Archive for the ‘Matrix’ Category

The good times for Hyundai keep on rolling: J.D. Power and Associates has given top marks in its Vehicle Launch Index to the 2009 Hyundai Genesis. The Index "quantifies how well new vehicle models -- including new entries to the market and all new redesigned models -- perform during the first eight months after launch." Among the many criteria that J.D. Power considers during the evaluation process are vehicle revenue, dealer gross profit, residual value, and data imported from the company's Initial Quality Study. In short, the Vehicle Launch Index offers a kind of holistic assessment of the vehicle, measuring how well it performs for the...

We at TheCarConnection.com are sad to see the Vibe go along with the rest of the Pontiac brand. It ranks as one of our top-rated hatchbacks; and the latest version, with good fuel economy and a roomy, versatile interior, just strikes the right balance between practicality and sportiness for a lot of budget-conscious commuters.

Is the Vibe really going away, or is it to gain a Chevrolet badge? Unfortunately it looks like Vibe production will be halted at the Fremont, California, plant, called NUMMI, that’s a joint venture between GM and Toyota—and a solid UAW facility. After widespread reports earlier this spring that the company was looking...

General Motors and Toyota have been cooperatively building cars for decades. The 1985 Chevrolet Nova was one of their first co-manufacturing efforts, and at the time, it was GM's best small car. (That's not saying much if you remember Chevette and the original J-Cars.)The Pontiac Vibe is another one of those GM/Toyota product, sharing much with the Toyota Matrix. First, we'll comments on what's good. Overall, the quality of this Pontiac was top notch. Our model was drum tight even with 5,000 miles on the odo. Given our major complaint (see below), this came as a pleasant surprise.

The interior was well insulated from road and wind noise, and...