EPA surprises Pontiac: Approves compact Pontiac G3 for U.S.

In effort to raise its fuel-economy, the General is planning on introducing a subcompact Pontiac brand. Sources tell Automotive News that GM has plans to bring the Pontiac G3, a car built on the Chevrolet Aveo platform, to the U.S. The Pontiac G3 is currently sold in Canada and Mexico.

The EPA has already approved the Pontiac G3 and G3 five-door for sale in the U.S. According to the site the 1.6 liter DOHC engine that produces 107 horsepower and 106 lb-ft of torque. The EPA ratings say that the Pontiac G3 and the Chevy Aveo both get 25/34mpg (city/highway).

The EPA ratings caught some Pontiac execs by surprise. According to Pontiac spokesman, Jim Hopson, the executives...
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budfrogS4 - 6/2/2008 10:53:18 AM

+8 Boost

Ugh, for that kind of power, efficiency figures should be in the 40's. Heck, the Civic has better economy with 140 hp.

0to60 - 6/2/2008 11:21:32 AM

+6 Boost

I was going to say the same thing. That is very poor fuel economy!

Star - 6/2/2008 1:29:00 PM

0 Boost

Actually the Civic has the same mileage ratings.

monkeyrun - 6/2/2008 2:18:12 PM

0 Boost

err... Civic's EPA rating is about the same.

I don't see any non-hybrid cars getting 40+MPG EPA ratings.

85bmw745i - 6/2/2008 7:57:36 PM

+2 Boost

Wow a re-rebadged daewoo. They should have made a version of the Astra instead

SteedPub - 6/2/2008 11:23:53 AM

+2 Boost

Do people even go to Pontiac dealers anymore?

lakerfan213 - 6/2/2008 3:10:27 PM

+1 Boost

Well the G8 is out so I guess not.

Star - 6/2/2008 1:30:56 PM

+6 Boost

Fuel economy is decent, on par with the competition Honda Fit and so on but the bad part is that the G3 is butt ugly and really cheap looking.

AMiodynski - 6/2/2008 1:32:06 PM

+3 Boost

Pontiac is still making cars for all a majority of people who are credit challanged...... GMAC was nice too them, but then they want to trade it in after a year or two, and there $30,000 Grand Prix is worth $8-10 grand and they owe $24,000 !!!

ricer - 6/2/2008 3:15:56 PM

+2 Boost

Dont be fooled, this is a re-badge Daewoo.

Htay7500 - 6/2/2008 4:42:32 PM

+2 Boost

pontiac is totally a chevy rebadge except the solstice and G8

85bmw745i - 6/2/2008 7:58:42 PM

+2 Boost

Pontiac is part of GM, Almost all GM's cars and trucks are rebadged versions of other GM cars.

Bored - 6/2/2008 5:20:32 PM

+3 Boost

Yeah, you fellas are all right. GM needs to pull some strings and outsource another engine.

Ricer, I had forgotten that the Aveo/G3 was a Daewoo 4 cylinder. Thanks for pointing that out. You would think that their Vauxhall, Opel, or Holden divisions would have an engine more appropriate...or maybe GM is just too damn cheap to get those engines EPA approved?

What's more frightening is that a Smart ForTwo only has a 1.0L 3 cylinder (U.S.) and gets better gas mileage (33city/41hwy EPA 2008)!

IMHO, this is same old backwards thinking that GM has been making the past 20+ years that has lost them sales to the competition.

truckmen - 6/2/2008 7:44:27 PM

+2 Boost

The civic gets better mielage with 140hp! The chev has 107hp, back to school chev!

EvoAudi - 6/2/2008 10:26:46 PM

+2 Boost

DON'T GO BACK TO CROSS BRANDING!!!!

Pontiac/GM just got over it's super crossbranding phase.