The 2009 Pontiac G8 GT’s trim options give an already sporty car an extra layer of style, speed & substance.
Dreaming of a four-door American muscle car that corners like a German sports car? Look no further than the 2009 Pontiac G8 GT. Loaded with luxurious materials and options, the 2009 G8 makes a great family sedan. The G8’s GT trim boasts a 361 hp V8 and rear-wheel-drive layout capable of a 5.3 second zero to 60.
The GT was the G8’s mid-level trim package, the lowest trim equipped with a V8. Every GT featured a six-speed automatic transmission. Options included one of eight colors, a leather interior, sunroof, and 19-inch wheels. The last year of the Pontiac badge, the 2009 G8 GT merges near-modern performance with an old-school cool that any General Motors fan can appreciate.
If you are searching for a used, fast, and fun four-door, the 2009 G8 GT may be your car. We break down the drivetrain and features of this timeless Pontiac. Make sure to check out the 2009 Pontiac G8 GT’s vehicle history.
What Does the 2009 G8 GT Have to Offer?
General Motors (GM) only offered the four-door, rear-wheel-drive Pontiac G8 in 2008 and 2009. During both years, the G8 GT was powered by the L76 engine: a Corvette-sourced 6.0-liter V8 rated for 361 hp. A mid-2009 upgrade added a pair of catalytic converters, which dropped the engine’s output to 355 hp.
Car and Driver reviewers felt the six-speed “6L80 Hydramatic” automatic—the only transmission available in the G8 GT—shifts “a tiny bit slowly.” The automatic transmission features a cruise mode, a sport mode, and a manual mode.
New Car Test Drive pronounced the manual mode—a rare feature in 2009—to be “absolutely faithful to the driver’s commands.” The GT also gained a limited-slip differential over its base model brother.
Another cutting-edge feature of the 2009 Pontiac G8 GT was its cylinder shut-off technology: when the sedan idles down, a proprietary algorithm shuts off four cylinders to save gasoline. The feature is responsible for a 10 percent bump in fuel economy; the EPA rated the 2009 G8 GT at 24 mpg on the highway and 15 mpg in the city. The fuel tank is 19.2 gallons.
The 2009 G8 GT is competitive with contemporary Dodge Chargers and Ford Crown Victorias in a straight line but trounced both in the twisties. The GT benefits from stiff, premium-level FE2 suspension, electronic stability control, a front/mid-engine position, and a steering rack mounted forward of the front axle.
This Pontiac sits on independent front and rear suspension with stabilizer bars on both ends. The front suspension is a five-link system with MacPherson struts, and the rear is four-links and coil springs.
Its engineers were careful to maintain a 50/50 weight balance, even mounting the battery in the trunk. Car and Driver lovingly dubbed the 2009 G8 GT a “BMW impersonator,” while New Car Test Drive compared it to the C63 AMG.
The 2009 Pontiac G8 received a solid shout-out by the experts at Kelley Blue Book, which said that the G8 “makes a powerful but tasteful visual statement, complementing neatly tailored bodywork with prominently flared fenders, a modest decklid spoiler, integrated side sills, and functional cooling vents on its hood and front flanks. The face is pure Pontiac, highlighted by projector-beam headlamps, a signature dual-port grille treatment, and an equally bold lower air intake.”
Overall, the 2009 G8 GT has a surprisingly well-sorted drivetrain for a two-year-only vehicle. This may be because it is built on the tried-and-true Zeta platform GM initially engineered for the VE Commodore, an Australian favorite.
The G8 was Pontiac’s first rear-wheel-drive, four-door sedan in twenty years. With muscle-car power and near-modern suspension, it is a fitting culmination of the brand.
Setting a New Pontiac Standard
The Pontiac G8 was slightly shorter than the Dodge Charger and the same size as the BMW M5. Its split grille and hood scoops are distinctly Pontiac features, though the latter are narrow, modern-looking slits and not the snorkel-size GTO scoops of yesteryear.
Colors available in 2009 were Liquid Red, White Hot, Magnetic Gray, Panther Black, Maverick Silver Metallic, Sport Red Metallic, Stryker Blue Metallic, and Pacific Slate Metallic. The 18-inch aluminum wheels were standard, as were fog lights and tinted glass.
General Motors cut no corners with the Pontiac G8 GT. Reviewers agreed that the interior was spacious. The G8 offered almost as much room to backseat passengers as front-seat passengers, as well as 17.5 cu. ft. of cargo volume. Car and Driver approved of the interior materials, saying “obvious cheap-outs are absent.”
Standard GT features included a 235-watt Blaupunkt audio system with 11 speakers, a six-CD changer, XM Satellite Radio, auxiliary input jack, a 6.5-inch driver information LCD, and OnStar telematics.
The GT came with dual-zone automatic climate control, four-way power front seats with heat, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, lighted visor mirrors, a compass, and power windows and locks with remote keyless entry. In pursuit of chassis stiffness, Pontiac did not offer folding rear seats, though the G8 has a fold-down gear tunnel for skis and the like.
Every 2009 Pontiac G8 GT came nearly loaded; GM dealers only offered a couple of optional upgrades. Some customers opted for a sunroof. A premium package came with leather upholstery and six-way heated front seats. Another upgrade was the sports package which included 19-inch aluminum wheels, aluminum pedals, and a smaller diameter racing steering wheel.
Halfway through the 2009 model year, Pontiac added Bluetooth connectivity and rear cupholders and replaced the center console’s oil pressure and battery voltage LEDs with a storage compartment.
Safety and Recalls
The 2009 Pontiac G8 GT featured frontal airbags, front-passenger side-impact airbags, and curtain-style head-protection airbags. Other safety features included electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution, and a tire pressure monitoring system.
General Motors and the NHTSA have issued four recalls for the 2008-2009 Pontiac G8. For recall 11V534000, GM will reprogram the timing of the dual-stage front passenger airbag to ensure the safety of passengers who pull the seat all the way forward.
For recall 09V172000, GM will fine-tune the programming of the brake position sensor and remote control door lock receiver.
For recall 15V399000, GM will change the angle of the seat belt receiver to improve durability.
And for recall 14V540000, GM will change the angle the key enters the ignition to ensure the driver never bumps the key with their knee. GM is offering all these recall services free of charge.
Photos: WikiCommons; Evox; DepositPhotos: Betto Rodrigues
