So you managed to squeeze another seven horsepower out of your engine? Cool. We're sure your invitation to join the Ferrari F1 team is in the mail. But unless you and your buddies are a bunch of hypermiling dweebs, bragging about picking up two mpg will get you blank stares faster than your Borat imitation. Funny thing is, that's what Pontiac has done with the 2009 G5 XFE.
Replacing the L61 2.2-liter inline-four that came on the standard G5 last year is a redesigned version with variable valve timing. Called the LAP, it is essentially the same block and internals but with a redesigned head and infinitely variable timing on both the intake and exhaust cams. The LAP picks up 7 hp over the non-VVT, 148-horsepower L61, but it's not quite enough to fill the vacancy left by the outgoing 2.4-liter VVT Ecotec. That's right: The new 2.2 is the only engine available for both the base G5 and GT models, so performance-minded buyers will certainly miss the 171-horsepower 2.4-liter mill from the '08 G5. Fortunately, the XFE isn't trying to fill any shoes but those of the fuel-economy class leader.
The efficiency of the VVT accounts for a 2 mpg increase in fuel economy for all manual-transmission G5s, boosting the highway mileage estimates from 33 to 35. The XFE package (that's eXtra Fuel Economy, in case you were wondering) accounts for another 2 mpg bump. With low rolling resistance tires on 15-inch wheels, Pontiac claims 37 mpg out of this particular G5. To us, low rolling resistance translates to less traction. Both Pontiac and Continental tell us that's not the case, but push the G5 into a corner and the front tires do a spot-on impression of Kim Cattrall in Porky's.
Marketing the car as a fuel-saver is a good strategy right now, but the underlying story is much greater. The G5 offers fuel economy that's bested only by hybrids and a handful of smaller, lesser-equipped models, and nearly unmatched power and amenities for the dollar. New of for '09 features include standard OnStar, Bluetooth capability, and an iPod-compatible USB port in the radio. While these have been standard on more expensive cars for a few years now, we've only recently begun noticing them on more economical compacts. The G5 is quieter than most compact cars, has a pretty large trunk, and a back seat that's suitable for humans taller than five feet. Plus, with doors that are over four-and-a-half-feet long, ingress and egress are surprisingly easy for both front and rear seats.
The $16,275 G5's two closest competitors for the dollar, the Hyundai Elantra and the Ford Focus, make for good comparison. The 138-hp, 33-mpg Elantra is no match in either economy or performance, but can be had for under $14,000. The Focus is the closest you can get to the G5 in terms of power and fuel efficiency, with 140 hp and 35 mpg, and can be found at your Ford dealer for under $16,000.
The 37-mpg XFE might seem appealing on paper, but quick calculations led us to these figures: If you drive the industry average of 12,000 miles per year, and figure a constant fuel cost of $4 per gallon, the non-XFE G5 at 35 mpg would cost you $1,371.43 a year in gas money. The XFE, at a claimed 37 mpg, will cost $1,297.30 a year to run. The XFE's ace, its 37 mpg highway rating, saves a whopping $74.13 per year in fuel costs.
Driving the Pontiac for a week has led us to believe that the XFE might just be a marketing gimmick — GM reps have admitted as much — but the G5 is a pretty nice ride for the coin. The base G5 is the way to go, taking a small hit in economy for better rubber and more attractive 16-inch wheels. It's still a 155 hp coupe with a 5-speed and better fuel economy than most cars in its class. And if the ability to make vehicles with such competitive performance, features, and efficiency carries over to the rest of GM's line-up, we might just witness the return of a globally-competitive American brand.
