2003 Pontiac Vibe

A white-haired gent was sitting at one of those arcade-sized video games, racing a virtual rally car over, around, and sometimes through obstacles. He was obviously enjoying every second of this awkward juxtaposition—an old guy playing a teenager's game. But the scene didn't seem so odd after we spent some time behind the wheel of the 2003 Pontiac Vibe, a car designed for the youngest of new-car buyers, but a car that should have a very practical appeal to a much wider demographic.

Built on the same platform as the Toyota Matrix and Camry, the Vibe is easier on the eyes than the Aztec. Exterior colors include Abyss, Satellite, Shadow, Frosty, Lava, Salsa, Neptune and Envy.

Pontiac, which already has the youngest buyer demographic of any of General Motors' divisions, decided a few years ago that it needed a car to appeal to an even younger audience. The "driving excitement" people extensively studied the kinds of vehicles that might appeal to just-emerging-from-college new-car buyers. The verdict: These twenty-somethings want a vehicle that's compact in overall size but has lots of interior room for friends and their gear. Pontiac decided that the stability of all-wheel drive should be available, as should the excitement of a racy, sport-compact coupe. And naturally, said vehicle shouldn't look like everything else on the road and would ideally stand out in a sea of SUVs.


As this research was being digested, GM and Toyota were looking for a new vehicle to build at NUMMI, their joint-venture assembly plant in Fremont, California. GM suggested working together on the new youth-oriented car. An agreement was struck: GM would provide the concept, each partner would do its own exterior styling, GM would design the interior, and Toyota would supply the platform, drivetrain and many other components.


The Vibe has a body an Aztec would die for. Pontiac designer John Mack gave the sheetmetal lots of what he calls "gesture," and gave the hatchback roofline as much of a fastback rake as possible.


This isn't mom's boxy SUV, nor is it grandma's minivan, nor even great-grandma's station wagon. It is a perky—which our dictionary defines as "briskly self-assured"—five-door that can capture your eye with its body but will win your heart with what's beneath its cocky exterior.