Cars.com staff
The Pontiac G5 coupe is virtually identical to the Chevrolet Cobalt though the G5 costs more. G5 competes with the Ford Focus and Scion tC among others. It is 179.8 inches long, to 175 for Focus and 174 for tC. At 67.5 inches wide, it’s about an inch wider than the Focus but almost 2 inches narrower than the tC. The G5, at 55.6 inches tall, is nearly the same height as the tC but about 3 inches shorter than the Focus.
Mark Savage
MILWAUKEE JOURNAL-SENTINEL
Pontiac’s new G5 XFE isn’t fancy, but it looks sporty, with a smooth profile and small spoiler. I managed 34.2 m.p.g. in about a 50-50 mix of city and highway from the XFE (extra fuel economy). The engine also gives good acceleration, helped by an easy shifting five-speed manual transmission. Pontiac delivers better than the normal small car ride, and passengers noticed. Seats are firm but well shaped and more comfortable than I’d expect in an economy model. G5 includes one year of OnStar service and three months of XM radio.
Tom Strongman
KANSAS CITY STAR
The Ecotec 4-cylinder has variable valve timing to improve drivability and boost fuel economy slightly. The compact offers smart styling and decent performance at a reasonable price. But the base seats and general interior refinement are not quite up to those of the segment leaders. The dash has bright gauges, and the easy-to-use audio system lets the driver create preset buttons for AM, FM or XM satellite stations. The engine’s camshafts are driven by a chain rather than a belt to eliminate a potential service item.
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See related story, “Pontiac builds m.p.g. excitement,” Rides section, Page 1.