Pontiac Bonneville II 3.8 i V6 SSEi (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)
II Overview:
Pontiac Bonneville (II). With 312 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. Acceleration is relatively slow (0–100 km/h in 10 s). 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 II was not tested by Euro NCAP. Safety features typical for its era included dual airbags and optional ABS, but it predates modern crash test standards.
3.8 i V6 SSEi (208 Hp) Verdict:
Performance Verdict
A supercharged L67 option providing decent power, though its acceleration figures suggest it's a less aggressive tune compared to higher SSEi variants, offering a smoother power delivery.
Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is expected to be similar to other supercharged variants, offering a balance between power and consumption, albeit with less outright performance.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- • Spacious and comfortable interior
- • Powerful supercharged V6 engine options (L67)
- • Smooth ride quality, ideal for long journeys
- • Generally reliable 3.8L V6 engine (L36/L67)
- • Affordable on the used market
Cons:
- • Outdated interior design by modern standards
- • Fuel economy can be high, especially with supercharged engines
- • Soft handling, not very agile or sporty in corners
- • Rear drum brakes on some trims (less effective than discs)
- • Lack of modern active safety features
Specifications:
Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(Bonneville: 1986 - 1991).
| General: | |
|---|---|
| Brand: | Pontiac |
| Model: | Bonneville |
| Generation: | II |
| Modification (Engine): | 3.8 i V6 SSEi (208 Hp) |
| Start of production: | 1991 |
| End of production: | 1999 |
| 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 [67mm 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 |
| Piston Stroke: | 86.4 mm |
| Compression ratio: | 9.4:1 |
| Performance: | |
|---|---|
| Fuel Type: | Petrol (Gasoline) |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - urban: | 18 l/100 km |
| Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban: | 10 l/100 km |
| Acceleration 0 - 100 km/h: | 10 sec |
| Acceleration 0 - 62 mph: | 10 sec |
| Maximum speed: | 200 km/h |
| Acceleration 0 - 60 mph: | 9.5 sec |
| Space: | |
|---|---|
| Trunk (boot) space - minimum: | 506 l |
| Fuel tank capacity: | 68 l |
| Size: | |
|---|---|
| Length: | 5107 mm [67mm more] |
| Width: | 1892 mm [37mm more] |
| Height: | 1415 mm [30mm more] |
| Wheelbase: | 2815 mm [Same wheelbase.] |
| Front track: | 1545 mm |
| Rear (Back) track: | 1547 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 | Drum [bad for performance and cooling.] |
| Assisting systems | ABS (Anti-lock braking system) |
| Steering type | Steering rack and pinion |
| Power steering | Hydraulic Steering |
| Tires size | 225/60 R16 |
| Front suspension | Spring Strut |
| Rear suspension | Coil spring |


























Behind the wheel of the Pontiac Bonneville. How does it handle on the road?