Overview & Reviews

For better or worse (mostly the latter), the Pontiac G5 economy coupe was a rather obvious example of "badge engineering." General Motors started with a Chevy Cobalt coupe, made a few minor changes to things like the grille design, headlights, taillights, interior materials and trim, and then rebadged the vehicle as a distinct Pontiac product. This is nothing new, of course, and not necessarily a bad thing either, provided the shared platform is rock-solid and fully competent.

Regrettably, that was not the case with the Pontiac G5. Its stylish twin-port grille had it all over the Chevy's generic bowtied nose, but otherwise the G5 was a Cobalt by another name. It achieved passing marks in performance and ride quality, but savvy shoppers realized that it lacked sophistication and quality. Pontiac's demise due to GM's 2009 bankruptcy fiasco shouldn't dissuade used-car shoppers, since the G5 is basically a Chevrolet. But the G5's numerous shortcomings prevent us from recommending it as a pre-owned purchase.

Most Recent Pontiac G5

The Pontiac G5 compact coupe was produced from 2007-'09 in two trim levels: base and GT. The base model came with a decent amount of equipment, including air-conditioning, powered accessories, keyless entry and a CD/MP3 audio system. The uplevel G5 GT added Bluetooth ('09 only), 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and cruise control. Additional options included a Pioneer audio system, leather upholstery and, depending on the year, iPod connectivity and satellite radio.

The front-wheel-drive G5 initially came with one of two engines, a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine or a 2.4-liter four. The 2.4 was rated at 173 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque, and it was standard on the GT until being discontinued after 2008. The 2.2-liter was rated at 148 hp and 152 lb-ft until '09, when it became the sole available engine and received some internal tweaks that resulted in more power and better fuel economy. The standard transmission was a five-speed manual, with a four-speed automatic available as an option.

Inside, attractive gauges and a full-featured stereo give the Pontiac G5 a contemporary vibe, and metallic accents on the gear shifter, steering wheel and doors brightened the otherwise stark cabin. Materials quality was poor, however. Both models featured a trip computer that provided useful information such as outside temperature, fuel range and coolant temperature. But even with the optional premium leather trim, our editors found the seat design plain and lacking in comfort -- especially in back, where the bench is flat and low and the quarters cramped.

On the road, our editors noted that either G5 engine provided decent power under normal conditions, but made coarse noises when pressed. The smooth, quiet ride was judged commuter-friendly, but the car's handling on twisty roads was not impressive. Even the "sport-tuned" G5 GT allowed too much body roll, and the electric steering system on both models reacted slowly and with minimal feedback.

Beyond the powertrain adjustments, Pontiac G5 changes were minimal during its brief run. For 2008, all models received side curtain airbags and satellite radio as standard equipment, while the GT trim got stability control and OnStar as standard.

User Reviews:

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  Love My New G5 - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Silver Wolf - October 26 - 3:36 am

  I purchased my new Pontiac G5 on 9/30/06 and I love it! It is fun to drive and handles really well. The CD/radio sound is especially awesome. It is easy to park in small spaces with the manual transmission.

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  Fantastic Car - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By g5driverMI - September 8 - 6:20 pm

  For a 19yo 6ft 210lb person i found the car very comfortable. I love the styling and it looks fantastic when cared for. I did find the e-brake under the armrest odd, however not really a problem. I drive very aggressively and still get great gas mileage. Coming from my previous vehicle (2003 Aztek) it is extremely fun to drive. It preforms pretty well, however dogs slightly until you get to 40+ mph. This can be alleviated with affordable after-market parts such as performance exhaust and intake.

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  Nothing But Trouble - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Matthew Oliver - July 8 - 1:16 pm

  Everyone in my area that has a G5 has the same trouble.My car has 40000kms and I t has been back for strut boots,linkage kits in front end twice,brake trouble which they cant seem to figure out what is causing it,heater blower motor twice,door strikers on both sides,manual transmission shifter trouble,control arm bushings,Electric motor coil(which was only fixed for a couple of days now causing trouble again)radio and signal lights come on and off on their own(no one seems to know why)overall I would recommend to stay away from it.I was told by the dealership that the G6 has the same troubles so stay away from that too.My father has a 2000 Mazda Protege brought new and never had a hitch yet.

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  A lot better than a Cobalt - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Chris - June 29 - 10:26 am

  The engine is a bit thrashy while its being gunned. The gas mileage is superb for a 4 cylinder that makes this kind of power. Overall a great value compared to the Tiburon GT, Civic Si, and Mazda 3s.

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  G5 is FUN to Drive! - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By timetodrive - May 30 - 3:01 am

  Not only for teens, being a 60+ guy who wanted to try a stick shift again. Bought new, there is now over 18,000 miles on my G5 - all of it put on by me. Its a blast to drive. Id forgotten how much punch a manual transmission provides compared to the non-premium automatics. The freeway on-ramps are fun again and driving in traffic is even much more interesting than driving an automatic. Ive had absolutely no problems with the car. Mileage is over 28 mpg in town and over 35 on the highway - with regular gas and a fairly "heavy" foot. The ride is fairly quiet and comfortable. Finally, my wife loves to go out with me in our "sports car!"

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  Favorite Car Yet - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By BlueShark13 - May 25 - 4:46 pm

  A fun car to drive. Its very sporty and has great pickup for only having a 4cylinder. My fiance is always bugging me to let her drive it as well. Overall, a great car and my favorite yet of the 4 cars I have owned.

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  Sports car in disguise - 2008 Pontiac G5
  By ckone - March 23 - 9:20 am

  I have had my G5 preferred package in competition yellow for 4 months now and I love it. I like that there are not many on the road so people tend to do a double take when I drive by. Lots of people wanna race (maybe because its yellow) which I think is ridiculous with fuel prices being so high. I commute 74 miles one way to work on highways, freeways and city streets with lots of hills and I am averaging 29.5 mpg. Just as good as a scion tc but way cheaper.

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  Excellent Car! - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By Stryker - March 2 - 2:53 pm

  This is my first brand new car, and I couldnt be happier. The engine performs great on the highway, as well as in the city. The heated leather seats are nice in the cold Colorado weather. And it handles better than most cars Ive driven. I cant think of another car that even compares to this one in the same price range.

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  Not a very good design. - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By RRRR - January 18 - 6:33 am

  I have owned this car for about two weeks and have driven it about 1000 miles. The car sounds like it has a window open when driven over 45mph. You can hear the air rush over the radio it is so bad. The steering wheel has shaking problems when I step on the breaks. The trunk opening is very small which is a drawback to the big space inside it. I was promised a cruise control for it only to find the EVS dealer is putting on an aftermarket version with no warranty. This car is a terrible car in all of these respects.

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  I LOVE my G5 GT - 2008 Pontiac G5
  By Heather - December 29 - 4:03 pm

  I love the G5 GT! I have had mine for two years! It has been very reliable and is so much fun to drive! When I first test drove the car it was just a standard G5, I would recommend buying the GT. The handling of the car is a lot better and the performance is better as well. It comes with great stuff! The pioneer system! heated seats, remote start and its sporty looking! I get so many compliments on the car.