Pontiac Sunfire
Encyclopedia
The Pontiac Sunfire was introduced for the 1995 model year
as the compact car
to replace the Sunbird
. Not only was the name changed, but dramatic styling changes were included as well. The new styling was shared with the redesigned Chevrolet Cavalier
. Along with the fresh new look the J platform
was updated structurally to meet more stringent safety standards for the 1996 model year.
The Sunfire could be purchased as a sedan, coupe
, or convertible
. All three variations came in the standard SE trim level. An upscale GT trim level was available on the coupe and convertible. The GT trim level came standard with the 2.3 liter LD2 engine in 1995 or the 2.4 liter LD9 "Twin Cam" engine (1996–2002), 16-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust, and a more aggressive looking front fascia. The SE trim was the standard for the Sunfire which included the 2.2 liter 2200 OHV Engine. The 2.3/2.4 DOHC Engine was optional. Both the SE and GT trim levels were dropped after the 2002 model year, along with the 2.2 OHV and 2.4 DOHC engines. The 2.2 liter Ecotec was the only available engine as of the 2003 model year.
Originally the convertible was only in the SE trim level until the 1999 model year where it became only available in the GT trim. The convertible was discontinued after the year 2000. All Sunfire convertibles were assembled at the "Genesis" Lansing, Michigan Plant.
The Pontiac Sunfire went through two facelifts in its 11 year run. Once in 2000 which was a small redesign featuring the heavy plastic cladding look that was prevalent with Pontiac at the time, and more streamlined update in 2003. In the US
, the coupe was the only model available from 2003 to 2005. The sedan continued to be sold in Canada and Mexico until the end of production on June 22, 2005. GM
replaced the Sunfire with the G5
for the 2006 model year in Canada and the 2007 model year in the United States.
(IIHS) gives the Sunfire a Poor rating in its frontal crash test.
2004 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (coupe):
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver:
Side Rear Passenger:
Rollover:
2002 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (sedan):
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver:
Side Rear Passenger:
Rollover:
The base model had the 2.2 L engine from 1995 until 2002. The GT trim level had an optional, much more powerful 2.3 L Quad 4 engine
in 1995, which was replaced by the 2.4 L LD9 engine in 1996. The 2.3 and 2.4 liter engines were optional in the 2 and 4 door LS trim level. In 2003, both the 2.2 L and the 2.4 L engines were replaced by the 2.2 L Ecotec engine, and would be the only powertrain available for the remainder of production. The Ecotec engine was also an option for the 2002 model year.
Model year
The model year of a product is a number used worldwide, but with a high level of prominence in North America, to describe approximately when a product was produced, and indicates the coinciding base specification of that product....
as the compact car
Compact car
A compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
to replace the Sunbird
Pontiac Sunbird
The Pontiac Sunbird, produced by the Pontiac division of General Motors, was Pontiac's second small-car offering of the 70's. The Sunbird model ran for 18 years and was then replaced in 1995 by the Pontiac Sunfire...
. Not only was the name changed, but dramatic styling changes were included as well. The new styling was shared with the redesigned Chevrolet Cavalier
Chevrolet Cavalier
The Chevrolet Cavalier was a compact automobile produced from 1982 to 2005 by General Motors. Built on the company's J platform, the Cavalier was one of the best-selling cars in the United States throughout its life.- Predecessors :...
. Along with the fresh new look the J platform
GM J platform
The J platform, or J-body, was General Motors' inexpensive front-wheel drive automobile platform from the 1980s and 1990s. The platform replaced the GM H platform. The J-platform is the only platform of GM to have a model in each of its "Original 5" passenger car divisions...
was updated structurally to meet more stringent safety standards for the 1996 model year.
The Sunfire could be purchased as a sedan, coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, or convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
. All three variations came in the standard SE trim level. An upscale GT trim level was available on the coupe and convertible. The GT trim level came standard with the 2.3 liter LD2 engine in 1995 or the 2.4 liter LD9 "Twin Cam" engine (1996–2002), 16-inch alloy wheels, dual exhaust, and a more aggressive looking front fascia. The SE trim was the standard for the Sunfire which included the 2.2 liter 2200 OHV Engine. The 2.3/2.4 DOHC Engine was optional. Both the SE and GT trim levels were dropped after the 2002 model year, along with the 2.2 OHV and 2.4 DOHC engines. The 2.2 liter Ecotec was the only available engine as of the 2003 model year.
Originally the convertible was only in the SE trim level until the 1999 model year where it became only available in the GT trim. The convertible was discontinued after the year 2000. All Sunfire convertibles were assembled at the "Genesis" Lansing, Michigan Plant.
The Pontiac Sunfire went through two facelifts in its 11 year run. Once in 2000 which was a small redesign featuring the heavy plastic cladding look that was prevalent with Pontiac at the time, and more streamlined update in 2003. In the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the coupe was the only model available from 2003 to 2005. The sedan continued to be sold in Canada and Mexico until the end of production on June 22, 2005. GM
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
replaced the Sunfire with the G5
Pontiac G5
The Pontiac G5 is a rebadged Chevrolet Cobalt compact car that was marketed by the Pontiac division of General Motors. It was first introduced in 2004 for the 2005 model year. For 2005 and early 2006, this car was known as the Pontiac Pursuit in the Canadian market, and G5 Pursuit during mid-2006. ...
for the 2006 model year in Canada and the 2007 model year in the United States.
Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway SafetyInsurance Institute for Highway Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a U.S. non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes, and the rate of injuries and amount of property damage in the crashes that...
(IIHS) gives the Sunfire a Poor rating in its frontal crash test.
2004 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
(NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (coupe):
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver:
Side Rear Passenger:
Rollover:
2002 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, part of the Department of Transportation...
(NHTSA) Crash Test Ratings (sedan):
Frontal Driver:
Frontal Passenger:
Side Driver:
Side Rear Passenger:
Rollover:
Engines
- 1995 – 138 cu in (2.3 l) Quad 4GM Quad-4 engineThe engine family known as the Quad 4 was debuted to the public in the spring of 1987. The Quad 4 was a DOHC inline 4-cylinder produced by General Motors' Oldsmobile division...
(RPO: LD2) I4Straight-4The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
, 150 hp (116 kW) and 150 lbft - 1995–1997 – 134 cu in (2.2 l) 2200 (RPO: LN2) I4, 120 hp and 130 lbft
- 1998–2002 – 134 cu in (2.2 l) 2200 (RPO: LN2) I4, 115 hp and 135 lbft
- 1996–2002 – 146 cu in (2.4 l) Twin Cam (RPO: LD9) I4, 150 hp and 155 lbft
- 2002–2005 – 134 cu in (2.2 l) Ecotec (RPO: L61) I4, 140 hp and 150 lbft
The base model had the 2.2 L engine from 1995 until 2002. The GT trim level had an optional, much more powerful 2.3 L Quad 4 engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
in 1995, which was replaced by the 2.4 L LD9 engine in 1996. The 2.3 and 2.4 liter engines were optional in the 2 and 4 door LS trim level. In 2003, both the 2.2 L and the 2.4 L engines were replaced by the 2.2 L Ecotec engine, and would be the only powertrain available for the remainder of production. The Ecotec engine was also an option for the 2002 model year.