Pontiac Bonneville II 3.8 i V6 SSEi (208 Hp)


Overall Rating

7.9 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 4.5 / 5
Value 4.0 / 5
Performance 3.8 / 5
Comfort 4.0 / 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)

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.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
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:

Rating 4 stars

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.

Best Use Case: Comfortable cruising, moderate performance needs

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  • • Outdated interior design by modern standards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 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 brakesDrum [bad for performance and cooling.]
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Power steeringHydraulic Steering
Tires size225/60 R16
Front suspensionSpring Strut
Rear suspensionCoil spring

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