2009 Pontiac G5: Tester's Comments
2009 Pontiac G5 ▼
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- MSRP: $16,980 - $20,280
- Invoice: $16,216 - $19,367
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Find out what the Consumer Guide Automotive testers had to say about the 2009 Pontiac G5. See if the 2009 Pontiac G5 is right for you.
Vehicle Evaluated
| Make/Model: | 2009 Pontiac G5 XFE |
|---|---|
| Trim Level: | Base |
| Arrival Date: | 10/06/2008 |
| Engine: | dohc I4 |
| Bodystyle | 2-door coupe |
| Transmission: | 5-speed manual |
| 4WD/AWD: | No |
| Base Price: | 16,275 |
| Price as Tested: | 18,975 |
| Mileage at Beginning of Test: | 2766 |
| Mileage at End of Test: | 7072 |
| Total Measured Miles: | 4306 |
| Total Fuel Used: | 34.265 gals. |
| Consumer Guide Fuel Economy: | 31.75 mpg (what's this?) |
| Problems During Test: | None |
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Major Options
Appearance Package (bodyside moldings, cargo net, chrome exhaust tip, fog lamps), Sun and Sound Package (power sunroof, high-performance audio system w/7 Pioneer speakers), ABS, Cruise Control, Compact Spare Tire/Wheel
From the Back Seat
Don Sikora
Pontiac G5, and its close cousin the Chevy Cobalt, are very pleasant compacts that are much better than their reputation would imply. They ride good, offer fine fuel economy, and are more refined and better equipped than most rivals. Fuel-miser XFE trim adds a smooth-shifting 5-speed manual and several fuel-saving touches that increase efficiency with, at worst, a minor effect on performance.
Ed Piotrowski
With the XFE label, General Motors is promising meaningful improvements in fuel economy with little sacrifice in everyday performance and driveability. Based on our testing, the company has delivered on those claims. G5 (and the Chevy Cobalt, by extension) is a pleasant, easy-to-drive compact car that's not outrageously priced. As long as you know how to drive a manual transmission, the XFE models are well worth consideration.
Jennifer Geiger
For such a compact, affordable car, G5 XFE is a surprisingly composed and pleasant little vehicle. I question, however, why people would choose the coupe-only G5 over its sedan sibling, Cobalt.
Rick Cotta
Impressive EPA numbers aside, the G5 XFE doesn't strike me as a particularly good bargain. Much is sacrificed to the coupe styling, making its Cobalt XFE sedan counterpart a better bet--even to someone who doesn't usually favor four-door cars.
Tom Appel
I'll stop short of calling G5 an undiscovered gem, but it is better than it gets credit for. There's better than decent power with the manual transmission, and rowing through the gears is plenty of fun. The big news here is the XFE stuff. The revised final drive ratio takes its toll on off-the-line grunt, though not too much, but the pay off is impressive fuel economy. Without trying, and with not too much highway driving, I managed almost 36 mpg during my time in our test G5. I don't honestly see the appeal of the G5 over the nearly identical Chevy Cobalt, but I suppose style counts for a lot in this segment.
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