Bayer Motor Company

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Walk Around

With its twin grille nostrils separated by an arrowhead-like divider, there is no mistaking the G5 for anything but a Pontiac. Pontiac has steadily and consistently nurtured and developed this design theme since 1961, and now it is surely one of the most, if not the most, recognizable motif in the U.S. auto industry.

From the front, side or rear the G5 has a cleaner and smoother look than some Pontiacs of the recent past, which tended to be cluttered with stick-on body cladding. This may come as a surprise to some younger buyers, but not to anyone who recalls the ultra-clean-flanked Grand Prix and GTO's of the mid-1960s.

The strength of the G5's identity is really quite remarkable, given that only its grille, tail lights, and other minor details distinguish it (externally) from a Chevrolet Cobalt.

Interior

2008 Pontiac G5

We found the cloth material on the seats quite handsome. There is plenty of legroom for two people up front. The driver's seat is adjustable for height. However, it seems to work better for raising short drivers than it does lowering down to add headroom for taller folks. The problem is that when the seat is lowered all the way to accommodate a tall driver, the seat cushion tilts a bit forward.

All the controls are easy to find and use but there is a shortage of storage bins and trays.

The back seat is barely suitable for a six-foot adult for a short trip across town. It is an excellent location, however, for parcels.

Like many coupes, which favor a low roof as they go for a streamlined look, the G5 has somewhat narrow windows. Some people like that because it makes them feel as secure as a turtle in a shell. Others find it is slightly confining. One problem is poor visibility over the driver's left shoulder. Big roof pillars and a small rear window combine to make it hard to see vehicles coming up to pass.

We applaud Pontiac's decision to make side air curtains standard. In a crash these cover the side windows, front and back, to provide head protection in a side-impact. Some studies have shown such head protection greatly increases the chance of survival and, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted side-impact crash tests on an older G5 without the air curtains, officials noted that serious head injuries for the driver would have been likely. When a second G5 with the air curtains was tested there was a big improvement, although the Pontiac still did not fare as well as a 2007 Honda Civic Coupe (which has air curtains as standard equipment).

OnStar is a nice security blanket. This option combines a global positioning system and a cellular telephone (far more powerful than a hand-held cell phone) to put the driver in contact with an OnStar center which is manned 24/7. The OnStar center can tell where the vehicle is located and can provide help, ranging from a calling a tow truck to providing directions when you are lost. In case of a crash severe enough to deploy the airbags the system will automatically call the center so help can be sent even if the occupants are incapacitated.

We liked the optional sunroof. On some cars the sunroof tends to scoop outside air and funnel it into the vehicle as if attempting to duplicate the tornado from The Wizard of Oz. That is not the case with the G5. There is so little turbulence it is possible to open the sunroof on a 20-degree day and enjoy the sunlight without freezing, with the heater turned up.

The trunk is rated at 13.9 cubic feet which is competitive in this segment. The rear seat can be folded down for carrying more cargo.

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