Here in Canada we like our compact cars, and auto manufactures of all

It's the right size, the right price and has the right features to appeal to Canadians. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

backgrounds are happy to cater to our national tastes. We’ve got cars that, from a North American and even an international perspective are unique to our market, such as the Acura CSX, Suzuki Sprint+, as well as the Volkswagen City Golf and City Jetta. Other brands bring specific trim levels and engine packages to our market, like the Volvo C30 with its 2.4-litre engine, while others offer us international models sold around the globe but not in the US, like the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, the Toyota Echo Hatchback, which was replaced by the Yaris, and the now discontinued Nissan XTrail. And then there are cars offered specifically to Canadians that you can’t get anywhere else. Pontiac is a brand that has three such vehicles, two being the subcompact G3 Wave hatchback and four-door, and the other the G5 Sedan.

During its earlier days ('60s - '80s), to avoid taxation, GM built the majority of its volume sellers destined for Canadian dealers in Canada. At the time, most of these cars were Chevrolets. To satisfy the needs of Canadian Pontiac dealers (which collectively sell Buick and GMC under the same rooftop), GM produced some Canadian Pontiacs that were in essence Chevrolets with Pontiac sheetmetal and different bumpers and grilles, but with Chevy dashboards, interior trims and engines. This was different from the US practice, which often saw vehicles with different wheelbases, etc. So, you could buy a Chevrolet Nova in Canada as a Pontiac Acadian, and the same goes for variety of other models.

It used to be called the Pursuit. Then, the year it was introduced to the US, it became known as the G5 Pursuit. Now, it's just G5. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

The practice of separate unique models continues on to this day despite the lapse of the trade agreement, mostly because of unique market demands from the US.

The G5 (or Pursuit, or G5 Pursuit in its earlier days) was originally exclusive to Canada before being sold into Mexico as the G4, but it’s now on sale in the US in Coupe form only. Who knows? With the rising price of fuel, General Motors may opt to sell the sedan body style to our neighbors to the south if their dealers need something smaller than the G6. Recently, GM registered the trademark G3 for the US, an indication that it is intending to sell a smaller car through its Pontiac division south of the 49th. It could be the five-door G3 Wave hatchback, sold here, the regular Wave sedan, renamed G3, or both. It wouldn’t be surprising if other cars followed.

Now that you’ve had a very brief history of Pontiac and Canada, it’s time to move on to the main subject of the lesson, the road test. In essence, the G5 is a badge-engineered version of the Chevrolet Cobalt. It features a different grille, different front bumpers, wheels, and slightly different interior appointments, plus a bit of extra standard equipment (a rear spoiler, for instance, is standard across the board). G5 Coupes also feature Sedan-style tail lights, the most notable visual

16-inch alloy wheels are an option; they're part of the Driver's Package which also includes ABS, a power sunroof and a Pioneer sound system. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

alteration. Other than that the G5 is a fairly understated looking vehicle, easy on the eyes and unlikely to provoke serious debate the way Honda’s Civic has.

Inside, it’s the same basic cabin as the Cobalt, which has gone unchanged since the vehicle was launched back in 2005. The only major difference is the new three-spoke steering wheel, which takes the place of the old four-spoke unit, and the corporate GM stereo system which features a built in aux-in jack. In general, the G5’s interior features a simple, clean design crafted with low-sheen plastics. The upper door skins have a slightly rubberized texture to them, and fit and finish appear good by economy car standards. Though I didn’t spend a tremendous amount of time in the G5, I found its firm seats (with standard driver’s lumbar support - another feature not standard in the base Cobalt) to be quite comfortable, and its white-faced instruments legible, sporty-looking and attractive in general. Yes, the G5's cabin is quite good, but if you’re looking to be blown away by the quality of a small car interior, look no further than Saturn’s new Astra and prepare to be amazed. Sure it doesn't offer some of the features of the G5, but it truly is a cut above almost everything in this class.

Pontiac offers G5 buyers a choice between two engines. For base and SE models, there’s the 2.2-litre 148 horsepower ECOTEC inline-four, and for those who want a little more pep, there’s the GT, which has a 171

148 horsepower gives the G5 zip. Not a tremendous amount of zip, but enough that you'll never feel left behind. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

horsepower 2.4-litre engine (the same as what goes under the hood of the entry level Solstice). Pontiac is keen to let the world know that it offers more standard horsepower than either Corolla or Civic (and indeed, this is no lie), and while you can’t say that it’s remarkably quick, the engine's larger displacement delivers a little more low-down grunt than its sub-2.0-litre competitors. A five-speed manual is standard on both models, while a four-speed automatic is available as an extra-cost option. Fuel economy for a G5 with the smaller engine and automatic isn’t bad - 9.2 l/100 km in the city and 6.4 on the highway, which is good overall, but not best in class. Ah, such is the tradeoff for that extra bit of power.

Sadly, unlike the Cobalt, there is no extra high-performance version of the G5, though I must admit after sampling the new, heavily revised turbocharged SS model, Pontiac really ought to consider developing a G5 GXP. And though it lacks the Brembo brakes and the super sporty tuned suspension, you can still feel a bit of the SS’ sparkle when you drive the G5. Its inherently stiff frame fights off creaks and there’s a decent amount of weighting from the speed-sensitive power steering, a combination powerful enough to convince me of the G5’s international heritage. Noise levels are well controlled too, except under extremely hard acceleration.

Hands down improvement over the Sunfire. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

The G5's trunk seems particularly well thought out. Unlike the Civic, there are no large, swing-down arms that inadvertently eat up the cargo room. Instead you get a strut and scissor hinge on each side. In addition, when it comes to dropping the 40/60 split folding seats, it’s a simple matter of laying them flat. The headrests come attached to the rear bulkhead, and not to the seats, so you don’t need to fuss around with removing them. The only downside I can see with this is that the height of the headrests cannot be adjusted for taller passengers are child safety seats, which often work best when fitted under the headrest. I was a little disappointed to see that the trim on the lid of the trunk is no longer present, gone from a couple of years ago it now leaves the sheet metal and trusses exposed and in view.

It’s no surprise that the G5 SE I tested was very much like the Cobalt LS I drove earlier this year, but more comfortable and better equipped. All G5s have standard driver lumbar support, and you can get leather-trimmed heated seats on the SE if you so desire. But, for a

G5 has sold well in Canada - given what it offers, that isn't a surprise. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

well-rounded model with all necessities and a few toys included, tick off the option box for the Driver’s Package. With it you get a glass power sunroof and the Pioneer sound system with subwoofer; who doesn’t appreciate a bit of sun and tunes? Also included are a few other niceties like 16-inch alloy rims in place of steel wheels and wheel covers, and very importantly, ABS brakes. The SE with Driver’s Package also has an armrest, which adds a bit of handy storage space up front, something I commented that the Cobalt LS was short on.

If there is something I’d like to see with the G5, it’s more standard safety equipment. I mean, yes, at $15,595 it is affordable, but Toyota proved that you can start a car at under $15,000 and equip it with ABS and six airbags. But even at $20,295, you need to shell out more for curtain airbags, and then you don’t get side seat mounted ones. OnStar is available, but StabiliTrak is not - at least, not unless you step up to the performance GT model.

In a market where so many different automakers are gunning to capture your attention, the G5 feels like safe, medium ground. It offers consumers exactly what they want, the features most want at a price they want. It’s a clear cut route to success, and while it may not be thrilling or particularly interesting, these are some of the reasons why the G5 is one of Pontiac’s most popular cars here in Canada.

Specifications (Pontiac G5 Sedan):

• Price Range (Pontiac G5 Sedan MSRP): $15,595 - $25,370
• Price as Tested (MSRP): $23,870
• Body Type: 4-door sedan
• Layout: front engine, FWD
• Engine: 148 hp, 152 lb-ft of torque, 2.2L, 16-valve DOHC I-4 (opt. 171 hp, 167 lb-ft of torque, 2.4L, 16-valve DOHC I-4)
• Transmission: 4-spd auto (std. 5-spd manual)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum (opt. disc/drum, ABS; opt. disc/disc, ABS)
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,584 / 1,725 / 1,450 / 2,624 mm (180.5 / 67.9 / 57.1 / 103.3 in)
• Curb Weight: 1,249 kg (2,754 lbs)
• Tires: 205/55R16 (std. 195/60R15)
• Cargo Volume (trunk): 394 L (13.9 cu-ft)
• Fuel Economy (city / hwy): 9.2 / 6.4 L/100 km
• Warranty (mo/km): 36/60,000 km comprehensive; 60/160,000 km powertrain
• Competitors: Chevrolet Cobalt, Dodge Caliber, Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Kia Spectra, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Nissan Sentra, Pontiac G5, Saturn Astra, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4 Sedan, Toyota Corolla, Volkswagen City Jetta / Jetta
• Web Site: www.gm.ca

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(B34) Colour-keyed Carpet Front and Rear Floor Mats

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(K05) Engine Block Heater

(US8) AM/FM CD with MP3

(J004) Standard Black Paint

(C67) Air Conditioning

(MX0) 4-Speed Automatic Transmission

(AP3) Remote Vehicle Starter

(58U.) Carbon Black Metallic

(89U.) Crystal Red Tint-Coat

(U2K) XM Satellite Radio

(WTC) Tire Repair Kit