2009 Pontiac G3 Review
2009 Pontiac G3 Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+77
Used G3 for sale
Appraise This CarPontiac G3 model years
- 2009
Pontiac G3 for Sale
- 2009
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Decent fuel economy, strong powertrain warranty.
Cons
- Meager power, paltry luggage capacity behind rear seats, questionable value.
What’s new
The 2009 Pontiac G3 is a new five-door subcompact hatchback competing in the U.S. market.
Edmunds says
The subcompact 2009 Pontiac G3 is just as forgettable as its Chevrolet Aveo5 twin -- and pricier to boot. There are better choices in this segment.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2009 Pontiac G3 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 5M) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$139/mo for G3 Base
G3 Base
vs
$174/mo
Avg. Compact Car
Vehicle overview
When GM was casting about for a small economy car a few years back, it tapped its Korean subsidiary Daewoo, which was already making a little runabout called the Kalos. After a quick badge job, the Chevy Aveo was born, and it's been a fixture in the bow-tie fleet ever since. Apparently, GM was pleased with this rebadging effort, because it's done it all over again with the 2009 Pontiac G3. In other words, the G3 is an Aveo5 hatchback by another name -- and at a higher price.
Though far removed from Pontiac's "We Are Driving Excitement" days of old, the G3 does give the division a foothold in the increasingly popular subcompact segment. A low price and good fuel economy are prerequisites here, and the G3 technically has these bases covered with a sticker that starts under $15,000 and overall fuel economy rated as high as 30 mpg. However, the G3's $14,335 base price frankly isn't low enough for what you get. Like its cheaper Aveo5 sibling, the G3 fails to distinguish itself in any area, yet this pallid Pontiac costs almost as much as the vastly superior Honda Fit. The G3 is equipped with some basic convenience items and comes standard with GM's exclusive OnStar system, but its cabin is notably chintzier than the less-expensive Nissan Versa's. Three-door hatches like the Hyundai Accent and Toyota Yaris and are at once easier on the wallet and more pleasant to drive. The G3's combined 30 mpg (28 mpg with the automatic) isn't bad, but nor is it particularly impressive for such a diminutive car -- both the Yaris and Fit provide better gas mileage.
In years past, the Aveo has been a respectable sales success for Chevy, but choices for subcompacts have only gotten better. The same goes for the 2009 Pontiac G3, and it's not an ideal choice for this segment. You could even go with a base Aveo5 and save a couple grand, though of course you'll lose some standard equipment in the process, including side airbags. Overall, we recommend looking past the G3 to more enjoyable rivals like the Fit or Accent.
Performance & mpg
All Pontiac G3s are powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 106 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque. This engine is backed by a standard five-speed manual transmission or an optional four-speed automatic. The former's EPA-estimated fuel economy checks in at 27 mpg city/34 mpg highway and 30 mpg combined, while the automatic drops to 25/34/28 mpg.
Safety
Front-seat side impact airbags and OnStar communications are standard features on all G3s. Antilock brakes are an extra-cost option, and side curtain airbags -- a feature increasingly common in other subcompacts -- are not available. In government crash tests, the G3 received a perfect five stars for frontal impacts and four stars for side impact protection. On the other hand, the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety deemed the similar '09 Chevrolet Aveo "Acceptable" (the second-highest ranking out of four) in frontal offset crash testing and "Marginal" (second-lowest) for side impacts.
Driving
While the Pontiac G3 doesn't provide much in the way of vehicular entertainment, it's a respectable ride for knocking out errands or engaging the daily commute. The steering is responsive enough, and the ride is acceptable by subcompact standards. Unlike other cars in this class, we prefer the optional automatic transmission to the manual gearbox. Though the five-speed is rated as slightly more economical around town, its ratios are overly wide, and it's not especially pleasant to operate.
Interior
The interior of the five-passenger 2009 Pontiac G3 sports decent-quality materials adorned with metallic-look accents and several storage areas for small items. Climate controls are straightforward, though the stereo employs an array of buttons instead of more user-friendly knobs. Though the G3 offers a convenient 42 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, that's nothing to write home about -- and the 7.1 cubic feet available behind the rear seats won't hold more than a few bags of groceries.
2009 Pontiac G3 models
The 2009 Pontiac G3 is a five-door subcompact hatchback available in a single trim level. Standard G3 equipment includes 14-inch steel wheels, foglamps, a rear spoiler, a tilt steering column, manual accessories, cloth seating, air-conditioning, a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, OnStar and a six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo with an auxiliary input jack. The Preferred package adds power accessories, heated outside mirrors and keyless entry; the Cruisin' package tacks on cruise control, satellite radio and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls; and the Sport package provides 15-inch aluminum wheels and a leather-wrapped shift knob and steering wheel. Stand-alone options include a sunroof and leatherette upholstery.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2009 Pontiac G3.
5 star(46%)
4 star(25%)
3 star(18%)
2 star(11%)
1 star(0%)
28 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Green Machine, not a gas guzzlin SUV
Janko, 08/24/2009
2009 Pontiac G3 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
I'm giving this car a 10 across the board. I'm doing this with the mindset of my expectations of a compact economy car. It met my expectations 100%. I'm 6'6" tall and cannot believe how comfortable the seats are. I love this car and it's exactly as I expected. For the people who rate the performance anything less than a 10, go buy a Corvette. I had a Honda and am soooo happy I sold … it to buy the G3. No complaints, very happy!!!
5 out of 5 stars
Awesome little car!
Sil Rom, 08/17/2015
2009 Pontiac G3 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
I've had it since August 2009. It only had 14 miles, when I got it. It now has a little over 52K and its has never been at the dealer except for oil changes and two alignments! It's due for a tune up this month... It still runs great! About 270 to 300 miles per tank of gas! Best car I've ever had, and I will keep it for as long as I can! 🚗❤️
2.25 out of 5 stars
Not a happy camper
Not a happy camper, 11/06/2010
2009 Pontiac G3 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
I have now had this car about a year in a half! Mind you it's my first brand new car! I thought i picked a great choice for my first new car. Well I was WRONG! My car has been to the shop 8 times! Front end problems pulling me to the left hard, driver side mirror shakes so bad i cant even see out of it when it rains or on im on the high way! Thermostat has gone out. And just yesterday i … had to get the heater blower thing fix! I am trading this car in! They will not see me again!nor get my business again! It sucks gas! It doesn't ride smoothly! Worst choice i could have ever made buying that car!! I regret every day of it!
3.38 out of 5 stars
Well...it's a cheap car
axle2152, 04/12/2012
2009 Pontiac G3 4dr Hatchback (1.6L 4cyl 5M)
I bought my G3 in August of 2009. I currently have 71,100 miles. I have not had any mechanical problems, however I have 2 camshaft position sensors go bad. This causes the car to sputter and lose power and causes a lot of jerking which is bad for the transmission. The ride is a little rough, about what you would expect in a sub-compact. Power is a joke, 12 seconds to 60 MPH, and fuel … economy could be better, and other cars in it's class (from the same year model) get better gas mileage and still have better performance. On-Star never worked from the start and the dealership gave me the run around about fixing it, so it never was, not that I would subscribe to a nonsense service anyway.
2009 G3 Highlights
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $14,335 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 30 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $139/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 7.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Key safety features on the G3 include:
- Tire Pressure Warning
- Post-collision safety system
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalAcceptable
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalMarginal
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintPoor
Related Used 2009 Pontiac G3 info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Audi 100 2016
- Used GMC Terrain 2016
- Used Ford Ranger 2022
- Used Ford Shelby GT350 2020
- Used BMW 7 Series 2021
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2025 Jeep Grand Wagoneer News
- BMW X7 2023
- 2025 Acura RDX News
- Genesis G90 2023
- Q4 E Tron Range
- BMW 4 Series 2024
- 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class Coupe
- Cla Class 45 Amg
- 2023 Volvo XC60
- 2023 GMC Sierra 1500
Research similar vehicles
- Ford Mach E
- Mini Cooper Car 4 Door
- 2023 Acura Integra
- Fiat 500E
- Honda Civic 2024
- Audi RS 5
- Prius
- Toyota Grcorolla
- Toyota Prius 2023
- Impreza Car
Other models
- Used Lexus CT-200H in Las Cruces, NM
- Used Lexus Es-250 in Temple, TX
- Used BMW 4-Series-Gran-Coupe in China, TX
- New Land-Rover Defender for Sale in Lewes, DE
- Used Infiniti Q60-Coupe in Orange, CA
- Used Mazda 6 in Cupertino, CA
- Used Dodge Sprinter-Cargo in Gainesville, VA
- Used Toyota Prius in Powell, OH
- Used Audi Q8 in Galveston, TX
- Used Audi A4-Allroad in Neenah, WI