Vehicle Overview Pontiac is offering a new economy hatchback, the G3. It’s a subcompact, four-door hatchback, and (as the Pontiac G5 is to the Chevy Cobalt) it’s a near-identical twin to the Chevrolet Aveo5. As such, the G3 hatch competes with the Scion xD, Kia Rio5 and Toyota Yaris.
Exterior From the side, the G3 looks identical to the Aveo5, down to its chrome side vents. Around back, the G3 has clear-lens taillights. It also gets Pontiac’s ubiquitous split grille and a unique bumper fascia and fog lamps.
The G3 is 155 inches long and 66.1 inches wide; which is about average for its segment.
Available 14- or 15-inch wheels
Standard fog lamps
Standard rear lip spoiler
Optional heated power mirrors
Interior The G3 gets its very own instrument cluster that’s sportier looking than the Aveo5’s and comes with chrome-ringed air vents.
The G3 seats five and includes a standard 60/40-split folding backseat. There’s 7.1 cubic feet of cargo room, but folding the rear seat increases cargo room to 42 cubic feet. Overall, there’s 91 cubic feet for passengers — which is better than most of the competition, though slightly less than the Rio5.
Available cloth or imitation-leather upholstery
Standard air conditioning
Standard OnStar
Optional power windows, locks and keyless entry
Optional satellite radio
Under the Hood The G3 is powered by a four-cylinder engine teamed with either a manual or an automatic transmission.
106-horsepower, 1.6-liter inline-four-cylinder engine with 105 pounds-feet of torque
Standard five-speed manual transmission
Optional four-speed automatic transmission
Safety Side curtain airbags are not available on the G3. Safety features include:
