Who would think that a car so tiny could be the source of so much contention

Sometimes, basic transportation is all that you really want. The Wave gives you this. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

in our Toronto office. In the end, I think I won the argument. You see, I’m a pretty big fan of the Wave, not because it’s the best car I’ve ever driven or anything like that, but it is one of a handful of subcompacts on the market, cars that offer affordable transportation to the masses, reasonable fuel economy and best of all, a new car (under warranty) that owners can be proud of. As many of you are aware from our long-term tests with the Honda Fit and two varieties of the Toyota Yaris, as well as several road tests with the Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5, we are intimately familiar with almost everything in the subcompact class (notable exceptions being the Smart fortwo and Nissan’s Versa—although I, personally, don’t consider the Versa a subcompact—in fact, the EPA rates it as a midsize for comparison of fuel economy ratings).

So how does the Wave stack up? Pretty damn well, and exactly how

There's no grab bar over the driver's head, rather, a holder for sunglasses. It's Mr. Yarkony's favourite feature. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

well was the source of contention that I mentioned previously. Some people just don’t want to give the Wave credit because of Pontiac’s reputation for poor cabins and performance reality grossly out of tune with their marketing hype. Is the Wave a performance car? No. Not at all. It is an econobox, and in my opinion one of the best at doing what an econobox should do.

Despite the Fit’s versatility, the Rio5 and Accent’s dashing good looks, the Toyota’s expected reliability, the Versa’s compact-for-subcompact value, if I had to lay my money down I would look long and hard at the

Interior's design and quality is very impressive, especially considering the price. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

Wave, and it all comes down to one main aspect: the interior. All of the previous cars that I mention perform to within a few degrees of each other, with each distinguishing itself in several areas, but none that so much stands clearly above the rest. If you ask me, they’re all pretty good, and all worthy of your consideration, but don’t count out the Pontiac just because it’s a Pontiac. While it might surprise you that Pontiac can be considered a leader in interior design and execution, the combination of appealing and intuitive layout with high quality, soft-touch materials could embarrass some vehicles costing three times as much. Of course the latest redesign didn’t really do much to alter its mechanicals to any great degree, so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised by the huge leap in improved interior environment to go along with its classy new look since that was indeed the focus of the generational upgrade. One minor complaint: the pop-out cupholders are too close in proximity to the shifter. If you've got a beverage from a fast food joint, and you place it in the cupholder, you'll be sure to give it a K-O as you shift into first, third or fifth, leaving a sticky mess behind.

The Wave continues with a teeny 1.6L four-cylinder engine, making a

Rattle and hum: E-Tec II engine is unrefined, and thirsty. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

subcompact-appropriate 103 horsepower and 107 lb-ft of torque. The sparkling-blue sedan in my possession came with the 5-speed manual that made gunning this gruff little mule fun enough for a few downshift kicks. Some people might call it coarse, but the low-pitched rumble played to my happy senses, as opposed to the high, whining, headache-inducing shriek of the Honda and Toyota. Of course, the little Wave was susceptible to very invasive wind noise, so there’s room for improvement, but it’s right on par with the in-town maneuverability and high-speed cruising of competitors in this class. The only other issue I can think of is the car’s fuel consumption, which is, as Justin put it, less than stellar. GM says that the car is rated at 8.9 L/100 km in the city and 5.9 L/100 km on the highway – the latter isn’t bad, but the former is pretty awful, especially considering the size of the engine. I suppose that’s one of the areas that those whining Japanese engines have a real advantage.

Then again, subcompacts are neither known nor purchased for their performance;

This is the kind of detailing you'd expect to see on a VW, not the cheapest Pontiac. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

they’re purchased for affordability and efficiency, convenience and comfort, and because maybe that’s all you need or all you can afford. If it is all you can afford, don’t stress because the Wave is all you’ll really need. Maybe it doesn’t have a gazillion horsepower, radar cruise control, satellite navigation or a backup camera, but with comfortable, multi-adjustable seats, power windows, mirrors and keyless entry, a good stereo with a few dozen radio presets available, a CD player and an aux-in jack (and a free iPod with the Wi package) and steering wheel controls (nice), it’s a decent feature list at any price point—even a $36K Passat we drove recently didn’t have steering wheel controls.

But features are only part of the story, and it’s the way everything comes together that had me oohing and ahhing and caressing the soft, dimpled texture of the upper dash and picturing a little hula girl of my very own on the little platform up above the chrome-rimmed vents. That platform

A decked out SE sedan like this gets alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and foglights. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

seems like a great stroke of forethought considering external devices like satellite radio systems and portable GPS navigation units that can be mounted on suction cups, and it’s a flat, clean surface, so the little suckers can get a good grip in an ideal location.

Trevor already went on, at length I might add, about the highly visible and downright good-looking gauges, and I can’t argue with him on that one, but what got me excited was the little sunglass holder in place of the grab handle on the driver’s side—brilliant asymmetrical use of symmetrical engineering (it’s a global platform, so some models are right-hand drive). The Wave is full of generous conveniences that are surprising to find in a subcompact, and made it a no-compromise sedan to jump into, even though we, as automotive journalists, sometimes get used to the pampering of luxury sport sedans and monstrous SUVs. Stuff like standard tilting front-seat headrests and a folding driver's armrest, dual vanity mirrors, clever hooks, located on headrests posts, which can hold items such as shopping bags within reach so you don’t have to twist yourself all the way back to the rear seat.

Another thing you may recall from our long-term reviews is that I have a big

Wi package includes an iPod, plus an aux-in jack to hook it up. (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

issue with the cheap, flat, uncomfortable chairs usually found in subcompact cars. The Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio5 manage to avoid this problem, and the Honda Fit is slightly forgivable because its seats are engineering marvels (although as far as I’m concerned, that doesn’t make it excusable or any more livable—they still suck to sit in), but the Yaris chairs are unforgivable because they seem to exist for no other reason than to give me backaches. The Wave chairs aren’t necessarily thrones fit for royalty, but they support in just enough places and cushion the rest enough to qualify as equal to the best in my books (the Accent/Rio sport seats). As for the rear seats, they’re the usual bench design (and bench-like back), with 60/40 split-folding seatbacks for extra cargo capacity, which combine with a folding passenger seat to allow items like skis in a pinch. Not bad for a subcompact sedan, eh.

The one point where GM may have let the Pontiac brand down a little is the Wave's styling, but the fact that it's only available in Canada kinda’ justifies the snout job and rebadge. There is really nothing to distinguish it from the Aveo except the grille, and there is little to connect it to the rest of the sleek new Pontiac lineup—although it does bear a bit more of resemblance in the shoulder lines to the upcoming G8 than anything currently in the lineup, so maybe the Pontiac designers knew something we don’t. Too bad, but there are limitations when you’re looking at a market this small for a car with this small a profit potential. It’s enough that Pontiac will have a small car to attract new customers, and with a little bit of incentive help, it will attract economy shoppers, but it doesn’t have the standout looks

Now, Pontiac, let's get on the hatchback model... (Photo: Justin Couture, Canadian Auto Press)

or selling points to really catch people’s attention, which is a shame because it’s a great package for a great price.

Anyhow, in this class where nothing stands out from a design perspective as far as my tastes go, and performance is up to class standards across the board, price and features are as good a place to look for that slight edge on the competition, and the Wave has got what it takes.

The Pontiac Wave is more than just a strong contender in the subcompact class, and if you have an aversion to hatchbacks and mini wagons, the Wave’s classy, though slightly dull, sedan looks will be a boon, and I would gladly take the slightly bland exterior styling in exchange for the extremely comfortable, inviting and downright stylish interior over anything else in this price range. That’s what you’ll be looking at most of the time anyway, isn’t it?

Specifications (SE Wi):

• Price Range (MSRP): $15,495 - $19,890
• Price as Tested (MSRP): $18,910
• 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): 8.9 / 5.9 L/100 km
• Observed Fuel Economy: 10.2 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, Nissan Versa Sedan, Toyota Yaris Sedan, Volkswagen City Jetta
• Website: www.gmcanada.com