Pontiac Bonneville H 3.8 i V6 (208 Hp)
Overall Rating
Pontiac Bonneville:
The Pontiac Bonneville is a model line of full-size or mid-size rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive cars manufactured and marketed by Pontiac from 1957 until 2005.
The Bonneville , and its platform partner, the Grand Ville, are some of the largest Pontiacs ever built; in station wagon body styles they reached just over 230 inches long. They were also some of the heaviest cars produced at the time at 5,000 pounds or more....(Read more on Wikipedia)
H Overview:
Pontiac Bonneville (H). With 312 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. It has moderate fuel consumption (~11.7 l/100km). With a weight of 1630 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. The top speed reaches 200 km/h. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.
The Pontiac Bonneville H generation was primarily sold in North America and was not tested by Euro NCAP. It received decent ratings in contemporary NHTSA (US) crash tests for its time.
3.8 i V6 (208 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
The naturally aspirated 3.8L V6 (L36) provides solid, dependable power for everyday driving. While not as quick as the SSEi, it's more than adequate for highway cruising and city commutes.
Fuel Economy
With a combined fuel economy of 9.8 l/100 km, this engine offers a slightly more efficient option than its supercharged counterpart, making it a good balance for daily use.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Spacious and comfortable interior, ideal for long journeys
- • Powerful supercharged V6 option (SSEi) offers strong acceleration
- • Generally reliable 3.8L V6 engine family
- • Smooth, compliant ride quality
- • Distinctive American styling
Cons:
- • Handling is soft and not particularly agile
- • Interior design can feel dated compared to rivals
- • Fuel economy, especially on the SSEi, can be high
- • Some common GM issues like intake manifold gaskets and transmission solenoids
- • Large exterior dimensions can make city parking challenging
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(II: 1995 - 1999).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Bonneville |
| Generation: | H |
| Modification (Engine): | 3.8 i V6 (208 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1999 |
| End of production: | May, 2005 |
| Powertrain Architecture: | Internal Combustion engine |
| Body type: | Sedan |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 4 |
| Engine: | |
|---|---|
| Power: | 208 Hp @ 5200 rpm. Same horsepower |
| Power per litre: | 54.9 Hp/l [79mm more] |
| Torque: | 312 Nm @ 4000 rpm. |
| Engine Model/Code: | L36 More details about the engine L36 |
| Engine displacement: | 3791 |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Engine configuration: | V-engine |
| Number of valves per cylinder: | 2 |
| Fuel injection system: | Multi-port manifold injection |
| Engine aspiration: | Naturally aspirated engine |
| Engine oil capacity: | 4.3 l |
| Coolant: | 12.3 l |
| Engine layout: | Front, Transverse |
| Cylinder Bore: | 96.5 mm mm |
| Piston Stroke: | 86.4 mm mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9.4:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 11.7 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 8.1 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - combined: | 9.8 l/100 km |
| Maximum speed: | 200 km/h |
| Weight-to-power ratio: | 7.8 kg/Hp, 127.6 Hp/tonne |
| Weight-to-torque ratio: | 5.2 kg/Nm, 191.4 Nm/tonne |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight: | 1630 |
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 510 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 70 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 5145 mm mm [79mm more] |
| Width: | 1885 mm mm [7mm less] |
| Height: | 1440 mm mm [24mm more] |
| Wheelbase: | 2850 mm mm [35mm more] |
| Front track: | 1590 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1580 mm |
| Powertrain: | |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain Architecture | The Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle. |
| Drive wheel | Front wheel drive |
| Number of gears | 4 |
| Transmission type | Automatic |
| Front brakes | Ventilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.] |
| Rear brakes | Disc |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 235/55 R17 |
| Front suspension | Spring Strut |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |























Real owners, real reviews. Tell us about your Pontiac Bonneville.