Pontiac may have been on its way to regaining the title of General Motors’ performance division with the launch of the first-ever G8, but the brand will take two steps back by offering an all-new model for the 2009 model year — dubbed the G3 — that will be based on the Chevrolet Aveo.
The EPA quietly approved the G3 for sale in the U.S., even surprising some Pontiac executives with the news over the Memorial Day holiday. The G3 is currently sold in Mexico and Canada, although it is marketed as the Wave in Canada.
The move is intended to round out GM’s Buick-Pontiac-GMC channel, but some dealers are worried the sub-compact will dilute Pontiac’s performance image. The G3 will be powered by the same 1.6L powerplant found in the Chevy Aveo.
Although some dealers are reluctant about the G3, it will give them an inexpensive and fuel-efficient model to slot below the Vibe. The G3 is EPA certified at 25/34 mpg city/highway and will likely list from about $11,000.
The updated 2009 Chevy Aveo is expected to hit U.S. showrooms in July, so look for the G3 to have an on sale date around that time. Like the Aveo, the G3 will be available as a four-door sedan and five-door hatchback.
06/02, 12:12 PM
posted by:
tripleonefive
Why even have Pontiac as a division if the cars aren’t different. They are supposed to be the “sporty” division but where is the sport?
They have the G5 and now the G3?? When is the G1 coming?
This is pathetic but according to some people are trading in their Japanese cars in droves for these machines
Yea right
Pontiac sucks big time!
06/02, 12:17 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
Who said that? Oh yea – it was you!
But yuck – I hate the Aveo, and the G3 isn’t going to sit well with me, either…
On the brighter side, I ordered a new G8 the other day…
06/02, 12:19 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Aveo is a miserable offering. What a joke to re-brand it.
06/02, 12:22 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
they should have slapped a turbo on this thing and made an AWD version- there BAM, instant performance
06/02, 12:32 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
In December Pontiac let us in on what was coming down the pike over the next few years. Funny, I don’t remember the G3 being on that list… But maybe I blanked it out of my memory…
06/02, 12:49 PM
posted by:
shaver
Is this the next Gen Aveo or regadge of this generation?
25/34 is not that good.
06/02, 1:15 PM
posted by:
cookie4me
idiots…..
06/02, 1:32 PM
posted by:
A4
the aveo sucks
06/02, 1:42 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
Honda FIT kicks the CRAP out of that car, regardless of the badge.
06/02, 1:56 PM
posted by:
livelyjay
The Aveo is a very poor solution for the sub compact segment. Like shaver said above, 25/34 is utter crap for a sub compact. The old Vibe got just about the same and it twice the size. Copying a pile of crap and rebranding it won’t miraculously make it not a pile of crap. If they sourced the same 1.8L from the Vibe they would likely pull the high 30s hwy, but then they would have to give in that Toyota makes a much better small engine than GM.
06/02, 2:01 PM
posted by:
inline6
The 5-speed gets 37mpg, by the way.
And believe it or not, the Aveo gets better mileage than the Accent and SX4, and is comparable to the Versa.
It’s irritating to me that Pontiac is adding its own version of the Aveo. But I rented one recently, and it was a pretty decent car.
The trunk was big, the seats were comfortable, the and interior fit and finish were great. Acceleration wasn’t good, and it did feel a bit floaty. But overall, the Aveo wasn’t bad. I just wish it had a better engine with a bit more power and better economy.
On one hand, I see the logic behind the G3, but if Pontiac is ever going to get street cred, GM needs to do better.
06/02, 3:02 PM
posted by:
xyunya
I actually rented Aveo as the cheapest one in Enterprise fleet (to demo to the client that I wasn’t gouging his expense account). As rental it comes with automatic. The car was not bad for 10K car, but mileage was 20 mpg: I coulda had a V8!
06/02, 3:17 PM
posted by:
t-ak-box
Can’t wait for the Buick version of this model.
06/02, 3:41 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
If GM wants to get into Compacts seriously they need to seriously built them. There is nothing wrong with going “balls out” and making a hot compact that can be used for racing. It doesn’t have to be some super focused machine, but it would be nice to have the potential available. Kind of like most Hondas.
06/02, 4:21 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
I thought Pontiac wants to be a SPORTY division, not the fuel efficient tiny re-badged Korean Daewoo version.
06/02, 4:32 PM
posted by:
Htay9500
pontiac are all chevy rebadges save the g8 and solstice. dissapointing.
06/02, 4:57 PM
posted by:
Jordan
worst case of badge engineering. rebranding a crappy econobox.
06/02, 5:08 PM
posted by:
lamboz get a life
God is that stupid.
06/02, 5:12 PM
posted by:
Blakkarr
Lamboz,
GOD is not stupid.
People are. GOD just sits back and laughs.
06/02, 5:21 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
Ditch the 1.6 liter inline 4 for something better, like one of the new turbo engines for Europe.
06/02, 6:46 PM
posted by:
Commodore
What the hell??? This is just stupid GM. I blame the CAFE standards :]
06/02, 7:08 PM
posted by:
Spingood Tanoya
They should call it the T1000 to commemorate the last badge-engineered Pontiac economy car.
06/02, 8:59 PM
posted by:
murphy1
this doesnt surprise me at all. the idea was for pontiac to become a “focus” brand instead of full line, which saturn was supposed to take over. has anyone seens saturns car sales over the last year?? PITIFUL!! the aura is selling 1 for every 3 g6s sold. gm is realizing the pontiac name can still sell cars, therefore the g3. should be interesting to see how this works out. i wouldnt hate this car so much if there was a true performance version of it, but i doubt that will happen…
06/02, 9:15 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
I do see a good amount of G6s and G5s around, even though I do not understand why anyone would want a G5. I can understand the G6 a bit, it has a 2 door and convertible.
06/02, 11:29 PM
posted by:
bolex
whether you like pontiacs or aveo’s its what they need, especially at 11K. although they should make a 2 dr hatch of it, and price it at 10K that might be cool.
06/02, 11:53 PM
posted by:
NoNameDenton1
The Aveo already comes in a 3 door.
06/03, 3:11 PM
posted by:
bigp
please bring the g3 gxp with the 2.2ecotec
06/03, 3:14 PM
posted by:
bigp
o the ford festa and madza2 will kick this cars ass but its an nice try
06/04, 12:54 AM
posted by:
C6Racer
lmao @ Blakarr. Very true.
11/03, 12:50 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
Tow THIS is a bad idea!