Pontiac Cars

Within the GM family, Pontiac primarily serves to fill the performance niche. That might be hard to believe after seeing Pontiac cars like the G3 and G5, both slightly veiled copies of efficient little runners sold by Chevrolet. But dive deeper into the lineup and you'll get a better glimpse of the brand's sporting intentions. Even rides like the Pontiac Torrent and Pontiac Vibe are offered with performance-oriented trims.

Pontiac G3 Overview

Pontiac G3Pontiac G3

The 2009 Pontiac G3 is a new entry-level vehicle for the U.S. market from this General Motors division. This subcompact car slots below Pontiac's G5, sharing its basic design and powertrain with the Chevrolet Aveo. Like Aveo, the G3 is built in South Korea. G3 models slated for the U.S. are 4-door hatchbacks. The lone engine is a 106-hp 1.6-liter 4-cylinder that teams with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission. Available safety pontiac g3 accessories include ABS and front side airbags. Standard features include air conditioning and a CD/MP3 audio system. Note that, prior to model-year 2009, the G3 was for sale in Canada as the Pontiac Wave (2009 Canadian models are called G3 Wave).

The interior of the five-passenger 2009 Pontiac G3 sports decent-quality materials adorned with metallic-look accents and several storage areas for small items. Climate controls are straightforward, though the stereo employs an array of buttons instead of more user-friendly knobs. Though the G3 offers a convenient 42 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, that's nothing to write home about -- and the 7.1 cubic feet available behind the rear seats won't hold more than a few bags of groceries. While the Pontiac G3 doesn't provide much in the way of vehicular entertainment, it's a respectable ride for knocking out errands or engaging the daily commute. The steering is responsive enough, and the ride is acceptable by subcompact standards. Unlike other cars in this class, we prefer the optional automatic transmission to the manual gearbox. Though the five-speed is rated as slightly more economical around town, its ratios are overly wide, and it's not especially pleasant to operate.

In years past, the Aveo has been a respectable sales success for Chevy, but choices for subcompacts have only gotten better. The same goes for the 2009 Pontiac G3, and it's not an ideal choice for this segment. You could even go with a base Aveo5 and save a couple grand, though of course you'll lose some standard equipment in the process, including side airbags. Overall, we recommend looking past the G3 to more enjoyable rivals like the Fit or Accent.

Pontiac G3 Road Test