Over the years Pontiac has been a familiar face when it came to declaring “best bangs for your buck.” In fact, for years, the GT version of the Grand Prix had been a front runner four or five years in a row.
Pontiac definitely knows how to excite, and the new G8 GT that I test drove picks up right where the elder GTs left off. A sharp and sporty sedan that delivers rear-wheel-drive performance and an amazing 361 horsepower, the G8 GT starts at just $29,310. My tester had an optional Premium Package, showcasing leather interior treatments and heated seats that brought the grand total to $31,395. Needless to say, you would be hard pressed to find another sedan in this class that can deliver the ponies and the room anywhere close to this price.
Most of the talk about the G8 GT starts and ends with the powerful engine. But I maintain this is one of the best-looking, most muscular sedans on the market. Pontiac is not trying to be a sophisticated import or play luxury sedan wanna-be. With big 18-inch wheels pushed out to the corners, the G8 GT is a true American sport sedan.
All that talk about the G8's horsepower is warranted. Delivering a 6.0-liter V-8 engine with 361 horsepower and 385 pound-feet of torque, and a custom-tuned suspension, the midsize G8 sedan proudly plays flagship for Pontiac. Mated to a bold V-8 that helps propel the G8 from 0-to-60 mph in 5.3 seconds is a six-speed automatic transmission, featuring StabiliTrak.
For those desperate souls looking for exceptional power with delightful fuel economy, there is some good news: the G8 GT V-8 has an active fuel management system that deactivates up to four cylinders during prolonged high-speed driving (i.e. highway). As you might suspect, fuel mileage is better because of the fuel management system, but still average at best for the class with city/highway ratings of 15/24 mpg. Want more good news? The G8 GT runs on regular gas, no premium fuel required.
Adding to the fun factor was the Driver Shift Control, which offers the driver three shifting styles: Normal, delivering optimal performance and fuel economy; Sport, maximizing shift points to maintain higher torque; and Manual, which was a fun variation allowing the manual gate to shift at the driver's whims.
Inside the large cabin of the G8 you will be bolstered in sporty seating and fine leather. Both the driver and front passenger seats had six-way power, leather (optional) along with necessary front leather seat heaters.
Audio quality was delivered by a standard six-disc player, 11-speaker Blaupunkt system with 230-watt amplifier and sub woofers. The sound is outstanding, and I never once yearned for more volume or better quality. There was a nice 6.5-inch LCD screen displaying all the necessary information.
More to brag about was the standard air conditioning with dual-zone climate control system, cruise control, a driver information center, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with radio controls, keyless entry and remote start. It also has a theft-deterrent system and OnStar.
The G8 offers front and side impact and head curtain air bags for the driver and front passenger, traction control, remote start and tire pressure monitor as standard GT features. These loaded features and the power and prowess of the exterior design make this G8 GT one of my favorite cars of the year. Look for the equivalent in other sedans this size, and you'll be looking a long, long time.
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