Review
Introduction
The Pontiac G6 is one of the first General Motors products to be sold in the U.S. that shares a platform with European vehicles such as the Opel Vectra. Available initially in sedan and coupe form as a 2005 model, the G6 looks the part, but it hasn’t been the critical or sales success that GM would have liked. (In truth, the Saturn Aura and the Chevy Malibu are far-better-developed versions of the same basic underpinnings.)
The G6 comes in three body styles: sedan, coupe, and hardtop convertible. The sedan has a four-cylinder engine in base trim levels, with a 3.5-liter V-6 when sold as a GT model and a DOHC 3.6-liter V-6 engine making 252 horsepower in GXP guise. The coupe comes in GT and GXP forms; the convertible is available only in GT trim.
Verdict
The G6 is a decent vehicle but is solidly mid to back of the pack compared with more recent GM efforts and the best of the Japanese competition. We like the bold styling, especially on the coupe and hardtop convertible, but the ride and handling are only average, and the interior quality lags behind that of the class leaders. Still, the GXP models offer a lot of bang for the buck, and the convertible is one of the cheapest and most elegant four-place convertibles on the market.
Click here to read our full review of the Pontiac G6.
Click here to read our full review of the Pontiac G6 convertible.
Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Pontiac G6.
Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Pontiac G6 convertible.
What’s New for 2008
The most important news for the 2008 model year is the availability of the GXP coupe and sedan. They replace the GTP as the performance models and are fitted with GM’s fine 252-hp, 3.6-liter DOHC V-6 mated to a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission with manumatic control. The GXP also features standard leather seats, dual chrome exhaust tips, and more aggressive front and rear fascias and rocker panels.
On the other models, front-seat side airbags, anti-lock brakes, traction control, OnStar, and an auxiliary audio input jack are now standard. GT models now have standard XM satellite radio.
