The GT has a firmer suspension, 17-inch tires, and a 173-horsepower, 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine. The standard version comes with a 148-hp, 2.2 liter four-cylinder. A five-speed manual transmission is standard, a four-speed automatic is optional.

We drove a Pontiac G5 GT with an automatic and found the four-speed and 173-hp engine provided good acceleration and a pleasing lack of noise or vibration for a four-cylinder even when pushed hard. The ride is a bit firm but not uncomfortable. However, we found the handling of the GT mediocre.

Pontiac describes the G5 as a five-passenger coupe, but limited rear legroom make carrying five passengers a serious challenge. Like most coupes, the back of the cabin is best used for parcels.

Air curtains are optional and we recommend them. They provide life-saving head protection in a side-impact crash and federal crash tests show they are needed on the G5.

Underneath the new Pontiac body are the mechanical underpinnings used on the Chevrolet Cobalt coupe introduced in 2005. Essentially, the G5 is simply Pontiac's version of the Cobalt.