New 2008 Pontiac G5 Exterior Review
Based on analysis of 25 G5 reviews and test drives.
Exterior - What the Auto Press Says
Reviewers appreciate the 2008 Pontiac G5's sports-car appearance, especially its GT model. As New Car Test Drive notes, the 2008 G5 "has a cleaner and smoother look than Pontiacs past." To use the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's phrase, the G5 GT "isn't a fast car, but it sure looks like one." The G5 is 179.8-inches long and 55.6 inches tall, and its wheelbase stretches to 103.5-inches. Overall, the Pontiac G5 is 67.5-inches wide. The base model sits on 15-inch touring, blackwall tires with 15-inch steel wheel covers, while the GT has 17-inch blackwall tires with 17-inch aluminum wheels. Its door handles, moldings and spoiler all come in the body-color, while the grille appears in black.
Some reviewers do not specify why they enjoy the G5's appearance, only writing of the overall look. About.com calls the G5, "good-looking and well-designed," while Kelley Blue Book uses "attractive." Many auto writers call the G5's exterior design an example of rebadging, or taking the basic design of a similar car company (in this case, Chevrolet Cobalt) and changing minor details to create a new car. Reviewers like the Detroit News dislike this, saying, "we're puzzled why Pontiac chose to virtually copy the design of one of its sister General Motors brands, rather than spend a little extra money to create a more unique and distinctive product."
When speaking of the taillights specifically, Cars.com notices the similarities between the G5 and the Cobalt, saying, "Out back, the monochrome taillights are squared-off versions of those on the Cobalt sedan. They look way better, to my eye, than the big round mis-fitting taillights on the Cobalt coupe."
