2009 Pontiac Vibe

As the Toyota Matrix goes, so goes the Pontiac Vibe. Produced at the joint-venture plant between GM and Toyota known as NUMMI in Fremont, California, since 2002, the Matrix and Vibe are entering their second-generation runs as 2009 models. Now known as the Corolla Matrix, the new Toyota recently made its world debut at SEMA. The Vibe's time to shine comes next week at the Los Angeles auto show.

For 2009, the AWD and GT trim levels have returned to the Vibe lineup, which, due in part to slowing sales, had shrunk from three trim levels to one toward the end of its first-generation run.

Though the new Vibe continues to share much with the Toyota Matrix, especially under the skin, the exterior differences seem more pronounced than they were with the first-generation models. The Vibe's front end, highlighted by a recessed silver-bordered black grille similar to that of the Pontiac G8 and the "autocross" grille available on the defunct GTO, is more crisply styled. The Vibe's rearend is better executed and far less busy looking as well. The taillights are flush with the tailgate, the rear window is smaller and doesn't extend into the support pillars, and the license plate has been moved down into the bumper.

On the inside, the Vibe's driver-oriented interior is nearly identical to that of the Matrix, with a number of cues taken from the Pontiac Solstice (if those vents look familiar, it's because they're the same ones found in the aforementioned roadster). While they're at it, GM should've borrowed the Solstice's steering wheel as well. The Matrix XRS's wheel works well with Toyota's oval logo, but the Pontiac arrowhead looks misplaced in addition to being too narrow for the wide swath of plastic that forms the centerpiece of the Vibe GT's three-spoke steering wheel.