Best Cars of 2009: Pontiac Vibe GT
Price: $15,310-$19,310
What's New: The Vibe is the forgotten Pontiac, maybe because it is built on a Toyota Corolla platform and is a twin of the Toyota Matrix. The interior layout of the Vibe is much improved from the last version. And it is a useful, flexible five-door utility. The GT version offers a particularly good ride.
Why It's Good: The Vibe, like the Matrix, provides a serious alternative to midsize SUVs for buyers looking to drive greener and more frugally. It won't tow a boat (who can afford to fuel up a boat these days?), but it will ferry two kids and most of their sports gear.
