2009 Pontiac G8 - Review

Almost a year ago we brought you our impressions of the entry-level Pontiac G8, equipped with an eager but ultimately inadequate V6. We lamented the car's lack of power then, guessing that a V8 would cure what ailed it, and after having the 2009-model GT for a week, we can say we were right on the mark.

Sure, it's still a big American-style car - no matter its provenance - and it isn't going to fool anyone into thinking it's a sports car, but for a such a roomy sedan, its handling can only be described as brilliant. Approach the limit and the chassis will let you know, exceed it and it will let you recover without too much incident.

But the real story of the G8 GT isn't the now-familiar chassis or the nice-but-not-quite-premium leather interior that's been kicked about so many times. It's the 361hp 6.0L L76 V8 engine that lies under the Pontiac-bedazzled hood.

And oh, what a story it is. All the lively acceleration and tire-spinning freedom we missed in the V6 version is here in abundance, offering an experience that captures America's glory days as well as any retro-styled muscle car - without the over-the-top design. The sound, the feel and the fun of the V8 model make you wonder why anyone would choose the V6.

Fuel efficiency plays a role, of course, with our somewhat heavy-footed week averaging 14.1mpg around town and 22.7mpg on the highway. That's not much worse than our observed figures from the overburdened V6 version, which yielded 16.7mpg city and 24mpg highway. It's also fairly near the EPA's mark of 15mpg city and 24mpg highway. Once again, we see no need for the V6 entry-model.

Other upgrades that come with the GT trim spec include optional five-spoke machine-faced 19in alloy wheels, a standard six-disc CD changer, and a standard MYC six-speed automatic transmission that goes a long way to delivering smooth and seamless power, especially compared against the V6/five-speed model.

So who would buy the G8 GT? Well, anyone interested in a good deal, as GM has about $4,000 in incentives on the car at the moment, depending on your region. Or you might be looking at a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, 2010 Ford Mustang or 2009 Dodge Challenger but wishing it had a real, grown-up-sized back seat - the G8 GT is the answer. Or maybe you're a fan of well-made, fast and fun family haulers but don't want to spend for an (admittedly nicer) Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz.

With our questions about the G8 GT finally answered, we can now look forward to the opportunity, slight as it may be at this point, to getting behind the wheel of the fire-breathing 415hp G8 GXP.

Motor Authority says: The 2009 Pontiac G8 GT delivers solid performance, big-sedan comfort and the kind of value that makes it easy to hope it finds another home within the GM lineup.