving with quiet engine. The seats are comfortable and fit taller people well I'am 6.1 and can wear a hat.
Nice Car - of Course GM Quit Making Them
This bought used 2009 GT would be our second Vibe, also have a 2004 we bought new. The 2009 has the 2.4 engine which makes a lot of power for a car this size. The 5 speed automatic shifts flawlessly. The northeast U.S. has been getting bombarded with massive snow lately, but the Vibe hasn't let us down once! The 18 inch rims are quite sharp looking, the fit and finish appear to be up to par too. All in all a fine little vehicle!
Best buy in 10 years
First 1500 mile highway driving mileage per gallon was 31.1 mpg. Mileage town driving 21.2 mpg. interior room more than adequate
I'm impressed
Bought this car in 2020 only one other owner. Had transmission replaced by the dealer. Other than that this car has been very reliable and economical. It's not a head turner but she'll get er done at solid mpg. Bought at 143k miles, currently over 190k. Have done a lot of uber and cross country driving. It's paid off, who knows how long she'll go.
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2009 Vibe GT
The car is fun to drive. It used very little fuel. We have been getting 25.5 mpg in town and 31 mpg on the road. I was not sure about the car when we bought it but it has turned out to be an excellent car. The only con I have about it is the road noise from the tires.
COOL CAR
Very dependable car
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Favorite car ever!!!!
This car was made by Toyota for Pontiac. It is exactly like my niece's Matrix. The engine reliability and performance have been outstanding.
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We Love It!
The 2009 Vibe GT has exceeded every expectation we had. we average 32 mpg, we love the way it looks, it drives and handles like a much more expensive sports car. The 2.4, 4 cylinder engine has an unbelievable amount of power. The ride is comfortable and we enjoy sliding the sunroof back as we motor down the highway listening to our favorite xm station on the built in xm radio.
Don't Vibe on me!
After less 27K miles, replaced the water pump and have problems with the timing chain tension adjuster... Car is fine and meets our needs otherwise.
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Best Hatch on the Market
This is an amazing little car, its 2.4 L. engine is snappy enough to get to 60 in about 10 sec (shifting manually), plenty of room for 2 adults and 2 kids in car seats, cargo area is amazing, seats are very comfortable(and I'm 6'8") Seating position is very good,Gauges are bright, clear and well laid out, stereo is very good for stock. While shopping for this car, I tried a Nissan Versa, Hyundai Accent, Suzuki SX4, and a Dodge Caliber R/T, in the end it came down to this and the Caliber. Unfortunately GM doesn't have their act together, because this was by far the best economy car in their line up, fortunately its made by Toyota (Matrix Clone) so you get Toyota quality with Pontiac style.