I know a newly licensed 16-year-old girl who's in the market for an affordable, yet stylish car. This being the case, I can always gauge the "coolness" factor of my current test drive by her reaction to it. The Pontiac Vibe passes the "teenager test."

Vibe comes in three trim levels: base, GT and all-wheel drive. My tester was the base model, upgraded with the Western Edition (power windows, cruise control, keyless entry, programmable power door locks, four-speed automatic transmission and an appearance package) and Moon and Tunes packages, as well as side-impact front- and side-curtain airbags, antilock brakes with tire pressure monitor, aluminum wheels and XM Satellite radio. The Vibe is further customizable to fit your lifestyle with the Sport Package (adding two spoilers and front and rear fascia extenders) a supercharger, or organizers for the cargo area.

While not exactly sporty, the Vibe, with a 1.8-liter 130-horsepower engine, offers a comfortable ride and responsive steering. It does, however, fall short of the Mazda 3's driving capabilities. Overall, the Vibe is a good option for drivers looking for an affordable, versatile ride. There's plenty of room for passengers and cargo, and your teenager will approve of its looks.

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