The 2009 Pontiac G5 is designed as a budget family car and it fulfils that roll excellently, but there’s little else to tempt buyers to this sub-par cast off. Everything about the new G5 is budget, and it’s not even particularly good value budget!

This year’s G5’s have their engines squelched down to a 2.2-liter inline-4 that produces a reasonable 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, it’s a shame though that GM have reduced this spec from 2008’s 2.4-liter engine, which was a rare feature giving the car a bit of character.

One thing that the G5 does well is internal fittings ñ it’s not space command, but GM has provided a decent array of entertainment/utility options. These do cost extra in most cases, but their optional inclusion at least gives the G5 a wider array of fittings than is common in cars in this price range.

GM doesn’t cut corners on safety features in any of their cars, and so the G5 is blessed with a range of standard safety equipment, and scored well in impact tests. Full-length side curtain airbags and antilock brakes come as standard.

Overall the 2009 Pontiac G5 is an underwhelming vehicle, but it is cheap and relatively cheerful. The availability of a range of optional extras make it a decent way to get a cheap car with exactly the specifications you desire, but don’t expect to wowed by its performance or handling.