2001 Pontiac Sunfire Pontiac Sunfire 2001 Pontiac Sunfire SE Sedan Sedan Sedan FWD Lordstown, OH/Ramos Arizpe, Me A standard rear spoiler and a new exterior color are the only new additions to the Sunfire for 2001. The GT convertible is no longer available, leaving the sedan and coupe versions as the only available body styles. Racy styling, comfy interior, rev-happy twin-cam engine, good value. Option list can overpower low price, body roll apparent during hard cornering. Pontiac's Sunfire is supposed to take on the Cavalier, Focus ZX2, Neon and assorted import compacts by offering value, sporty styling and capable performance in a well-rounded package. Sunfire is available as a coupe or sedan SE (base) trim, and as a coupe in the GT (uplevel) series; the convertible is no longer available. Dual airbags, ABS and an anti-theft system are standard equipment. Base models come with a 2.2-liter four-cylinder engine. Power is rated at 115 horsepower, and can be fed through the standard five-speed manual or optional three- and four-speed automatics. GT models get a slightly larger 16-valve four-cylinder, good for 150 horsepower. The GT's 2.4-liter, twin-cam motor is optional on the SE, and we highly recommend it, particularly if mated to this year's new, smoother-shifting Getrag five-speed manual transmission. Equipped with the bigger engine and a stick shift, a Sunfire is downright speedy when compared to other four-banger compacts. The automatic raises acceleration times by about a second in the dash to 60 mph. Options on the Sunfire include sharp alloy wheels, a power sunroof and a variety of uplevel sound systems, including the 200-watt Monsoon unit. Equip an SE Coupe to the gills, watch the price soar to the mid-18s, and suddenly Sunfire isn't such a hot deal. But fiddling with the options sheet should land you a sporty, well-equipped coupe priced at around $16,000. The move to more aggressive-looking fascias and rocker-panel moldings was intended to boost Sunfire's image with young buyers. That goal also fueled the move to better sound systems, as well as improvements in interior functionality, features and storage space for things like compact discs or cassettes. And Pontiac even makes the racy decklid spoiler standard on all models for 2001. Our only complaint about driving the Sunfire is that when it is pushed to its limits, it tends to exhibit an excessive amount of body roll. We think the GT model should offer a more sporting suspension to back up the car's sporty looks and powerful engine. On the plus side, all the well-equipped models we've tested so far carried an affordable price tag. We think the Sunfire has merit in the crowded compact marketplace. Feature for feature, Sunfire makes a strong argument against purchasing its slightly larger stablemate, the Grand Am, or its more pedestrian twin at Chevy dealers, the Cavalier. Although the lack of a convertible detracts from its sporty image, the coupe and sedan are still capable and fast cars that deserve a look. Chevrolet Cavalier Honda Civic Mitsubishi Mirage Subaru Impreza 336,000 336,000 336,000 6100,000 NA NA NA 4 2.2 liters Inline 115 hp @ 5000 rpm 135 ft-lbs. @ 3600 rpm 181.8 in. 67.9 in. 54.7 in. 2644 lbs. 104.1 in. 38.9 in. 37.2 in. 54.6 in. 53.9 in. 50.9 in. 51.1 in. 42.1 in. 34.3 in. 13.1 cu.ft. Standard Standard Not Available Not Available Not Available Optional Not Available Rating = Good Rating = Good Very Poor Average Poor Acceptable 14.3 gal. 22 mpg / 32 mpg 23 mpg / 29 mpg 315 mi. / 458 mi. 329 mi. / 415 mi. Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not. $13,348 $14,430 7.35% $540 N/A 3% of the Total MSRP SE COUPE (5M): 2.2L I4 OHV SMPI 8-valve engine; 5-speed OD manual transmission; 525 amp battery with run down protection; 105 amp alternator; front-wheel drive, 3.94 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; touring ride suspension, front independent strut suspension with anti-roll bar, front coil springs, rear semi-independent torsion suspension with rear coil springs; power rack-and-pinion steering; front disc/rear drum brakes with 4-wheel antilock brakes; 14.3 gal. capacity fuel tank; rear wing spoiler, side impact bars; front and rear body-colored bumpers; body-colored bodyside molding rocker panel extensions; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps with daytime running lights; driver's and passenger's black folding outside mirrors, driver's manual remote outside mirror, passenger's manual outside mirror; 14" x 6" steel wheels; P195/70SR14 BSW A/S tires; compact steel spare wheel; air conditioning, rear heat ducts; AM/FM stereo radio, clock, seek-scan, cassetteplayer, 4 speakers, fixed antenna; remote trunk release; 1 power accessory outlet, front lighter element(s), driver's foot rest, retained accessory power, smoker's package; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, trip odometer; warning indicators include oil pressure, battery, water temperature, low coolant, low fuel, lights on, key in ignition; driver's and passenger's front airbags; ignition disable; tinted windows; fixed interval front windshield wipers, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable headrests, center armrest with storage, driver's and passenger's seat include 4-way adjustment, easy entry; full folding rear bench seat; premium cloth seats, cloth door trim insert with carpet lower, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering with carpeted floor mats; interior lights include dome light with fade; vanity mirrors; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, locking glove box with light, front andrear cupholders, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo light; body-colored grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and black door handles. SE SEDAN (5M) (in addition to or instead of GT COUPE (5M) equipment): 3.58 axle ratio; rear wing spoiler; child safety rear door locks and front height adjustable seatbelts. GT COUPE (5M) (in addition to or instead of SE COUPE (5M) equipment): 2.4L I4 DOHC SMPI 16-valve engine; stainless steel exhaust with tailpipe finisher; sport ride suspension; body-colored bodyside cladding, rocker panel extensions; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; 16" x 6" silver alloy wheels; P205/55SR16 BSW A/S tires; speed sensitive volume, single CD player, 6 speakers, auto equalizer, theft deterrent; front sports seats, driver's seat includes lumbar support, easy entry; leather-wrapped gearshift knob; leather-wrapped sport steering wheel with tilt adjustment and 1 seat back storage pocket.