Pontiac G6 GTP

Reviewed by: Jeff Fortson of JeffCars.com
Date: December 2006

Arrival Date:

Oprah introduced the Pontiac G6 sedan to her audience during the opening of her 2005 show season. The sporty G6 coupe with the Lexus SC-like rear end just arrived in the 2006 model year.

Target audience:

Any driving enthusiast looking for a sports coupe, offered at a reasonable price will love this vehicle.

Replaced:

The coupe replaced the larger Grand Prix.

What’s new:

Everything!

Body type:

This is a true two door coupe.

Seating:

Because of the stylish but sloping roofline and the rear seating arrangements designed for only two, the coupe is only capable of holding four people. As a side note, only two small adults will fit comfortably in the rear of the vehicle. The rear seats are better for kids.

Popular Standard Features:

-Air condition

-Power Driver seat (standard on test vehicle)

-Power windows

-Power locks

-AM/FM/CD player/MP3 compatible

-6 cylinder engine

-5-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty

Safety Features/Awards:

- NHTSA ( National Highway Traffic Safety Administration):

*has not been rated at the time of review

-ABS Brakes

-Air Bags (driver and front passenger side airbags, front and rear head curtains standard on the test car)

-Daytime Running Lamps

-Tire Pressure Monitor System

-OnStar System (included free for 1-year) Includes Automatic Notification of Air Bag Deployment, Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance, Emergency Services, Roadside Assistance, Remote Door Unlock, OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, Hands-Free Calling, Accident Assist and Turn-by-turn trip routing

-Stabiltrak-Stability Control (standard on test vehicle)

-Rear Window Defroster (standard on test vehicle)

-Fog lamps (standard on test vehicle)

-Remote Keyless Feature (standard o test vehicle)

-Rearview Auto Dimming Mirror w/Directional Compass (standard on test vehicle)

-Power Adjustable Pedals (option on test vehicle)

-Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls (included as standard feature on test vehicle)

-18 inch tires/wheels

Warranty:

Basic warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles (whichever comes first)

Powertrain warranty: 5 years or 100,000 miles (whichever comes first)

Maintenance Included: No

Towing Included: Yes

Engine/Gas Mileage:

3.6L V-6, 252-horsepower, 20 city/28 highway (featured on test car)

3.5L V-6, 224-horsepower, 20 city/28 highway (available on GT Coupe)

Fuel efficiency:

The Pontiac GTP high-performance (featured) and the GT Coupe is only available with the 6-cylinder. Despite the differences in horsepower, both coupes deliver the same fuel economy. If you’re willing to sacrifice horsepower for fuel economy and you’re willing to drive a sedan, you can take advantage of Pontiac’s 2.4/ 4-cylinder engine which provides a fuel economy rating of 23 city/33 highway driving.

Looking forward:

For this price point, Pontiac should consider adding a sliding front seat sliding armrest on the G6 similar to what can be found on Saturn’s Aura. This way the driver can find a comfortable position for road trips. I realize Pontiac is targeted toward sports enthusiasts. However, I wish they would offer a different lighting pattern for the instrument panel as opposed to the red for some of the more mature drivers. And Pontiac should consider upgrading the radio knobs to have more of a precision look.

What’s so special:

It has been a number of years since Pontiac truly offered a sporty 6-cylinder coupe. From a quick glance, the rear-styling of the coupe will remind you of the more expensive Lexus SC coupe. In case you forget, the front-end styling will in no uncertain terms remind you that you’re in a Pontiac. The Pontiac Grand Prix and the rear-wheel drive GT0 which it replaced was a little too large to evoke the same feeling you get from driving the sporty G6. Pontiac is definitely finding its way back to become the true sports division for General Motors.

How much:

The Pontiac GTP listed for $24,200. With a destination charge of $650 and $3,170 in options, the total vehicle price was $28,020. The only option missing form this vehicle was Pontiac’s 4-panel retractable glass roof.