To the untrained eye, the 2009 Pontiac G8 GT may look like just another sedan. Get behind the wheel, though, and you’ll be singing a different tune. The G8 always packs a punch, but the GT trim level’s 6.0L V8 SFI Aluminum engine kicks like a mule.
What should you know about the GT trim on the 2009 Pontiac G8?
For starters, 355 horsepower and 384 lb.-ft. of torque over the base 256 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. Plus six-speed automatic w/OD over five-speed. There are differences in features, too, but the real draw is what’s under the hood.
If you’re ready to dive in, let’s take a look at the Pontiac brand’s last hurrah. Below we’ll get into everything that makes the G8 more than just another five-seat sedan, and everything that makes the GT even more than that.
A Look at the 2009 Pontiac G8
Pontiac calls it the “G8 Sedan.” Catchy name. It comes with a five-speed GM 5L40-E automatic transmission and a 3.6L High Feature V6 Engine. As cool as the GT trim level may be, the G8 Sedan is nothing to sneeze at.
The car comes standard with a sports body kit and sport bucket seats up front, so you get that nice racecar feel in a five-seat sedan.
Combined with all the safety features you want from a modern vehicle and a robust audio system, including seven Blaupunkt speakers, the G8 is comfortable enough for a family car, but with performance that should satisfy the gearheads.
You can get about 17/25 miles to the gallon, city/highway, and you have a Driver Information Center that reads oil life, tire pressure, fuel mileage, everything you need to know when you need to know how your car’s performing.
The GT
If you’ve reached that point where you need a sensible car, something that gets great gas mileage and has room for the kids or carpool, but you can’t give up on sporty cars just yet… This is possibly the best car in its price range, starting at just under $17k.
If $17k sounds cheap, that’s because the G8 line was actually a disappointment on release, in terms of sales. Most drivers saw the car as just another sedan. And this was during the 2009 economic downturn. All told, Pontiac only sold 25,000 units in total.
Inside, you get everything you’re buying with a G8 Sedan. Plus, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone AC with individual climate settings, and eleven speakers instead of seven. The interior bonuses are nice, but not a major upgrade because they’re not really the draw of the GT.
Here’s the draw of the GT: It hits sixty miles an hour in just 5.2 seconds, and it runs a quarter mile in 13.4. It boasts 99 more horsepower and 136 more lb.-ft. of torque. When you press the gas pedal, you’re going to feel it.
And the G8 already has plenty of get-up-and-go for a five-seat sedan, so this is just power on top of power. You might not guess it to look at the simple sedan body, but if you want a family car that drives like a sports car, it’s hard to beat the GT.
Photos: Deposit Photos
