Pontiac Grand Prix
One-dimensional muscle |
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By Richard J. Newman
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NITS: The center cup holders aren't designed for mugs with handles.
G-FORCES: On a straight line, the Grand Prix has compelling peformance–from both the base 200-horsepower V-6 and the supercharged 260-horsepower V-6 available on the higher trim lines. Highway ride is comfortable. On curves, however, the Grand Prix has a disappointing degree of roll, despite "WideTrack" technology GM touts as a state-of-the-art performance system.
GIZMOLOGY: Climate and radio controls are blasé, although I like the way the instrument panel is canted toward the driver, which makes the systems easier to see and use. There are also seven air conditioner vents in the front that can be aimed in any direction, a nice way to help make everybody comfortable without a more-expensive dual-climate system. And I like GM's optional heads-up display, which projects key info onto the windshield and is more helpful and less distracting than you might think.
KID MARKS: There's ample space for three kids in the back, and doors that open especially wide help everybody get in and out easily. One drawback: no rear cup holders.
ENVIROMETER: Not yet given a "green vehicle" rating by the EPA. Mileage ranges from 18 mpg city to 30 mpg highway, depending on the engine.
CRASH COURSE: The '04 Grand Prix received six stars out of 10 in the government's side-impact crash test. Frontal crash tests haven't been done yet. Details: http://www.nhtsa.gov/
NCAP/Cars/2625.html
HOT OR NOT: Not. It has cleaner lines than its predecessor, but the '04 Grand Prix still looks a bit gaudy compared with the best of the class.
PRICE POINTS: Base prices range from $22,395 to $27,890. Price as tested: $27,600 (GT2 model); $30,370 (GTP model). (All prices include delivery fees.)
MORE INFO: http://www.pontiac.com/
grandprix/index.jsp?source=hmlnav
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Model year tested: 2004
I'm merging onto a curvy four-lane highway, and here comes a BMW 330 that seems to be in a hurry. It's a perfect chance to test the midscale muscle car that Pontiac calls "fuel for the soul." Can the Grand Prix keep up with a Bimmer? I punch the gas and find the 200-horsepower V-6 quite game. For a mile or two the 330 stays squarely in my sights. But then come a series of moderate curves, and the Grand Prix starts to slosh from side to side as I try to slalom through the bends at speed. I slow down to keep from sliding out of my lane, while the BMW races farther and farther ahead. Before long, it disappears for good around a distant corner.
No fair, you might say, comparing Pontiac's everyman sports sedan against an expensive standard-setter like a BMW. True, they are two cars in different classes, but Pontiac is promoting the Grand Prix as a reborn, world-class performance machine. And at $23,000 and up, the Grand Prix isn't exactly taking on the bottom of the market. Besides, the Grand Prix out-horsepowers the 3 series at equivalent levels (though with a considerably larger engine). And by the way–Pontiac should be flattered that anybody would even consider such a comparison.
I was surprised, in fact, at the Grand Prix's pep. It seemed able to keep up with virtually any car in its class, and then some. And the 260-horsepower V-6 that comes on the upscale GTP model is a veritable rocket. Drivers can even shift without a clutch using Formula One-style paddles on the steering wheel (although I found the feature to be a gimmick that didn't make driving any more fun). But building a good sedan is more than just a manhood contest, and the Grand Prix falls short in many ways not related to raw power. As my little drive-off with the BMW demonstrated, the Grand Prix has notable body roll in spirited driving situations. Yes, it's unfair to expect it to perform like a $35,000 BMW, but it's also worth noting that outstanding sedans like the Acura TSX and the Infiniti G35 are much more sporting than the Grand Prix, with base prices that are roughly the same as the Pontiac's performance version. A particular disappointment was the Grand Prix's steering, which was soft and billowy and remiscent of GM's old land yachts: The power steering was so powerful I was able to maneuver around a crowded parking lot with one finger. I suppose that's great if you have arthritis, but it's not the feel you look for in a sports sedan.
Inside, the Grand Prix is spacious and comfortable, making it a good family hauler. But the interior left me yearning for Asian minimalism or European thrift. The choppy dash looked as if each component was designed independent of the others, with the whole thing only slapped together at the last minute. Instead of a sense of flow, there are a bunch of shlocky plastic parts, such as dimpled door handles that don't seem to be in accord with any other part of the interior design. Pontiac supposedly tried to control its appetite for gaudy plastic doo-dads when it redesigned the Grand Prix for '04, and the exterior, at least, conveys some sense of restraint. Too bad that discipline didn't penetrate the cabin. Overall, the Grand Prix reflects how far General Motors has progressed–and how far it has fallen short–in its efforts to design top-notch cars. The Grand Prix is mechanically mature, with a smooth, potent drivetrain and a nimble transmission. But it's a step or two away from the fast lane when it comes to the finer points of performance, and the interior styling is slapdash. Best to show this one off at the dragstrip, where the audience won't get too close a look.
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