GM announces new small car for the U.S.: Pontiac G3
Do you remember a list we published with the 10 most fuel-efficient domestic cars? Here's a new one we'd add if we redid the list today: the Pontiac G3. The G3 reminds us of a previous post about Pontiac's deteriorating brand identity. Based on the Chevrolet Aveo, the G3 will spot the same 1.6-liter engine found in its siblings. The G3 is certified as a 2009 model and, like the Aveo, it's rated at 25 mpg city and 34 highway, which improves the Pontiac Vibe's 28 mpg average (55 percent city/45 percent highway, all in U.S. gallons) Pontiac sells the current version of the G3 in Canada, where it is called the Wave, and in Mexico.
[Source: Automotive News (subs. req'd)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James Sonne 2:01PM (9/19/2008)
Of course the Pontiac G5 gets 3 mpg better than the Chevy Aveo, and this Pontiac G3 version of it. ... for the same price, and more interior room, and a sportier ride, and a more comfortable ride, and interior that doesn't fall completely to pieces.
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Phil L. 2:07PM (9/19/2008)
I thought GM said they were done with badge engineering.
C'mon - Put some real effort into a quality, efficient small car and you might be surprised how well it would sell.
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BoomBoom 3:42PM (9/19/2008)
James, you gotta tell the whole truth. The G5 XFE gets 3 mpg better on the highway and 2 mpg worse in the city for a equal net over all of 30 mpg. The Regular G5 gets 27 overall.
Phil, your spot on. This car isn't going to compete against the Fit. GM is just going to use this car to try to lift their fleet numbers.
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stevefazek 6:25PM (9/19/2008)
They really are milking this crappy car world wide.
They really need to chop the Delta 2 platform by a few inches. Cheapen its construction a bit and they would have a Fit like platform
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tankd0g 10:13PM (9/19/2008)
If it's anything like the G5 it's going to have that 5 year old KIA feel to it.
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Matt51 10:24PM (9/20/2008)
I have been very impressed with the Suzuki cars made by Daewoo. Good seats, good interior room, good reliability. My guess is this Pontiac represents good value for the money. GM wants to hit the low end of the market too.
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Jon Powalski 5:08PM (9/22/2008)
Wow - what a lousy car. My 1990 Saab 900S gets better gas mileage than that. It's just amazing that after all this time Detroit is STILL so uncompetitive.
If the feds are asked to bail out the Detroit automakers, I hope that they don't. It's time for these dinosaurs to become ancient history.
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