For 2009, Pontiac is taking measures to improve fuel economy for its most sensible cars, the Pontiac G5 and Pontiac G6. Later in the year, the company adds the subcompact Pontiac G3 to the lineup in a bid to get the most level-headed among you into its dealerships. However, we think the redesigned 2009 Pontiac Vibe wagon, which is still a twin of the Toyota Matrix, makes a more compelling argument for owning a practical, fuel-efficient car. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP arrives midway through the model year, and it has GM's supercharged 6.2-liter LS3 V8, which should be enough motor for a sub-5-second 0-60-mph time.
2009 Pontiac G3: Already on sale in Canada, the 2009 Pontiac G3 is coming to the U.S. early in the '09 calendar year. With the exception of its front fascia (which is bold in the typical Pontiac style), the subcompact G3 is identical to the Chevrolet Aveo four-door hatchback.
The power source is a 106-horsepower 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, and you have the usual transmission choices: a five-speed manual and a four-speed automatic, both driving the front wheels. EPA ratings are 27 mpg city/34 mpg highway with the manual and 25/34 with the automatic.
2009 Pontiac G5: Pontiac adds variable valve timing to the G5 coupe's 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, which now makes 155 hp and 150 pound-feet of torque — compared to 148 hp and 152 lb-ft in 2008. This engine is standard on both base and GT versions of the 2009 Pontiac G5. The not-so-good news is that you can no longer get the 171-hp 2.4-liter engine on the G5 GT.
Although base and GT coupes have the same engine, they have different fuel economy ratings due to their different wheels and tires and final-drive ratios. Most frugal of all is the base 2009 Pontiac G5 coupe with a five-speed manual transmission. With a 3.63:1 final drive and 15-inch low-rolling-resistance tires, it earns a 25 mpg city/37 mpg highway rating and wears GM's XFE badge.
New equipment for the 2009 G5 includes an iPod-friendly USB port, which is standard on both trim levels, and Bluetooth, which is standard on the GT and optional on the base coupe. More advanced dual-stage front airbags are included on all 2009 Pontiac G5s. A red-and-ebony leather interior is an option this year, and new exterior colors include Quicksilver and Silver Green.
2009 Pontiac G6: In an effort to get more mileage out of the base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, Pontiac makes a six-speed automatic transmission optional on the base 2009 Pontiac G6 sedan. Offered in lieu of the standard four-speed automatic, the six-speed is part of the base four-cylinder sedan's Sport Package 1 option group, which also includes stability control and chrome wheels. The transmission's extra gears are good for an extra 3 mpg on the four-cylinder G6 sedan's EPA highway rating.
Satellite radio is standard on all base 2009 Pontiac G6 sedans, and Pontiac has fiddled with the option packages available on other G6s. Remote start is standard on GT and GXP models this year and optional on the base G6. New colors include Gold Mist, Quicksilver, Silver Green and Summit White.
2009 Pontiac G8: For those of you more interested in performance bargains, the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP is really the headline among the 2009 Pontiacs. And if you're really that worried about mpg, you can always get the Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual transmission, which has the usual fuel-saving skip-shift feature.
The six-speed mates to GM's 6.2-liter LS3 V8 rated at 402 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque. You can also get a six-speed automatic on the 2009 GXP, though it drives the rear wheels through a taller 3.27:1 final drive than the manual gearbox (3.70:1). A limited-slip differential is standard with both. Pontiac claims the 2009 G8 GXP will go from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 13 seconds flat at 108 mph.
A stiffer FE3 suspension is standard on the 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP, in lieu of the softer FE2 setup on the GT. Also included is a Brembo braking system, with 14-inch front and 12.8-inch rear discs. Four-piston calipers squeeze the front discs, but the rears have a single-piston setup. Nineteen-inch polished aluminum wheels with 245/40R19 performance summer tires are standard; all-season rubber is a no-cost option. Inside the GXP, you'll find black-and-red leather sport seats and aluminum-trimmed pedals.
Satellite radio is standard on all 2009 Pontiac G8s, and Bluetooth becomes available later in the year. New exterior colors include Maverick Silver, Pacific Slate, Sport Red and Stryker Blue.
2009 Pontiac Solstice: Look for hardtop versions of both the base 2009 Pontiac Solstice and the Solstice GXP midway through the model year. In place of the complex folding cloth top on the regular convertible, the Solstice coupe, as it's called, has a rigid, weatherproof lid. The roof is actually fixed from the B-pillars back, though a removable magnesium panel allows for a partial open-air drive. Since the transformation involved few structural revisions, the 2009 Pontiac Solstice coupe is not a true coupe. This variant is aimed mainly at drivers competing in the SCCA's Showroom Stock B racing class.
A limited-slip differential is standard on all 2009 Pontiac Solstices, and Bluetooth is now optional on the base Solstice and standard on the GXP and Street Edition. New paint choices include Deep (blue) and Wicked (red).
2009 Pontiac Torrent: Side curtain airbags, satellite radio and a compass are standard on all 2009 Pontiac Torrents. Bluetooth is optional across the board. New colors include Cyber Gray, Gold Mist and Quicksilver.
2009 Pontiac Vibe: Although the 2009 Pontiac Vibe wagon is redesigned, it's very similar to the original Vibe in size and focus. With the exception of styling, it's identical to the Corolla-based Toyota Matrix, and for those of you seeking an inexpensive family car with high levels of space efficiency and refinement, this is not a bad thing.
The base version of the 2009 Pontiac Vibe comes with a 132-hp 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with either a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission driving its front wheels.
Although the 1.8-liter is quite fuel-efficient, we appreciate the extra torque from the 158-hp 2.4-liter inline-4 that's optional on the base Vibe and standard on the Vibe GT. On front-drive Vibes, the bigger engine comes with either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic. However, if you pair the 2.4 engine with all-wheel drive (only available on the base model), a four-speed automatic is mandatory.
Inside, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe offers the same flat-folding seats that made the original wagon so practical. The adjustable cargo tracks have been discontinued, but we like the new folding cargo dividers that make it easy to cordon off groceries or wet swimsuits.
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