2005 Pontiac G6 Sedan
Base price: $23,300
Price as tested: $28,280
This week, we test Pontiac’s all-new 2005 G6 GT Sedan, a car that received tons of national publicity when Oprah Winfrey gave one to each of her 276 studio audience guests. Starting with a clean slate on a midsize platform, engineers developed this all-new sports sedan featuring contemporary design, Pontiac’s “total performance” doctrine and special attention to detail.
The G6’s power comes from a new 3.5-liter V-6 that pumps out 200 horsepower and 205 foot-pounds of torque. It’s powerful, but not exactly “total performance.” The engine mates to a four-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode, which comes standard on our GT tester. A class-leading 112.3-inch wheelbase assures comfort in addition to adding extra rear-seat legroom, which is usually the Achilles’ heel in the midsize class.
The four-wheel sport-tuned independent suspension features MacPherson struts up front and a four-link independent rear setup. When you add standard features like traction control, 17-inch Chrometech wheels, V-rated touring tires and four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, you indeed have a competent, road-worthy performer.
The cabin is well done, featuring refined controls and an impressive instrument layout. We really liked the body-hugging seats, racing-style gauges with true-red LED instrument backlighting, brushed metal accents and attention to detail.
Our tester included a market-exclusive Panoramic roof, which features four sliding glass panels to create a convertible-style open-air driving experience, as part of a $3,145 Premium Value option. Also included are the chrome wheels and a premium sound system with in-dash six-CD changer and one year of OnStar service.
On the protection side, standard dual-stage air bags and available side- and head-curtain air bags ($690) made our G6 even safer. A factory-installed remote start ($150) made for great mornings, especially when temperatures dipped well below freezing.
Built on GM’s rigid, European-designed architecture, Pontiac G6 delivers a responsive ride and handling, thanks in part to its class-leading longer wheelbase. It’s more than 5-inches longer than many midsize competitors and pushes the wheels to the corners of the body, enabling razor-sharp handling with minimal body roll. During a drive along winding country roads, the G6 felt more like a sports car in the turns than a family sedan.
Another noteworthy option is a $1,365 leather package that includes heated seats, six-way power driver seat, leather steering wheel with radio controls and leather-wrapped shift knob and brake handle. The final tally, with $625 destination and a package discount of $1,000, came to $28,280. Remember, most of our testers are fully loaded, so revisit that $23,300 starting price for the GT Sedan and go from there.
Important numbers include 14 cubic-feet of cargo space, 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway EPA averages on regular fuel, 3,428-pound curb weight and a 16.4-gallon fuel tank.
Pontiac is addressing the performance consumer’s need for more power, as a GTP 2006 model will soon find its way to Pontiac dealers complete with a 240-horsepower, 3.9-liter V-6 mated to a six-speed manual. Stay tuned, as this one should really perform.
Overall, we give Pontiac’s new G6 GT a solid 8.5 on a scale of one to 10. It really is an all-new car and deserves a serious look in the midsize class. Remember, too, that a base four-cylinder model will also be available for 2006, so pricing will surely drop below $20,000 for a nice, more economical G6.
Likes: Roomy interior, handling, fuel economy, instrumentation
Dislikes: A few more horses would help; unexciting outward design.
