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2002
Pontiac Sunfire

Starts at:
$14,615
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New 2002 Pontiac Sunfire
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Not rated
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Available trims

See the differences side-by-side to compare trims.
  • 2dr Cpe SE
    Starts at
    $14,615
    24 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 4dr Sdn SE
    Starts at
    $15,455
    24 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs
  • 2dr Cpe GT
    Starts at
    $17,155
    24 City / 32 Hwy
    MPG
    5
    Seat capacity
    Gas L4
    Engine
    Front Wheel Drive
    Drivetrain
    See all specs

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2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire 2002 Pontiac Sunfire

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Expert 2002 Pontiac Sunfire review

our expert's take
Our expert's take
By
Full article
our expert's take

The little Pontiac Sunfire, a sporty compact for the budget-minded, presents me with one of those good-news/bad-news dilemmas.

So let’s start off with the good news. Mainly, it’s the all new Ecotec engine, a twin-cam four-banger that arrived for midyear 2002. Strong, quiet and sophisticated, the lightweight aluminum mill propels the Sunfire with authority, accelerating nicely and cruising comfortably on the freeway.

At just 305 pounds, the 2.4-liter Ecotec is one of the lightest and most compact engines in its displacement class. It puts out a solid 140 horsepower, which is plenty of pull for a car that weighs just a whisker more than 2,600 pounds. Plus, gas mileage is right up there.

The optional four-speed automatic on the test coupe (five-speed manual is standard) shifted with alacrity and seemed well-matched to the lively engine. All around, a good package of go.

Standard engine on the SE models is a wheezy, 115-horse four and a 150-horse engine that’s standard in the GT coupe, though it lacks the smooth-running qualities of the Ecotec.

Another plus: The driver and front-seat passenger will find Sunfire commodious, even for big people. The rear seat in the coupe is fairly roomy, though a bit strenuous to get into. The seats are firm and supportive.

But now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. The bad news: Sunfire (and corporate sibling Chevrolet Cavalier) is an old car that’s showing its age and needs replacement.

Handling is dull and rubbery, and the steering is numb. The drivability is boring to the core, feeling too much like Aunt Minnie’s runabout and not enough like a sporty Pontiac.

Stylistically, Sunfire offers those who favor the swoopy lines of Pontiac a low-priced alternative to Grand Am or Grand Prix. The look is a matter of taste, however. Some find it racy and attractive, while others see it as heavy-handed and synthetic.

The interior needs some serious attention. It’s lumpy and weird, with a dashboard that has too many conflicting shapes and contours. Adding insult to the careless-looking cabin, part of the metal superstructure showed above the glove-box door, an obvious flaw.

Even the side-door pockets are messed up. They’re too far back for front-seat occupants and mostly blocked for access from the rear seat. In other words, worthless.

On the test car, the rear-deck spoiler looked silly, and the tacky chrome wheel covers were singularly unattractive. The upgraded, six-speaker stereo was uninspiring. Too bad, because Sunfire is aimed at young drivers who most care about such things as cool spoilers, sharp-looking wheels and awesome sound systems.

Compared with such popular compacts as Honda Civic, VW Jetta and Ford Focus, the Sunfire looks shabby indeed.

Fortunately, GM plans to revamp its little cars for 2004.

The test Sunfire started out at a reasonable $14,540, well-equipped with safety and convenience features.

Antilock brakes are standard this year, but in a backward move, GM is making them optional in the future on its lower-end cars and trucks. It should come standard on all vehicles, just like seat belts and air bags.

Optional on the test car was a “sun and sound package,” $1,695, which included power sunroof, automatic transmission with traction control, performance tires and upgraded stereo; power windows and mirrors, $380; remote locking, power door locks and alarm system, $370; and a package of cruise control, intermittent wipers, trunk net and reading lamps, $340.

All told, a good-running car at a moderate price, though held back by dated styling and engineering, aside from the engine performance.

2002 Pontiac Sunfire review: Our expert's take
By

The little Pontiac Sunfire, a sporty compact for the budget-minded, presents me with one of those good-news/bad-news dilemmas.

So let’s start off with the good news. Mainly, it’s the all new Ecotec engine, a twin-cam four-banger that arrived for midyear 2002. Strong, quiet and sophisticated, the lightweight aluminum mill propels the Sunfire with authority, accelerating nicely and cruising comfortably on the freeway.

At just 305 pounds, the 2.4-liter Ecotec is one of the lightest and most compact engines in its displacement class. It puts out a solid 140 horsepower, which is plenty of pull for a car that weighs just a whisker more than 2,600 pounds. Plus, gas mileage is right up there.

The optional four-speed automatic on the test coupe (five-speed manual is standard) shifted with alacrity and seemed well-matched to the lively engine. All around, a good package of go.

Standard engine on the SE models is a wheezy, 115-horse four and a 150-horse engine that’s standard in the GT coupe, though it lacks the smooth-running qualities of the Ecotec.

Another plus: The driver and front-seat passenger will find Sunfire commodious, even for big people. The rear seat in the coupe is fairly roomy, though a bit strenuous to get into. The seats are firm and supportive.

But now, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. The bad news: Sunfire (and corporate sibling Chevrolet Cavalier) is an old car that’s showing its age and needs replacement.

Handling is dull and rubbery, and the steering is numb. The drivability is boring to the core, feeling too much like Aunt Minnie’s runabout and not enough like a sporty Pontiac.

Stylistically, Sunfire offers those who favor the swoopy lines of Pontiac a low-priced alternative to Grand Am or Grand Prix. The look is a matter of taste, however. Some find it racy and attractive, while others see it as heavy-handed and synthetic.

The interior needs some serious attention. It’s lumpy and weird, with a dashboard that has too many conflicting shapes and contours. Adding insult to the careless-looking cabin, part of the metal superstructure showed above the glove-box door, an obvious flaw.

Even the side-door pockets are messed up. They’re too far back for front-seat occupants and mostly blocked for access from the rear seat. In other words, worthless.

On the test car, the rear-deck spoiler looked silly, and the tacky chrome wheel covers were singularly unattractive. The upgraded, six-speaker stereo was uninspiring. Too bad, because Sunfire is aimed at young drivers who most care about such things as cool spoilers, sharp-looking wheels and awesome sound systems.

Compared with such popular compacts as Honda Civic, VW Jetta and Ford Focus, the Sunfire looks shabby indeed.

Fortunately, GM plans to revamp its little cars for 2004.

The test Sunfire started out at a reasonable $14,540, well-equipped with safety and convenience features.

Antilock brakes are standard this year, but in a backward move, GM is making them optional in the future on its lower-end cars and trucks. It should come standard on all vehicles, just like seat belts and air bags.

Optional on the test car was a “sun and sound package,” $1,695, which included power sunroof, automatic transmission with traction control, performance tires and upgraded stereo; power windows and mirrors, $380; remote locking, power door locks and alarm system, $370; and a package of cruise control, intermittent wipers, trunk net and reading lamps, $340.

All told, a good-running car at a moderate price, though held back by dated styling and engineering, aside from the engine performance.

Safety review

Based on the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire base trim
NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings, scored out of 5.
Frontal driver
3/5
Frontal passenger
4/5
Side driver
1/5
Side rear passenger
2/5

Factory warranties

Basic
3 years / 36,000 miles
Corrosion
6 years / 100,000 miles
Powertrain
3 years / 36,000 miles
Roadside Assistance
3 years / 36,000 miles

Consumer reviews

3.9 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
Write a review
Comfort 3.9
Interior 3.8
Performance 3.9
Value 4.3
Exterior 4.1
Reliability 4.3

Most recent

  • Sporty and reliable

    I drove this car for four years and it never failed to start even on the coldest of winter days. Love the layout of the back seat and the space available with the bench seat folded down.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    11 people out of 11 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Pontiac Sunfire

    This car has been a real gem! Havent had any repairs done to it in 10 years other than general maintenance. It still runs super well, has no rust and is very comfortable. Now that its 15 yrs old & needs new brakes & someone stole its catylitic converter & has no a/c im finally gonna send it to "car heaven".
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Transporting family
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 4.0
    4 people out of 5 found this review helpful. Did you?
    Yes No
  • Nice compact

    Good fuel economy, very small. Disappointed to find out there was no cruise control. 2 door looks better than the 4 door. Not a bad budget car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 3.0
    Interior 3.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 4.0
    Exterior 2.0
    Reliability 4.0
    2 people out of 3 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Good starter car and very reliable

    This car is an excellent starter vehicle. It's nothing fancy, no usb or aux plug ins, but if you truly needed that you could buy an aftermarket radio. It has a 4 cylinder engine, which is excellent on gas! I probably put $20 to $24 dollars to fill the tank up from an 1/8 of a tank. I'm not quite sure about other versions of the Sunfire but mine has power locks and Windows. The buttons to roll the windows up an down are oddly positioned in front of the center arm rest but you will get used to it. The car is very reliable and so far is fairly cheap to repair. I haven't had almost no problems with and is very reliable.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • very reliable and fun to drive

    This car is fun to drive with a good field of vision for changing lanes. It is easy to maneuver through traffic with just the right power.It has a sporty look but good gas mileage, good price and not high insurance cost. We maintained the car with the ideal to get classic plates. You could get 75000 mile out of this car.
    • Purchased a New car
    • Used for Having fun
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 2 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Good for the Money

    Purchased mine in 2006 with 43k on it. I've had to put a few sets of brakes on it, but with research, sounds like the issue with the car. at 115k I had to put a fuel pump on it and exhaust (living in the midwest, that's the norm), no real problems with it. I do have the window issue, but a new motor fixed it. Honestly, I commute to work, it's been a great car for the last 8 years. Now has 122k and the only reason I'll get rid of it is to fit kids into the car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Cheap to Run, Cheap to Buy, Cheap to Repair.

    I've grown up around many Sunfires/Cavaliers and all I can say is, what an amazing little car! I myself own a 2002 Sunfire SE Coupe with the 2.2L OHV Engine and 4 Speed Auto. I get great fuel mileage wherever I may go even when gas prices are ridiculously high, I've maybe spent a whole $200 in routine maintenance so far and that's it, never any problems or malfunctions, it's got about 204000 kms on it now and it is still going harder than ever. These great little get-around cars are so simple and cheap to repair, it's honestly quite wonderful for those who don't have the money to be spending on parts. A good 85% of repairs can be done in your home garage if need be. I highly suggest trying to find and purchase a Haynes Full Rebuild Manual for Sunfires/Cavaliers 1995 to 2003 as it helps with the little maintenance these cars ever need. Parts are always cheap and plentiful at auto wreckers for these cars as well and parts from let's say.. a 96 Sunfire will fit on an 02 Sunfire, so they are quite universal with one another. If you're looking for something stylish, fuel efficient but very cheap and easy to maintain, this is the vehicle for you. They last forever! :) All you see these days are Cavaliers and Sunfires on the road.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Used for Commuting
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Reliable and Fun

    We have owned this car for over 10 years and it has been awesome! It has only required basic maintenance items (brakes, oil changes...) It's a great car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 4.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 4.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Great Car for My Son

    Great car for my son to go to University. Looks like a black Camaro, but, it is not. My son loves it!
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 5.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 5.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • Very good car & very reliable!

    Best little car I've owned! Great for a first time buyer or younger kid-very sporty! Great gas mileage-no problems with the car.
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does recommend this car
    Comfort 4.0
    Interior 5.0
    Performance 4.0
    Value 5.0
    Exterior 5.0
    Reliability 5.0
    1 person out of 1 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • WORST CAR

    THIS CAR IS A HORRIBLE CAR IT WILL CRUMBLE IF YOU WOULD GET A ACCIDENT NOT RELIABILE ALWAYS NEEDS SOMETHING EVERY WEEK I'M GOING BACK TO MY CHEVY HHR
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 2.0
    Interior 2.0
    Performance 1.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 1.0
    Reliability 1.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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  • WORST CAR EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    THIS CAR IS THE WORST CAR EVER I BOUGHT IT IN IN FEBUARY OF 2011 BY MARCH IT NEED 2 WHEEL BEARINGS A TUNE UP FRONT AND BACK BAKES ROTORS A TRANSMISSION I ONLY OWNED IT FOR 7 MONTHS ITS THE WORST CAR SAVE YOUR MONEY
    • Purchased a Used car
    • Does not recommend this car
    Comfort 2.0
    Interior 1.0
    Performance 2.0
    Value 1.0
    Exterior 3.0
    Reliability 1.0
    0 people out of 0 found this review helpful. Did you?
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FAQ

What trim levels are available for the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire?

The 2002 Pontiac Sunfire is available in 2 trim levels:

  • GT (1 style)
  • SE (2 styles)

What is the MPG of the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire?

The 2002 Pontiac Sunfire offers up to 24 MPG in city driving and 32 MPG on the highway. These figures are based on EPA mileage ratings and are for comparison purposes only. The actual mileage will vary depending on vehicle options, trim level, driving conditions, driving habits, vehicle maintenance, and other factors.

Is the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire reliable?

The 2002 Pontiac Sunfire has an average reliability rating of 4.3 out of 5 according to cars.com consumers. Find real-world reliability insights within consumer reviews from 2002 Pontiac Sunfire owners.

Is the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire a good Coupe?

Below are the cars.com consumers ratings for the 2002 Pontiac Sunfire. 83.3% of drivers recommend this vehicle.

3.9 / 5
Based on 18 reviews
  • Comfort: 3.9
  • Interior: 3.8
  • Performance: 3.9
  • Value: 4.3
  • Exterior: 4.1
  • Reliability: 4.3
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