The mild-mannered power of a well-made naturally aspirated V6 might be just the ticket for balancing big-sedan comfort with mid-sized efficiency - though that’s up for debate as well - but it sure isn’t what you’d expect from the aggressive looks and Aussie-bred demeanor of the new Pontiac G8. Despite the less-than-impressive performance, however, almost everything else remains the same as its bigger brother, and without the intoxicating aroma of the big V8 found under the hood of the G8’s GT variant, the true essence of the car is easier to discern. Few other publications have tested the V6 variant. Is it possible that the ego-enhancing effects of a large-displacement V8 have skewed the results in favor of an otherwise bland car?
At first blush the G8 is an exciting car. The styling isn’t typical of the last half-decade of American cars, though the past year or two have brought some interesting competition. It has an air about it that certainly impresses more than the Grand Am or Grand Prix ever did, at least for this reviewer. Even the also-Australian GTO, beloved by some but detested by many as heretical to the original Goat, didn’t offer the combination of utility, visceral appeal and affordability that the G8 brings to the table. The athletic, forward-biting stance and angular lines give the car purpose, and though the front end may be a bit overwrought, it clearly brands the car a Pontiac, and makes it recognizable from blocks away. But a good first impression isn’t enough to carry the day anymore - buyers are looking for well-built, easy-driving, safe and efficient transport more than ever before.
The quick verdict: the G8 manages to rise to the challenge for the most part, and its few foibles are not significant enough to justify its relegation to the ‘also-ran’ list. Perhaps even more importantly, there is unlocked potential in this car - it could be great, with just a little help. Handling is as good as you can expect from an affordable large sedan, with a predictable and capable nature that speaks of a well-designed chassis tuned for comfort over speed.
Stepping inside this G8, a black-leather upholstered black car with black carpeting, the initial impression is one of monotonous coloration and surprisingly bland interior styling. And upon second look, things don’t change much. The center console stack is straightforward and utilitarian with the exception of the fairly high-resolution display unit for the radio, climate controls and computer readout. More on the display in a moment, but suffice to say it’s both a highlight and a hang-up.Beyond the simple audio and climate controls, there’s the instrument cluster. The speedometer and tachometer in the cluster behind the steering wheel, along with the smaller auxiliary gauges and readouts are all easy to read and attractively lit. The speedometer is even capable of reading in and indicating both miles-per-hour and kilometers-per-hour - a novelty at best unless you frequently make trips across the northern border.
The steering wheel, on the other hand, feels solid, shapely and well-made. The attractive chrome ‘wings’ that form the forked center spoke give it a lightness that would serve the rest of the cabin well, and unlike the metallic or pseudo-metallic trim pieces on a number of other modern cars, whether American or not, the feel of these trim pieces is one of quality. Steering feel is generally good, especially at every-day speeds, with a good weight but not requiring tremendous effort. Crank up the speeds and attack the bends, however, and the steering feels lighter and less accurate, especially just off-center, where the real work of a back-country run is done. The G8, at least in base trim, thrives in daily use, not the weekend fun-run.
But the single most confusing and confounding aspect of the interior is the roughly 1.5-inch by 8-inch bright-red LED readout at the top center of the dash that very roughly estimates the battery’s charge and the oil pressure. While both are useful information under some circumstances - especially extreme cold, for instance - neither warrant constant and blockily-inaccurate display at the focal point of the dashboard. This oddity is scheduled for deletion upon the debut of the 2009 models, and rightfully so.
The second most confusing element of the G8’s interior is the complete lack of satellite navigation availability. It’s understood that the car is targeted at the mid-range of the large-sedan market, and that with too many more options it would begin to encroach on the Cadillac CTS’ territory, at least on paper - the build quality difference is vast - but would it be too much to equip a basic touchscreen unit to show the way in foreign territory? The upside is that there's ample room on the dash and windshield for fitment of an aftermarket unit.
Aftermarket units won’t be able to take advantage of the nice built-in display, however. Apparently limited to just three colors - black, red and white - since that is all it displayed during our week with it - the screen is nevertheless high-resolution and attractively styled with easy-to-read graphics and script. But it’s almost laughably complex given its function as display unit for the admirably full-featured on-board computer. Those familiar with the Saturn Astra and any number of other newer GM products will appreciate the fine-grained detail available from the unit, but why it needs a space-hogging display with fidgety soft-buttons is simply inexplicable.
That said, the G8 is a mostly brilliant car, inside and out, especially for the price point. It offers truly full-size proportions - easily accommodating four six-foot-plus passengers with knee-room and head-room to spare - and very comfortable, attractive seating. The leather upholstery didn’t feel premium-quality, but it did feel supple and durable, two strong traits in a car that will see regular use. The rear seat bench was oddly a bit easy to dislodge, though that may have been an issue specific to our particular vehicle, and at any rate did not cause any issues during its use.
The trunk is capacious in the extreme, and with a broad and tall opening, actually getting large things into it shouldn’t be a problem. The rear seats don’t fold down, however, featuring only a pass-through for long, skinny objects - not that you’d need much more in the way of room in the trunk, and if you do, Pontiac has you covered with the G8 ST.
Only one major quibble is to be had with the G8: the 3.6L 256hp (190kW) V6 engine. It’s a good engine for what it is, and it’s adequate, even ample, for almost everything you can legally do on public roads. But it’s lacking the ‘bigness’ that the rest of the car exudes. Enlivened with a torquey and character-full V8, plus some more sport-oriented - but still liveable - shocks and springs, this car could be a real powerhouse, and that’s precisely what the GT and GXP variants offer. We’ll have to wait until we’re presented with the opportunity to review one to decide how well Pontiac has managed to tap the obvious potential of the base G8, however.
That one quibble is really no quibble at all in the end, since buyers of the G8 V6 will enter the bargain knowingly. At a premium of just $1,500 for the V8, buying the V6 makes no sense to us. The fuel economy certainly doesn’t justify it, even if you achieve the rated figures of 17mpg city and 25mpg highway, which ended up being very close to our observed 16.7mpg city and 24mpg highway. The V8 is rated very closely at 15mpg city and 24mpg highway, making so little difference as to matter not at all, financially or ecologically. At that point, driving style will determine real-world efficiency more than engine choice. And GM has proven its torquey V8s are capable of excellent fuel mileage when the driver can keep their foot out of the accelerator.
Bottom-line verdict on the G8 is that you’d be hard-pressed to buy more in the way of a large sedan for the price, and though the styling, both inside and out, may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a far cry from the bland offerings of a few years ago. And for those with a mind for slowly upgrading a car as they go, the G8 GT, or better yet, the GXP, could be one of the best platforms to come along in years.
by Nelson Ireson
Reader Comments
Mon Aug 25 2008 11:23 AM
phreshone@tx.rr.com says
This car deserves the DI V-6, but it puts it too close to the V8 - perhaps 2010
Tue Sep 9 2008 4:53 PM
Daniel says
what? Commodore has a less than stellar reputation in Australia?
What you talking about? Everyone loves the Commodore (and the Falcon) down here!!!
All the young people buy them and do them up. Older buying the new, already quite powerful models.....
Of course no one cares about the base fleet models, but everyone loooooves the SS and HSV models. MASSIVE street cred. Probably more than any other car in this country...
Wed Oct 1 2008 7:46 PM
azlan says
i heard someone say that the g8 is the best looking pontiac in ages, lol and its australian designed haha, thats not good for pontiac..
anyway..i dont think the g8 or the commodore look any good, but the reason why people love it soo much here in australia is coz there soo cheap for soo much power. im not a huge fan of commodores i see them too often lol but i do see why soo many people buy them in australia. and i agree with daniel evereyone loves commodores down here! i know little kids and thats all they talk about!, i think australia could design better cars but for the average australian a commodore is all they want and need.
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