2004 PONTIAC G5 Sedan 2.4L 5MT (171 HP)

Vehicle Overview

General Motors produced a brand-engineered Chevrolet Cobalt model for the Canadian and Mexican markets and named it G5, and it produced it as a four-door sedan or as a coupe.

Badge engineering was not new, especially for General Motors. But it wasn’t common for it to create a vehicle sold with a different badge only North and South of the U.S. borders. Yet, it did that with the Pontiac G5 sedan. Both vehicles were built on top of the GM’s Delta platform, which was also used for the European Opel/Vauxhall Astra and the Chevrolet HHR. The main differences between the two siblings, the Cobalt, and the G5, were mainly on the aesthetic side.

The G5’s front fascia sported the classic Pontiac split grille, with the brand’s logo placed in the middle on a vertical slat. But changes went further by adding new headlights that sported an organic design and orange turn signals on their outer part. From its profile, the G5 featured the same greenhouse as the Cobalt and the Astra H, with a thicker C-pillar. Finally, at the back, the corner-mounted taillights were quite small and flanked the flat trunk lid.

Inside, GM didn’t upgrade the materials or the finishes, and it looked more like a rental vehicle than an upscale version of the Cobalt. The base levels featured cloth upholstery and a cheap-looking instrument panel saved only by its white dials. Still, the carmaker provided the vehicle with standard AC, power windows, and power mirrors. The customers could enjoy the artificial leather, the sunroof, and the wood trims on the dashboard for the top-spec version.

Pontiac G5 received a choice of two gasoline-powered engines of 2.2 and 2.4-liter, respectively. The standard version came fitted with a five-speed manual, while a four-speed automatic was on the options list.