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2009 Pontiac G6 Safety Review

June 3, 2009

SAFETY | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

Acceptable," frontal offset test; "marginal," side impact test (Convertible), "acceptable," side impact test (Coupe and Sedan)
IIHS

Five stars, front driver impact; four stars, front passenger impact; five stars, side driver and passenger impact
NHTSA

Convertibles feature standard front seat-mounted side-impact airbags
Edmunds

Four-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control are standard
Car and Driver

In both government and industry crash tests, the 2009 Pontiac G6 Sedan scores quite well, but not as high as some of its rivals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency responsible for issuing the government's crash-test ratings, awards the Pontiac G6 a full five stars for frontal driver impact and side impacts. They also give the 2009 Pontiac G6 four out of five stars for frontal passenger-side impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) subjects the Pontiac G6 to its own crash tests and awards similar results. The Pontiac G6 earns the IIHS's highest rating, "good," for frontal offset impacts, and the second-highest rating of "acceptable" for side impacts. After subjecting the two-door G6 Pontiac Coupe to its full battery of crash tests, NHTSA awards it five stars for front driver, side driver, and side passenger impacts, along with four out of five stars for front passenger impacts. While these ratings are all commendable, the IIHS deems the G6 Pontiac Coupe worthy of just an "acceptable" rating in side impacts.

The Convertible fares worse, with the IIHS giving it a rating of "acceptable" for frontal offset tests but "marginal" for side impacts. As part of the explanation for the "marginal" rating, the IIHS says that on the driver's side, "the dummy's head was hit by the window sill and the side torso airbag, producing high head and neck injury measures."

Aside from the crash-test results, the 2009 Pontiac G6 Convertible offers a pretty typical assortment of safety features. Edmunds says these include "standard front seat-mounted side-impact airbags" and "four-wheel disc brakes with ABS."

Conclusion

The 2009 Pontiac G6 coupe and sedan have decent crash-test scores and, in the GXP, a comprehensive set of safety features. The same is not true for the G6 Convertible.

SAFETY | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:Acceptable," frontal offset test; "marginal," side impact test (Convertible), "acceptable," side impact test (Coupe and Sedan)IIHSFive stars, front driver impact; four stars, front passenger impact; five stars, side driver and passenger impactNHTSAConvertibles feature standard front seat-mounted side-impact airbagsEdmundsFour-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control are standardCar and Driver In both government and industry crash tests, the 2009 Pontiac G6 Sedan scores quite well, but not as high as some of its rivals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency responsible for issuing the government's crash-test ratings, awards the Pontiac G6 a full five stars for frontal driver impact and side impacts. They also give the 2009 Pontiac G6 four out of five stars for frontal passenger-side impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) subjects the Pontiac G6 to its own crash tests and awards similar results. The Pontiac G6 earns the IIHS's highest rating, "good," for frontal offset impacts, and the second-highest rating of "acceptable" for side impacts. After subjecting the two-door G6 Pontiac Coupe to its full battery of crash tests, NHTSA awards it five stars for front driver, side driver, and side passenger impacts, along with four out of five stars for front passenger impacts. While these ratings are all commendable, the IIHS deems the G6 Pontiac Coupe worthy of just an "acceptable" rating in side impacts. The Convertible fares worse, with the IIHS giving it a rating of "acceptable" for frontal offset tests but "marginal" for side impacts. As part of the explanation for the "marginal" rating, the IIHS says that on the driver's side, "the dummy's head was hit by the window sill and the side torso airbag, producing high head and neck injury measures." Aside from the crash-test results, the 2009 Pontiac G6 Convertible offers a pretty typical assortment of safety features. Edmunds says these include "standard front seat-mounted side-impact airbags" and "four-wheel disc brakes with ABS." ConclusionThe 2009 Pontiac G6 coupe and sedan have decent crash-test scores and, in the GXP, a comprehensive set of safety features. The same is not true for the G6 Convertible. 2009 PONTIAC G6 STYLING | [7 out of 10] Car and Driver: "the G6 convertible looks much like the G6 coupe” Kelley Blue Book: [appeals to] "import buyers who want a bit more flair but don't want to break the budget" Cars.com: "sporty controls and racing-style gauges ConsumerGuide: "the ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

For 2009, the Pontiac G6 lineup is simply outclassed by a host of other top-performing mid-size vehicles. The Honda Accord Coupe starts at about the same price as the G6 Coupe but has an elegant interior that looks and feels in a class above the G6; the Accord performs modestly with its economical four-cylinder engine, and it's available with a more powerful 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic. The Nissan Altima Coupe is closest to the G6 Coupe in execution; it has a sportier feel like the G6 but strikes a better balance of ride comfort and crisp handling. Next to the G6 sedan, the Fusion feels sportier, with its crisp, direct steering and responsive engines—it’s also a top-performer in safety—but the G6 has a more spacious backseat than either the Fusion or Altima. The Altima stands out for its simple but very tasteful interior design and nice materials. Both the Toyota Solara and Chrysler Sebring have quite soft rides, modest backseats, and roomy interiors. The Sebring isn’t any more appealing than the G6 drop top, but both models start at several thousand dollars less than the 2009 Pontiac G6 Convertible.

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See the Pontiac G6 in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004

Comments (1 total)

  1. By jordan #1, Posted: 6/16/2009

    You simply have to be able say 'no, thanks at that price' at least once to the dealer. This gives them a strong message that you are serious about your research.
    You should also bring a piece of paper to the dealership and make sure you do all the math of the finance calculations yourself. The point is not that they will do the math wrong. The point is you will see exactly how the deal is structured. Do not be afraid to take the time to do this or look like a fool for mapping out your car deal in the dealership.
    My dad swears by this process, http://tinyurl.com/knflt6

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