Overview & Reviews

Until Pontiac bit the dust in the wake of GM's 2009 bankruptcy fiasco, the Pontiac G6 was the company's go-to midsize car. In a constant battle to steal sales from the class favorites, the G6 offered unusually tactful styling by Pontiac standards, solid performance from its V6 engines and the availability of a four-seat retractable-hardtop convertible body style. Volume-selling models were the five-passenger sedan and four-passenger coupe.

Unlike the Grand Am that it replaced, the Pontiac G6 had considerably more flavor than a generic rental car. Still, the traditional class favorites topped the G6 in the areas of engine refinement, driving dynamics and cabin materials. The G6 may still hold appeal for used-car shoppers, especially given its likely cut-rate pricing. GM has pledged to continue supporting Pontiac products in its service departments, so a used G6 isn't necessarily a bad idea.

Most Recent Pontiac G6

Based on General Motors' lengthened "Epsilon" platform, the Pontiac G6 was produced from 2005-'09 as a sedan, coupe and retractable-hardtop convertible. For '05, only the sedan was offered; the coupe and convertible debuted a year later. Three main trim levels were offered on the sedan: base, GT and GTP (which became the GXP in '08). Coupes were either GTs or GTP/GXPs, convertibles GT only. Plenty of standard features, such as air-conditioning, full power accessories and CD audio, came on the base model. The GT added niceties such as an upgraded Monsoon audio system. The GXP topped the range with items like sporty exterior styling tweaks and automatic climate control.

At the time of Pontiac's demise, the G6's engine lineup included a base 2.4-liter four (164 horsepower), a 3.5-liter V6 (219 hp), a 3.9-liter V6 available on the convertible only (222 hp) and the GXP's 3.6-liter V6 (252 hp). Four-speed automatics were standard with all except the GXP's V6, which got a six-speed; however, the four-cylinder got an optional six-speed for 2009 that raised highway fuel economy to a laudable 33 mpg. Some power ratings were a bit lower in previous years, notably the 3.5-liter V6, and a manual transmission was available on a limited basis until '08.

In reviews we found that the Pontiac G6 offered generous room for those riding in back, no matter the body style. And we noted that after years of enduring criticism about its overstyled exteriors and gimmicky interior designs, Pontiac stepped up its efforts with the G6. Outside, the G6 had a crisp and sleek look; inside, there was a restrained and attractive layout with none of the traditional dull gray plastic switches. Even so, the G6 still had a few too many cheap plastic surfaces for our tastes.

On the road, we appreciated the low and midrange torque of the 3.5-liter V6, and the ride was smooth. The convertible's optional 3.9-liter V6 should be avoided if possible, though -- it was barely more powerful than the 3.5-liter V6 and got worse fuel economy. Handling was respectable, but we disliked the electric power steering, which was too light and offered virtually no feedback. GT models from 2007 and up had an improved hydraulic steering setup, which we preferred. Along with the enhanced feature content of the later models, we'd recommend focusing your used Pontiac G6 search on the '07 or newer models.

User Reviews:

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  Not sure if i like it - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By tess - March 29 - 2:56 am

  What is that squeaking noise? I bought this car because I had a grand am and I loved it. Not sure if g6 can compare to my grand am. Sometimes when Im on the highway, its like, it loses power. Considering trading it in.

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  Great car that hasnt let us down - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By olivemcclane - February 4 - 5:45 am

  We bought this car new back in 2007 and it has been great ever since. We have 63k+ miles on it and have not had any problems. We bought the value leader with no frills (e.g. no cruise) at a very reasonable price. We have only had oil changes and recently a transmission flush and new tires. We get 30mpg with highway driving, 24mpg in town. Weve had the car for 4 years and hope to keep it for many more. The only concern we have is the car rattles a bit when accelerating from 40 mph to 50 mph. No one has found a cause yet. Overall it runs great and we are really happy with it.

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  Panoramic Woes - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By elt2jv - December 30 - 8:26 am

  After years of fueling the SUV monster, the wife and I decided to get her a regular sedan. We liked the look of the G6 and we both were taken by the Panoramic Roof feature. Well... the thing rattles. The entire rack assembly inside the headliner never got installed properly and we have been dealing with an annoying poping noise from right above the drivers head. As of this writing the car is at the dealership for the SIXTH time since April 05 to get this corrected. All I can say is thank god we purchased the extended warranty as the rental cars would have bankrupt us. Hopefully the dealer and GM can figure this out as we are ready to lemon law this beast.

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  2008 Pontiac G6 4cyl - Sun and Sound Pkg - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By BAPerformance - December 23 - 8:20 am

  We bought this car to replace my girlfriends ailing 2004 Pontiac Grand Am V6 SE. She took a drive in a demo vehicle and loved it immediately. My dad bought an 06 new and has loved it so I thought it would be a good vehicle to try. We compared it online with all the other comparable cars in its class and enjoyed this one the most. She wanted a sunroof and 4cylinder for fuel economy so this fit the bill. The telescopic steering wheel, cockpit feel, good looks, and smooth handling sold it for her.

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  3 yrs and I hate the car - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By notso - December 20 - 12:23 am

  I have had this car for 3 yrs now and have had the rotors front and back replaced twice each, and my brakes replaced 10 times.A leak in the sunroof, motor blower replaced, turn signal bulb burnt out, and the drivers mirror cover broke. I have had Chevys and Fords in the past and never had problems like this.

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  Nice vehicle - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By Skipper - December 3 - 4:46 pm

  Ive had the vehicle about 3 months and am very satisfied with it. This car has a phenomenal stereo system and I love having steering controls for the radio. The ride is smooth, a little bumpy at times, steering is tight and comfort is nice. Overall I would recommend the vehicle. Gas mileage is my main concern on this vehicle, as I expected it to do better. Getting around 22 in city and anywhere from 23-30 on highway. I think if the tank were larger I wouldnt feel like I was always stopping for gas.

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  Good car for a good price - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Skywave - November 12 - 2:46 am

  This is a very attractive car. It feels comfortable and sporty and with some exceptions has very nice interior. I think many of the issues with the earlier years have been sorted out. Too early to tell about reliability. My example has several interior rattles. The engine feels very powerful and the car handles well but it falls short of really being a "sports" coupe. I have the sport package on mine which includes the 3.5L LZ4 and hydraulic PS which probably resolved previous handling complaints. I probably cant complain about the mileage (28 MPG in commuter service) but I still will. Stiff suspension transmits considerable road noise to the cabin, ride is OK though.

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  Great car! - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Angela - November 1 - 10:43 am

  Ive had this car for about a year and a half now and I have absolutely no complaints! I bought it with 32,000 miles as it was a rental car, but it looks great, runs perfectly, and the 3.5l V6 is perfect. Such a fun, sporty car to drive. I love it! I dont know what everyone else is complaining about.

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  Great car, horrible sunroof - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By joane - October 27 - 9:10 pm

  I love the G6, its a beautiful well running car. The wind noise in the panoramic sunroof is so bad that i would not buy it again. It sounds as though the window is cracked. There is no beauty or no amount of performance that makes up for the noise and water leaks in this sunroof. Beware if you buy it, my experience is showing that General Motors doesnt want to work with the consumer on this problem.

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  Good Daily Commuter - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Kurt - September 10 - 1:46 am

  I traded in the SUV and bought this car for a high mileage commute. I could not fit comfortably in the sub compact models available at the time and ended up purchasing a used G6. I have put 70,000 miles on my G6 since July of 07. I bought the vehicle with the driver package (XM, 6 way seat, fog lights, power pedals). I drive mainly open interstate and get about 29 MPG average which I think is pretty good based on the size and power of the vehicle. I have had the car in the shop for warranty fixes on the XM radio and the electric power steering (69 k almost missed factory warranty extension for this known problem). I currently have 96k miles on the vehicle and have had no other problems.