Pontiac Bonneville H 3.8 i V6 SSEi (243 Hp)


Overall Rating

8 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 4.2 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 3.7 / 5
Comfort 4.3 / 5
People\'s Opinion N/A / 5
Not Rated

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 380 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1720 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is good (0–100 km/h in 8.5 s). The top speed reaches 220 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.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
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 SSEi (243 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 4 stars

Performance Verdict

This supercharged 3.8L V6 (L67) delivers strong acceleration and ample passing power, making it the performance choice for the Bonneville. It feels responsive and capable for a large sedan.

Fuel Economy

Fuel economy of 10 l/100 km is reasonable for a supercharged V6 of this size and era, though not class-leading. Expect higher consumption in urban driving due to the supercharger.

Best Use Case: Highway / Enthusiast

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 SSEi (243 Hp)
Start of production:1999
End of production:May, 2005
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Sedan
Seats:5
Doors:4
Engine:
Power:243 Hp @ 5200 rpm.
Power per litre:64.1 Hp/l
Torque:380 Nm @ 3600 rpm.
Engine Model/Code:L67 [Same engine] More details about the engine L67
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:Supercharger
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:8.5:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:13.1 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:8.7 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - combined:10 l/100 km
Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h:8.5 sec
Acceleration 0 - 62 mph:8.5 sec
Maximum speed:220 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:7.1 kg/Hp, 141.3 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:4.5 kg/Nm, 220.9 Nm/tonne
Acceleration 0 - 60 mph:8.1 sec
Space:
Kerb Weight:1720
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 ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears4
Transmission typeAutomatic
Front brakesVentilated discs [Best for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDisc
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size235/55 R17
Front suspensionSpring Strut
Rear suspensionCoil spring

Your first impression of the Pontiac Bonneville in one word? Go!