2009 Pontiac G8
G8 makes lasting impression
The first time I saw an all-new G8 on North American roads, I found myself utterly captivated by its deeply sculpted fenders, arching waistline and aggressively-styled front and rear fascias. A rear under diffuser and dual polished exhaust outlets imbue a strong European flavour that blends perfectly with the beefed-up rip-snorting front end while hits of chrome impart a sophisticated and sporty attitude.
But I wanted to find out if the vehicle’s good looks go deeper than its metallic skin. More importantly, I wanted to figure out if this is a vehicle that North Americans will want to buy.
The 2009 G8 line-up includes three well-equipped sedans starting with the base model that comes with a 256-hp 3.6L V6 with VVT and five-speed automatic transmission. The up-line GT and track-tuned GXP models both get V8s – the latter one boasts more than 400 ponies – and six-speed automatics.
The first thing I noticed when I got it home is that it’s bigger than it looks. The G8 is, of course, a full-size sedan but the amount of space its 4,981-mm long body took up in my single car garage was a bit surprising, and meant I would have to tip-toe and squeeze around in there for a week.
At 2,916 mm, the wheelbase is also somewhat long, with the standard 18-inch alloys wheels set wide apart to help yield a balanced, responsive and yet compliant ride ideal for everyday driving situations. Weight split is 50/50.
Four-wheel ABS vented disc brakes are standard on the base and GT models along with all-speed traction control and StabiliTrak electronic stability control. The GXP benefits from larger, more powerful Brembo units.
Performance testing at the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada’s evaluation days (affectionately called Test Fest) for the 2009 Canadian Car of the Year yielded zero-to-100 km/h times of 7.5 seconds with 80-to-120 km/h taking 6.3 seconds. The vehicle needs just 40 metres (about 131 feet) to halt from 100 klicks.
On the road, the transmission is smooth and shifts into the next gear without any fuss. There’s no “gear-hunting” on steep inclines and you can choose from full auto or manual sport mode, which relies on driver inputs from shift tabs on the steering wheel. The performance-tuned suspension soaks up road bumps without protest and holds the car well in hard cornering thanks to integrated sway bars.
I have a few minor gripes with this model. First, the V6 felt just a bit underpowered to me. I can overlook that; but, what really irks me is the exhaust tuning. It’s not at all befitting of a sports sedan, and the soft murmur it produces reminds me too much of many late j-bodies. Secondly, I found the brakes a bit too spongy, though I like the breakaway pedal system and ride down steering column.
Inside, the G8 interior is not only spacious, it looks and feels steps above many previous GM offerings at this price point. Standard features here include power windows, door locks and trunk, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering with integrated audio and driver info controls, four-way adjustable front buckets and more. XM satellite radio and Bluetooth capability are also standard via the base seven-speaker AM/FM/CD Blaupunkt audio system with five-inch multi-function display.
Base price on my tester runs at $31,995. It rose to $37,860 when the $4,465 “1SD” options pack, $100 A/C tax and $1,300 for delivery are tallied up together. The ‘Fact File’ has more on the upgrades, the most noteworthy of which is probably the amplified premium audio system with six CD changer, MP3 playback and four more speakers, including subwoofer.
More interior highlights are a well-designed soft-touch dash and centre stack, and I just love the way the e-brake handle has been integrated into the column next to the mirror controls. Instrumentation is easy-to-read day or night while the black and silver materials are sporty and create good contrast. There’s also plenty of head leg and shoulder room for a pair of adult rear-seaters. There is, by the way, no split-folding rear seat, only a pass-through for long cargo. Passenger volume, however, is 3,528 litres while that trunk is smaller than 500 litres.
The only thing I don’t like inside the G8 is the gigantic steering wheel diameter. It’s just too big for serious performance driving. Everything else is par or better.
Safety has not been overlooked on this sporty family sedan either. Besides the sturdy, crash-absorbing body structure, the G8 gets multiple air bag sensors and six standard bags (dual-stage frontal, front seat side thorax as well as roof rail-mounted head curtain air bags for all occupants. Small children are also welcome to buckle in via the Latch anchors and tethers for their safety seats. OnStar with one year- safe and sound plan is included on all G8s.
The whole package is pretty good and Canadians should appreciate the sedan’s rear-wheel drive configuration. Most suitors will be male and most will pine for the more powerful six-speed GT and Corvette-engined GXP model. But, even the base G8 does a good job of combining sophisticated looks with sporty performance at a fair price. An AWD version would be nice, too.
Summary:
Strong Points
Weak Points
- - sporty elegant exterior
- - great interior
- - pleasant handling
- - thirsty underpowered V6
- - steering wheel too big
- - unproven fuel economy
Editors Rating:
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