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1996
Pontiac Sunfire

Starts at:
$11,704
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New 1996 Pontiac Sunfire
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2dr Cpe SE
    Starts at
    $11,704
    25 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SE
    Starts at
    $11,874
    25 City / 34 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe GT
    Starts at
    $13,414
    22 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Convertible SE
    Starts at
    $17,934
    24 City / 31 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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Expert 1996 Pontiac Sunfire review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

Before letting the ’96 models slip away, we tested the Pontiac Sunfire SE and Trans Am convertibles, which offered stark contrast to one another.

Sunfire is an economy car with a top that goes down rather easily and smoothly when you grab a handle in the center of the windshield top and give it a light pull.

The attraction of the Sunfire is open-top motoring in a cute small car that obtains 22 m.p.g. city/32 m.p.g. highway mileage with its 2.4-liter, 150-h.p., 4-cylinder engine (a 2.2-liter, 120-h.p., 4 is standard)–$395–teamed with 4-speed automatic–$245–with traction assist (a 3-speed automatic is standard with no traction assist offered). All the advantages of a convertible, all the benefits of an economy car.

A big plus is that the Sunfire has a pair of side rear windows where many of its rivals have the wraparound convertible top. The windows mean you have excellent side vision, whereas a wraparound top would mean a giant blind spot.

One gripe: Sometimes when an automaker takes off the top, the car suffers structural rigidity, and the Sunfire tended to squeak when the body flexed. Saturn officials long have maintained that one reason it never added a convertible is that it couldn’t come up with a vehicle as solid and squeak-free as it wanted. After driving the Sunfire convertible, you get the feeling Saturn is wise to hold off on a convertible until it adds the larger Opel midsize platform to its lineup in the 1999 model year .

Notable Sunfire standard equipment included two air bags, ABS and daytime running lamps. Base price: $17,734. With the desired option grouping consisting of rear window defogger, AM/FM stereo with cassette player and clock, intermittent wipers, dual sport power mirrors, power locks, power windows, steering wheel radio controls, remote keyless entry and cruise control (the only item in the package not all that desirable) at $1,519 plus the engine/transmission upgrade and $495 for freight, you’re just over $20,000.

The Trans Am convertible, on the other hand, is a performance car in which the top goes down very easily when you press the button below the instrument panel.

The attraction is open-top motoring in a car powered by a 5.7-liter, 285-h.p., V-8, shod with 16-inch performance tires so it steps quickly but not gingerly while providing rather solid footing.

The 5.7-liter, V-8 delivers 17 m.p.g. city/25 m.p.g. highway, providing you spend more time cruising lazily with the top down rather than driving energetically, top up or down.

The Trans Am drop top, however, doesn’t feature rear side windows, but rather wraps around for that blind spot. And, like Sunfire, there’s noise as the body flexes.

Notable standard equipment includes two air bags and ABS along with air conditioning, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, dual power sport mirror s, fog lamps, rear window defogger, AM/FM stereo with cassette and clock.

Base price: $27,364. With optional 4-speed automatic (6-speed manual standard) at $790, compact disc changer at $595, and leather seats at $829 (including a seat with articulating headrest that would be much more appreciated if it was more comfortable than articulated), plus $505 for freight, you’ll come very close to $30,000.

Before you run out to get the “last” of the ’96 Sunfire or Trans Am convertibles, note that for ’97 the Sunfire SE adds 4-speed automatic with traction assist as standard, along with rear-window defogger and cruise control, and the ’97 Trans Am offers Ram Air induction for a boost to 305 h.p. from 285.

1996 Pontiac Sunfire review: Our expert's take
By

Before letting the ’96 models slip away, we tested the Pontiac Sunfire SE and Trans Am convertibles, which offered stark contrast to one another.

Sunfire is an economy car with a top that goes down rather easily and smoothly when you grab a handle in the center of the windshield top and give it a light pull.

The attraction of the Sunfire is open-top motoring in a cute small car that obtains 22 m.p.g. city/32 m.p.g. highway mileage with its 2.4-liter, 150-h.p., 4-cylinder engine (a 2.2-liter, 120-h.p., 4 is standard)–$395–teamed with 4-speed automatic–$245–with traction assist (a 3-speed automatic is standard with no traction assist offered). All the advantages of a convertible, all the benefits of an economy car.

A big plus is that the Sunfire has a pair of side rear windows where many of its rivals have the wraparound convertible top. The windows mean you have excellent side vision, whereas a wraparound top would mean a giant blind spot.

One gripe: Sometimes when an automaker takes off the top, the car suffers structural rigidity, and the Sunfire tended to squeak when the body flexed. Saturn officials long have maintained that one reason it never added a convertible is that it couldn’t come up with a vehicle as solid and squeak-free as it wanted. After driving the Sunfire convertible, you get the feeling Saturn is wise to hold off on a convertible until it adds the larger Opel midsize platform to its lineup in the 1999 model year .

Notable Sunfire standard equipment included two air bags, ABS and daytime running lamps. Base price: $17,734. With the desired option grouping consisting of rear window defogger, AM/FM stereo with cassette player and clock, intermittent wipers, dual sport power mirrors, power locks, power windows, steering wheel radio controls, remote keyless entry and cruise control (the only item in the package not all that desirable) at $1,519 plus the engine/transmission upgrade and $495 for freight, you’re just over $20,000.

The Trans Am convertible, on the other hand, is a performance car in which the top goes down very easily when you press the button below the instrument panel.

The attraction is open-top motoring in a car powered by a 5.7-liter, 285-h.p., V-8, shod with 16-inch performance tires so it steps quickly but not gingerly while providing rather solid footing.

The 5.7-liter, V-8 delivers 17 m.p.g. city/25 m.p.g. highway, providing you spend more time cruising lazily with the top down rather than driving energetically, top up or down.

The Trans Am drop top, however, doesn’t feature rear side windows, but rather wraps around for that blind spot. And, like Sunfire, there’s noise as the body flexes.

Notable standard equipment includes two air bags and ABS along with air conditioning, power windows and door locks, remote keyless entry, dual power sport mirror s, fog lamps, rear window defogger, AM/FM stereo with cassette and clock.

Base price: $27,364. With optional 4-speed automatic (6-speed manual standard) at $790, compact disc changer at $595, and leather seats at $829 (including a seat with articulating headrest that would be much more appreciated if it was more comfortable than articulated), plus $505 for freight, you’ll come very close to $30,000.

Before you run out to get the “last” of the ’96 Sunfire or Trans Am convertibles, note that for ’97 the Sunfire SE adds 4-speed automatic with traction assist as standard, along with rear-window defogger and cruise control, and the ’97 Trans Am offers Ram Air induction for a boost to 305 h.p. from 285.

Factory warranties

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Consumer reviews

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 4.5
Interior 3.9
Performance 3.9
Value 4.6
Exterior 4.5
Reliability 4.4

Most recent

  • Love my 1996 Pontiac Sunfire Convertible

    This vehicle turns heads. It has excellent acceleration for 4 cylinders, which is a Pontiac design feature. Dependable, good gas mileage, low maintenance costs. Fun to drive with the top down even in winter.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • Great car, less maintenance and good on gas

    Great small vehicle, good on gas and never has trouble. Good for someone looking a small car for work or school.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
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  • Great little car

    I got a 96 convertible for my first, it has some minor electrical problems and the speedometer quit but the body is still in great shape, mechanics look at the bottom and are surprised to see how good it looks being 18 years old, top goes down nicely, got a nice sound system in it, makes the girls smile, not bad for 900 bucks used, a couple people told me it looks like im driving a bat-mobile with it murdered out, its way ahead of its time when it came out in looks, people cant believe its a 96
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 3.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • Selling after 17 years a 1996

    After 17 years of being in love with this little convertible, I am selling it as I am going to get a newer car. There is 94000 actual miles on it and over the years I have spent very little on repairs. The same mechanic has taken care of it all these years too. Everything on it works, except the ABS and check engine lights stay on. If this car was still made today, I would buy another one. The only reason I am selling it is because the exterior is getting a bit rusty and the top is shrinking and I am in the public, so need a better looking car. The engine is good and it still has ZIP!!! When I sell it I know I will cry, as it has been a wonderful, reliable, comfortable and fun car. Trying to decide what to replace it with has been difficult. For those who would ask what I am getting...a Ford Focus 2009 with 35000 miles on it. Hopefully I will like it half as well as I have this little Sunfire.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • good transportation and affordable

    This car is good on gas and great for getting around town. Anyone in need of reliable and dependable transportation should consider this car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • l

    This car does not last. Everything falls apart. It is not worth the money needed to fix it once it starts falling apart.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 2.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 3.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 1.0
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  • a great car and a convertible too

    A great car and 12 years old it still makes people smile. It is fast and reliable and economical It has a backseat and a trunk (lots of convertibles have one or the other, some have neither. This one has both !) Problems over 188,000 km have been....... 1. replaced tired power window motor 2. replaced fuel pump (pretty exspensive but i'm told that running down to the last few drops in the tank hastens the end of the pump) 3.replaced the air conditioner 4 took apart the radio and replaced the bulb myself ! 5. filled the tank, changed the oil, changed the tires and eventually the brakes Other than that, we drove for thousands of miles, smiled lots and brought smiles to many others. I would like the power window buttons to be on the door instead of the consul I love the pick up (2.4 l) and the economy (35 PMG ) the red guages , the pass through from the trunk, the super sized glove box, the one hand operated power top
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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  • Makes me feel like I should've felt when I was 18

    One beautiful spring day I was waiting at a stop sign with the top down. A woman walking past looked into my car and said, "You are the envy of everyone." How's that for a car review? In my 11 years of ownership I've replaced the top, fixed the AC, had the check oil light come on, and lost the LCD on the radio. There was also a minor oil leak. Not bad for a car with 118,000 miles. Acceleration with a 5-speed is great. 7.9 seconds to 60mph and the ABS braking is excellent. Gas mileage is in the 28-30 range in weekly driving.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire?

The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire is available in 2 trim levels:

  • GT (1 style)
  • SE (3 styles)

What is the MPG of the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire?

The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire offers up to 25 MPG in city driving and 34 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire reliable?

The 1996 Pontiac Sunfire has an average reliability rating of 4.4 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 1996 Pontiac Sunfire owners.

Is the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire a good Coupe?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 1996 Pontiac Sunfire. 87.5% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

4.6 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
  • Comfort: 4.5
  • Interior: 3.9
  • Performance: 3.9
  • Value: 4.6
  • Exterior: 4.5
  • Reliability: 4.4
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