- 2009
2008 Pontiac G5
- Used Pontiac G5
Interior - What the Auto Press Says
Interior design and layout are low points on the five-seat Pontiac G5. Seating comfort is found to be sub-standard in both the front and rear. According to the Detroit News, poor quality interior materials make the G5 look like a "much cheaper, more primitive car" than even the VW Rabbit or the Kia Rio.
Seating
The seats are the number one complaint concerning the 2008 Pontiac G5's interior. New Car Test Drive finds the cloth material on the bucket-type seats "handsome," but Autobytel says the seats look "about as butt-friendly as a freshly sawn 2 x 6 from Lucky's Lumber." Once sitting down, Kelley Blue Book sums up the feelings of many writers, recalling the "seat bottoms are quite short, with somewhat hard cushioning but excellent support."
Reviewers find plenty of leg and headroom for the front passengers in the G5, but suggest using the backseat for children (in Kelley Blue Book's case) or parcels (New Car Test Drive). All the auto writers generally agree that although the G5 is designed to seat five, it should not be five adults.
Interior Features
Reviewer opinion is mixed on the quality of the 2008 Pontiac G5's standard features. Edmunds highlights attractive instrument gauges on an otherwise plain cabin background, but Autobytel says there was no real attention to detail, noticing the center console "was popping off, the carbon fiber-esque trim panel behind the steering wheel was losing its grip, the headliner resembled a loose toupee in spots, the loose and irregular rear pillar covers needed to start a square one, and the rear seat area played a tune akin to the rattle enjoyed by Papa's Little Puker."
The audio system is an AM/FM Stereo with CD player and MP3 playback, seek-and-scan controls and a four-speaker system (GT's feature a seven speaker system standard and are XM Satellite Radio capable).
Cargo
Reviewers make very little mention of the 2008 Pontiac G5's storage capacity, but Autobytel is one of its critics. Although the reviewer finds the space capable of storing long items like skis or snowboards with the rear seats folded, getting those items inside could present a challenge. "The G5, which features a high liftover, lacks a bumper pad to prevent the scratching and gouging of the body-colored rear fascia, and a small opening…due to the trunk lid and resulting limited access, carrying large or bulky items is pretty much out of the question," the review reads.
About.com' reviewer finds the Pontiac G5's cupholders too small. "I expected more from a car designed in the country that gave the world the Big Gulp," he complains. However the reviewer finds the cupholders were not so small that they didn't block the instrument controls.
