2008 pontiac vibe black book value

A joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, the 2008 Pontiac Vibe shares most of its parts with the Toyota Matrix. The Vibe offers customers a sporty small wagon wrapped in distinctive Pontiac sheetmetal at a price that fits just about any budget. The front-wheel drive Vibe compares favorably with newer competitors, offering the same economy and versatility as the MAZDA3 and Volkswagen Rabbit but with a higher seating position and a more durable cargo area.

Used 2008 Pontiac Vibe Pricing

The 2008 Pontiac Vibe’s Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starts just under $17,500 and, when fully loaded, tops out around $24,500. A look at the Fair Purchase Price shows the typical transaction price paid for a Vibe in your area, so be sure to check it out before you begin negotiations. Over a five-year period, Kelley Blue Book expects the Vibe to post slightly lower-than-average residual values, but the Vibe’s sister vehicle, the Toyota Matrix, holds better-than-average values over the same period.

Driving the Used 2008 Pontiac Vibe

On the road, the 2008 Pontiac Vibe rides and handles like a small sports car. The steering response is direct and linear, with no trace of torque steer. The Vibe is tightly sprung, so it does not lean, roll or pitch like a tall wagon, yet somehow it returns a pleasantly smooth ride. When equipped with bigger wheels and tires, the ride is somewhat diminished, but is still well within the comfortable zone.

Interior Comfort

Inside, the Vibe is loaded with visual eye-candy, from the pod-mounted center shifter to the stylish aluminum dash trim and glowing orange instrumentation. The driver’s seat height is adjustable, as is the steering wheel, making it easy for drivers of all shapes and sizes to find a comfortable perch. The Vibe’s long rear doors make it possible to exit and enter without bumping into the doorframe, and there is a good deal of real useable space behind the second row seat. One really nice feature is the flush-folding passenger seat that can serve as a level workspace, a place to lay out your lunch or just make room for your surfboard.

Exterior Styling

The racy 2008 Pontiac Vibe looks more like a sporty coupe than a mini-SUV. Its tall doors are hidden by the upswept beltline and tapered roof that come together at the rear hatch to form a squat pillar. A built-in roof rack provides additional storage for bikes or skis. Pontiac has often been praised for its wheel designs, and the Vibe’s optional 17-inch alloys are no exception.

Favorite Features

Console-Mounted 115-Volt Outlet
The Vibe’s console-mounted 115-volt outlet allows you to plug in accessories without the need for a 12-volt adaptor.

Rear Track Tie-Downs
Rear track tie-downs help keep cargo in place.

Standard Features

The 2008 Pontiac Vibe has a five-speed manual transmission, air conditioning, rear defroster, illuminated entry, fog lights, automatic headlamp control, dual power mirrors, 115-volt outlet, AM/FM stereo with CD, tilt wheel, tachometer, full wheel covers and a rear wiper/washer.

Factory Options

Options include a four-speed automatic transmission, StabiliTrak, front head-curtain airbags, leather seats, power windows, power locks, keyless entry, cruise control, power glass sunroof, front side-impact airbags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes (ABS), six-disc CD changer, XM Satellite Radio, OnStar, Monsoon 7 premium sound and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Engine & Transmission

Unfortunately, the 2008 Pontiac Vibe’s 1.8-liter engine is not terribly quick, with only 126 horsepower on tap and not an abundance of torque. Fuel economy, on the other hand, is among the best in class, rated at 33 mpg on the highway when equipped with the five-speed manual.

1.8-liter in-line 4
126 horsepower @ 6000 rpm
122 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4200 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 26/33 (manual), 25/31 (automatic)

KBB Vehicle Review and Rating Methodology

Our Expert Ratings come from hours of both driving and number crunching to make sure that you choose the best car for you. We comprehensively experience and analyze every new SUV, car, truck, or minivan for sale in the U.S. and compare it to its competitors. When all that dust settles, we have our ratings.

We require new ratings every time an all-new vehicle or a new generation of an existing vehicle comes out. Additionally, we reassess those ratings when a new-generation vehicle receives a mid-cycle refresh — basically, sprucing up a car in the middle of its product cycle (typically, around the 2-3 years mark) with a minor facelift, often with updates to features and technology.

Rather than pulling random numbers out of the air or off some meaningless checklist, KBB’s editors rank a vehicle to where it belongs in its class. Before any car earns its KBB rating, it must prove itself to be better (or worse) than the other cars it’s competing against as it tries to get you to spend your money buying or leasing.

Our editors drive and live with a given vehicle. We ask all the right questions about the interior, the exterior, the engine and powertrain, the ride and handling, the features, the comfort, and of course, about the price. Does it serve the purpose for which it was built? (Whether that purpose is commuting efficiently to and from work in the city, keeping your family safe, making you feel like you’ve made it to the top — or that you’re on your way — or making you feel like you’ve finally found just the right partner for your lifestyle.)

We take each vehicle we test through the mundane — parking, lane-changing, backing up, cargo space and loading — as well as the essential — acceleration, braking, handling, interior quiet and comfort, build quality, materials quality, reliability.

More About How We Rate Vehicles

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