2009 Pontiac G5 2-door Coupe

Kinship between Pontiac and Chevrolet models is nothing new. Back in 1967, for instance, when Chevrolet launched its original Camaro, Pontiac followed with a Firebird. This time, it's the 2009 Pontiac G5 compact coupe that is related to Chevrolet's Cobalt. Consisting only of coupes, Pontiac's G5 model lineup offers fewer choices than Chevrolet's Cobalt group and lacks the latter's supercharged top-end entry. Built on GM's global small-car platform and considered an "entry-level" model, the front-wheel-drive G5 comes in two trim levels, each sharing an improved 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine, but with differing suspension setups. A standard rear spoiler suggests Pontiac's sportier nature.

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If small cars light your fire and you prefer to "buy domestic," Pontiac has an attractive answer estimated at 37 miles per gallon on the highway. Youthful buyers, in particular, are likely to gravitate toward the 2009 Pontiac G5, lured by its curvy two-door profile and frisky performance, even in base-model form.	If you're searching for full-bore small-coupe performance, you might be happier with Chevrolet's Cobalt SS Supercharged model, or with other higher-output compacts.

Improvements to the 2.2-liter engine yield better fuel economy without any loss of performance. New features include an iPod-compatible USB port on the radio and Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity as part of the standard OnStar 8.0 package.