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Why does the Pontiac Vibe resemble the Mazda3 HB so much?

8022 Views 35 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  dbudds
I saw one of the Vibes today and I looked at the interior, I was like what the heck, why are the speed guages so simliar to that of the 3. Let me know guys.
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got pics to compare?

I think the MZ3 still has a style of its own.
When I look at the Pontiac Vibe, I think: "hmph"
When I look at the Mazda 3, I think: "Hmph... oh!..... oooooh! nice...."
I would say the 3 resembles the Vibe, since the Vibe was out first ;)

I've mistaken Vibes for 3s before, externally.
Yah, they look simliar, but I know that the 3 is a better looking car. Sorry, I'm feeling kinda lazy, but I don't think it's too hard to find pictures of the interior on vibes.
Kirk said:
I would say the 3 resembles the Vibe, since the Vibe was out first ;)

I've mistaken Vibes for 3s before, externally.
that's why i didn't get the hatchback. the rear end looks very vibish. i think the the most perfect shape ever made for a hatchback would be the vw gti. all the other hatchbacks the have been coming out look a little too funky.
gtibri said:
that's why i didn't get the hatchback. the rear end looks very vibish. .
It's the rear side windows that do it. Very similar angles.

gtibri said:
i think the the most perfect shape ever made for a hatchback would be the vw gti. all the other hatchbacks the have been coming out look a little too funky.
I agree that the GTI is a great design. Too bad VWs cost so much more, or I would've seriously looked at that as my commuter. My mom bought a 2003 Golf 5dr a few weeks before I got my 3; it's a sharp car. In fact, I'm going to her house this weekend to teach her how to detail it :)
I don't think it's on purpose. I just think that's the style now. All the cars are going for the "cockpit" look. Some look more alike than others, but some similarities keep them competetive.
Kirk said:
gtibri said:
that's why i didn't get the hatchback. the rear end looks very vibish. .
It's the rear side windows that do it. Very similar angles.

gtibri said:
i think the the most perfect shape ever made for a hatchback would be the vw gti. all the other hatchbacks the have been coming out look a little too funky.
I agree that the GTI is a great design. Too bad VWs cost so much more, or I would've seriously looked at that as my commuter. My mom bought a 2003 Golf 5dr a few weeks before I got my 3; it's a sharp car. In fact, I'm going to her house this weekend to teach her how to detail it :)
I was gonna get a 1.8T GTI, but then I realized I have no money....
And BTW you would not believe how many problems there are with the 1.8T. Only the VR6 is half decent reliability.
4

Vibe


Mazda 3


Mazda 3 interior


Vibe interior


Strange... I'm beginning to see a resemblance.
But I still think the 3 is nicer :)
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yup definitely some similarities, but nowadays most cars borrow cues from somewhere... the glovebox latch on the 3 looks just like the one in an A4... how about the similar visual rear styling of the Nissan Murano to the 3? Or the new BMW 1-series hatch that looks just like the 3 hatch? Or the 3-pod gauge cluster Mazda stole from Alfa Romeo? All the new Fords are looking like VW/Audi cars now thanks to J Mays taking his styling skills to Ford from VW several years ago... there are just too many to list and im too tired to think of any more right now :D

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
Yeah they look fairly close... FYI - The Vibe's interior is also the same at the Matrix's
FYI, Matrix and the Vibe are basically the same car.

Vibe's back look like the 3?? In what way? the lights placement are different, plus it looks skinnier and taller.

Vibe/Matrix's have a 4 chrome ring gauges where the fuel meter and the engine temp meter got a separate gauge where ours just share one gauge like many other cars do.
the only real external similarity between the Vibe and 3 Sport is the angled quarter window (also seen on the Murano)... but other wise these 2 vehicles are not alike other than them both being wagon-like. The 3 is lower, wider, longer...
Exactly!

what i would say is the 3 resembles so much of the murano! I mean, the HB is practically a smaller version of the murano (the external shape and windows, but smaller)

IF the HB were to go with that funky orange colour (which is exactly the same colour to the Nissan's), It would be easily mistaken it being a murano looking at the side from some distance.
Inno said:
Exactly!

what i would say is the 3 resembles so much of the murano! I mean, the HB is practically a smaller version of the murano (the external shape and windows, but smaller)

IF the HB were to go with that funky orange colour (which is exactly the same colour to the Nissan's), It would be easily mistaken it being a murano looking at the side from some distance.
A friend asked me if it was a Murano, at first. Till he got closer
my friend has a vibe our cars don't look too much alike, other than the rear quarter window. i'll try to get some pictures side by side.
Yeah, I was originally going to get a Matrix XRS, so I know what y'all are talking about.... The exterior is far more similar than the interior, but you can still see that certain cues are the same... Sad really, that a car as beautiful as the 3 should share so many qualities with a Pontiac/Toyota... :D
the Matrix XRS was what i originally intended to get too. I can see certain similarities but i would still try to avoid saying that.

Why i say this is because i recognize the "similarites" are just characteristics of a cool-looking sporty hatchback car.

It's kind of like saying, RAV4 looks like a CR-V becuase they're both entry SUVs and both are tall. Both have a rear door that opens sidewards instead of upwards, and both have short ends because they're small cars. They're 4WD, they both have that BIG one unit headlights.

Do u see my point? there are always certain characteristics that this class of vehicles should have and it also applies to matrix and mz3.

So of course they have to be "similar" in some ways, it's all part of competition within the class of vehicles that they belong. :)
Inno said:
the Matrix XRS was what i originally intended to get too. I can see certain similarities but i would still try to avoid saying that.

Why i say this is because i recognize the "similarites" are just characteristics of a cool-looking sporty hatchback car.

It's kind of like saying, RAV4 looks like a CR-V becuase they're both entry SUVs and both are tall. Both have a rear door that opens sidewards instead of upwards, and both have short ends because they're small cars. They're 4WD, they both have that BIG one unit headlights.

Do u see my point? there are always certain characteristics that this class of vehicles should have and it also applies to matrix and mz3.

So of course they have to be "similar" in some ways, it's all part of competition within the class of vehicles that they belong. :)
yes! finally some common sense!
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