Surprise, Surprise... This is a Great Car

Hey. You've got to start somewhere, and when it comes to buying a new car there are few more affordable than Pontiac's Wave. All-new for 2007, GM'sBuilt for Driver'sdivision has completely

New Wave Sedan is a step up from five-door. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

revamped its entry-level four-door, a car that previously was... well... more or less built for little more than A to B transportation.

The new model, however, is a lot more enticing. It starts out with a more recognizable face. Yes, it now looks a lot more like a Pontiac thanks to a traditional bisected grille, and when put beside its bowtie sibling, the Chevy Aveo Sedan, doesn't look like it came out of the same Petri dish... at least from the front.

From the rear there's little telling the two apart, which won't matter to most buying into this price conscious class. What will matter is a large, accommodating 330 litre or 11.7 cubic-foot trunk that'll keep all of your gear stowed safely away from prying eyes, with access through to the rear seating area for longer items, like skis and snowboards, thanks to 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks.

In back there's ample room for people as well; two comfortably or three in a squeeze. Even taller folk with big hair won't be cramped for style, due to the Wave's minivan-like headroom.

But it's

What an interior! (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

up front in the driver's seat where I felt most comfortable, and not because there's all that much more room. No, it's more about how fabulous everything looks in this top-line example; how nice it all feels and how well everything is put together. It's shocking, actually. Almost every surface is just so unexpectedly high-end that I can't help but touch it all over. The dash top and door panels get a soft, matte, dimpled plastic that's almost BMW-like, while the chrome-rimmed, three-pod instrument cluster is simply gorgeous, mirrored by chrome vents spaced out horizontally. Satin pewter-finished metallic trim adds a touch of class, especially on the attractive door panels, but isn't garishly overdone.

The audio system interface is packed with top-tier features like a CD-player with MP3 compatibility and, more important to most buying into this entry-level class, a jack for external devices like iPods. This particular model even comes with an iPod Nano in the glove box, as part of the $1,095WIspecial edition package. Pontiac certainly knows its target market. Additionally, I can't help but mention that the plastic surface surrounding the audio

Every detail has a surprisingly premium feel to it. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

system has a surprisingly premium feel to it, again with a large chrome-rimmed knob at centre, edged with a rubberized grip. There's little side-to-side play with the buttons to, plus all are well damped exuding a premium feel.

Same for the climate control system. It's not automatic, but that would be outrageous in this class. Rather, the three-dial setup is nicely laid out and easy to operate, featuring optional air conditioning, plus all the usual heating and ventilation controls standard.


The seats are surprisingly comfortable too, with impressive bolstering at the sides and even a manually adjustable lumbar support for those like me, who

Lumbar support is unusually nice for this class. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

need extra padding at the lower back. I like the seat fabric as well. It seems high in quality, plus its two-toned combination of solid graphite cloth on each seats' side bolsters and the complementing mesh-like inserts look oh so stylish.

This particular model has power mirrors, plus power windows and locks, all accessible via this handy optional remote integrated right in the key. You can even release the trunk with one of the remote buttons, or if you're stepping out of the car, there's a big round button down on the lower door panel.

Ready to go for a ride, I'm took this fancy key and slotted it into the ignition, adjusted the power mirrors, set the rake of the tilt steering column, found my favourite radio station via the controls mounted right beside the steering wheel hub (there's cruise control buttons on the other side, by the way) and slid the four-speed automatic into drive.

I suppose the fact that the Wave's autobox only has four forward speeds is a bit of a downer, being that at least one of its rivals gets a five-speed with optional paddle-shifters to boot, but I wouldn't get the automatic anyway,

Satin finish is nice, but four-speed auto is not the sportiest option. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

despite its coolHOLDbutton on the base of the console that allows for a little more control than most. No, I'd rather opt for the five-speed manual that offers better performance and uses less fuel.

Anyone who would opt for the auto probably wouldn't care all that much about the Wave's shortage on engine output. It moves along OK, but at 103 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque its 1.6-litre four-cylinder is the least powerful in the subcompact class. But really, the difference is between the most and least is nominal, with most only a few figures higher.

What matters more is how it behaves on the road, and in this regard it's about as thrilling off the line as aGo-Go Ultra X Electric Scooter... the Ultimate in Personal Mobility. Not fair? Hey, what did you expect? Only a smart car is slower, and you don't buy into the subcompact class to be thrown back into your seat at takeoff anyway.

Still, it's pretty nice once you're up and running, with a decent ride even at highway speeds. It tracks fairly well too, except when trying to make serious

Like the wheels. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

time on a curving two-lane highway, when it, well, forces you to be more responsible and slow down. So, it's not the best in the segment with regards to handling, but for most purposes will hardly be embarrassing. Truly, the Wave was built more for comfort than speed, and given that most new car buyers are looking to arrive at work or school refreshed and ready to take on the day, rather than beat up by a rigid, sport-tuned suspension, it fits the bill perfectly.

While we're talking performance, the Wave looks great with these optional 15-inch five-spoke alloy wheels on 185/55R15 all-season rubber, and they show off the standard front disc brakes nicely too. Unfortunately, you can't even upgrade to four-wheel discs if that matters to you, but on the good side ABS is an option with both base and SE trim levels. Rear drums are the norm in this class, but a few rivals offer discs in the back in top trim levels and one comes standard with them. Not all offer ABS, however, therefore in the four-door category, which isn't normally the choice of sport-oriented drivers that opt for the stopping power of discs at all corners, the ability to get ABS across the line, let alone at all, gives the edge to Pontiac. Overall, braking is smooth and linear, with quick stops easily accomplished in this top-line SE.


When I first tested it during the national launch in Ontario, the only deal-breaker I could come up with was its lackluster warranty, but GM has since remedied the problem; at least for the most part.

This is a pretty impressive little car. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

The Wave, as with all entry-level GM models, still gets a conventional thee-year or 60,000 km comprehensive warranty that covers most everything other than items such as tires and the battery, which get their own warranties. Therefore, its bumper-to-bumper coverage doesn't measure up to Korean-made rivals in this class that get five-year or 100,000 km comprehensive warranties (the Wave four- and five-door, along with the Aveo and Suzuki's Swift+ are made in a GM/Suzuki joint-venture plant under the GMDAT banner in South Korea, a facility that used to build Daewoos). Where it beats these, however, is in powertrain coverage. GM recently upgraded this to five-years or 160,000 km,

You don't need to slot the key to open the doors or trunk if you step up for the optional remote. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press)

whichever comes first, so if you happen to drive a lot this is might be a good bet.

Warranty aside, I have to say that the new Wave Sedan is impressive. Its accommodating interior will make you wonder why you need to spend more for a compact or midsize model, and its superb attention to detail is better than many that cost thousands more. Even the exterior panel gaps are as tight and evenly spaced as those on luxury cars; and the paint finish, this one splashed inSuper Red, is better than expected; plus nine intriguing colours are available, from a classyMisty Blueto a saucySunset Orange, for a bit of exclusivity.

We've talked a lot about entry-level subcompacts in these pages over the last few months, and have lauded almost all of them. Honda's Fit has won over a number of our staff, as has Hyundai's Accent, Kia's new Rio, Nissan's Versa (although this larger more powerful five-door is only priced like a subcompact) and Toyota's Yaris, not to mention Chevy's recently redesigned Aveo sedan. As far as four-doors go, only the Chevy Aveo, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Toyota Yaris are available, with the rest hatchbacks.

So, if you're in the entry-level market do yourself a favour and put the Wave on your shopping list, that is if want a more conventional four-door rather than a hatch, as I think you'll be as impressed as I am.

Specifications (SE):

• Price Range (MSRP): $15,495 - $19,835 (base starts at $12,995)
• Body Type: 4-door sedan
• Layout: front engine, FWD
• Engine: 103 hp, 107 lb-ft of torque, 1.6L, 16-valve DOHC I-4
• Transmission: 5-spd manual (opt. 4-spd auto)
• Brakes (front/rear): disc/drum (opt. ABS w/EBD)
• Dimensions (L/W/H/WB): 4,235 / 1,670 / 1,495 / 2,480 mm (166.7 / 65.7 / 58.9 / 97.6 in)
• Curb Weight: 1,075 kg (2,370 lbs)
• Tires: 185/55R15
• Cargo Volume (seats up): 330 L (11.7 cu-ft)
• Fuel Economy (city/hwy): 8.4 / 6.8 L/100 km
• Observed Fuel Economy: 8.7 L/100 km
• Warranty (mo/km): 36 / 60,000 comprehensive; 60 / 160,000 powertrain
• Competitors (four-door): Chevrolet Aveo Sedan, Hyundai Accent Sedan, Kia Rio Sedan, Toyota Yaris Sedan
• Website: www.gmcanada.com