I'm not too sure what to make of the Pontiac Vibe. This is a vehicle that suffers from a case of identity crisis. It looks like a sporty hatchback along the lines of a Toyota Yaris or Honda Fit. The exterior styling implies that this is a fun vehicle meant to compete with other zippy hatchbacks that have become increasingly popular over the past several years. However, the car itself is more like a crossover between a minivan and a sports utility vehicle.
This uncertainty over its identity handicaps the Vibe in several ways. There is plenty of storage space and it seems to be a family oriented vehicle but the lack of sliding doors and ample seating space relegates it to being a bulky size hatchback. While this bulk allows it to haul plenty of cargo, there are better options that have made up their mind on what they want to be out there on the market.
Picking up on the sporty exterior, the Vibe isn't very peppy or sporty to drive. The car, using that term loosely, isn't a fun drive. The speed is slow and reaching it requires a good deal of item. Should this vehicle be fully loaded with passengers and cargo I can picture the Vibe chugging along trying to keep up with other cars.
The ride is smooth enough, however, to compensate for the lackluster performance. It doesn't feel like you're driving a large vehicle and the handling is surprising for something with this amount of bulk. Still, the Vibe needs to decide what it wants to accomplish. Does it want to be a car or does it want to be a minivan? Crossovers are growing in popularity but this Jack of all trades certainly needs a bit more refinement before it can call it a day.