Expert Reviews from Around the Web
We have scoured the web for expert reviews of this car and found the best ones for you to read. Found 9 reviews. This list is displayed in ranked order based the reviews we think are the best.| Ranking | Details |
|---|---|
| #1 |
2009 pontiac g8 Professional Edmunds ReviewSource: Edmunds...Thanks to a cylinder deactivation feature, the GT V8's fuel economy is close to the V6's; the EPA gives the V6 a 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway rating and the V8 a 15/24 mpg rating. The GXP will likely be slightly less efficient than its GT stablemate. In short, the G8 is fleet-footed in any form -- and you'll pay for it at the pump. Safety: All G8 models are equipped with front seat airbags, full-length side curtain airbags, antilock disc brakes with brake assist, stability control and traction control. OnStar is also standard equipment. Interior Design and Special Features: Modern Pontiac... |
| #2 |
2009 Pontiac G8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...256-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 with five-speed automatic and manual mode 361-hp, 6.0-liter V-8 with six-speed automatic 402-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 with six-speed automatic or six-speed manual Standard limited-slip differential Front and rear fully independent suspension that employs a multilink design Safety Safety equipment includes: Six standard airbags, including side torso airbags for the front occupants and side curtains for the front and rear seats Antilock brakes Traction control Electronic stability system G8 GXP Like other Pontiac models with the GXP designation, the GXP G8 is a... |
| #3 |
2009 Pontiac G8 OverviewSource: CarGurus...the big V8 gets an EPA rating of 15/24 mpg.The GXP packs Corvette power with a detuned 6.2-liter V8 blasting out 402 hp with 402 lb-ft of torque. At this level, a six-speed automatic or manual transmission is available. Pontiac claims the bigger V8 cuts at least a half-second from the GT's 0-60 time, but it hasn't received an EPA rating yet.Does it handle? is always the question with big American muscle cars. It looks like Pontiac did its homework for the G8. Its BMW-like front strut/rear multilink suspension produces handling characteristics that give the G8 European sport-sedan agility.The... |
| #4 |
2009 Pontiac G8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Of course, it's worlds better than the Grand Prix. The gauges are straightforward and good-looking in a sporty red, matching the two-tone leather seats in our GT tester. Standard G8s or those with plain black leather get black and gray gauges. The GT's seats were comfortable, clad in red and black leather. Heated leather front seats are part of a $1,400 Premium Package, which I'd recommend. Without the leather, even things like the armrests on the doors are covered in a cheaper-feeling cloth material. In this price range, moving from $29,995 to $31,395 shouldn't be a deal-breaker, even if it... |
| #5 |
2009 Pontiac G8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...The GXP's cornering performance on the track is pretty good, especially considering its comfortable ride on the street. The sedan has a balanced feel to it, and you can use the gas pedal to help steer the car through a corner. A Cabin From Down Under The GXP wears a Pontiac badge, but its interior is unlike any Pontiac on sale in the U.S. That's because the G8 hails from Australia, where it's known as the Holden Commodore. Some differences are subtle, like the location of the power window and lock switches in the center console, behind the shifter. Others are more pronounced, like the audio... |
| #6 |
2009 Pontiac G8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...good -- though you can't help but hear that big V-8 every time you hit the gas. There's also a large trunk (17.5 cubic feet). This car can easily carry a foursome's golf bags to the country club in style. While the G8 GXP includes some luxury features, such as Bluetooth connectivity for hands-free phone operation and XM satellite radio, it does not include a navigation system, something many drivers may expect. It does, however, include General Motors Corp.'s OnStar system, which provides a host of features including turn-by-turn directions and 911 calling for emergencies. Most exciting... |
| #7 |
2009 Pontiac G8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...And that includes highly favorable reviews for the G8 GXP's interior, which were noteworthy because Pontiac interiors for the longest time were less than praiseworthy. But the G8 GXP cabin's high-quality materials, ergonomically sensible layout (with power-window buttons easily reachable on a central, floor-mounted console, for example), and perfect fit-and-finish were on a level comparable to something from Audi. And that's saying something, because Audi and its parent, Volkswagen, make some of the best interiors in the business. But now for an inconvenient truth: The G8 GXP, like most... |
| #8 |
2009 Pontiac G8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...we'd insist that the guy who designed the front locks on the top should have done the one in back. It's difficult to open, even harder to close. The Solstice roadster offers a 2.4-liter, 173-h.p. 4 that's adequate for cruising, but the GXP coupe slips in a 2-liter, 260-h.p. turbo 4 with an attitude. Mileage is a respectable 19 m.p.g. city/28 m.p.g. highway with a notchy 5-speed manual. Automatic runs $995 and gets 1 more m.p.g. on the highway. The turbo 4 gives the GXP the power the roadster should have had to match its dramatic styling. Very good handling, too, thanks to stability and... |
| #9 |
2009 Pontiac G8 Professional Cars.com ReviewSource: Cars.com...Overall length of the GT is 196.1 inches, which is 2.2 inches shorter than the 2008 Grand Prix. The trunk has 17.5 cubic feet of space, compared with 16 for the Grand Prix. The G8 has a 114.8-inch wheelbase, with a front track width of 62.7 inches and a rear width of 63.3 inches. The suspension system includes MacPherson struts in the front, and a four-link, coil-over-shock design in the rear. Inside are jewel-like instruments, satin and chrome trim, and grained textures throughout the cabin. Included in the instrument-panel detail are white lighting for the primary instruments and Pontiac's... |
Gallery
Pontiac G8 Related News
2008-09 Pontiac G8 Recalled Over Airbag Safety Concerns
GM has issued a voluntary recall on certain 2008 and 2009 Pontiac G8 sedans due to a potential safety issue concerning the cars’ front passenger airbag. According to... November 7, 2011 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
Vauxhall VXR8 (nee Pontiac G8 GXP) Wins MPG Marathon
If you’re wondering how a big sedan powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 engine can win a competition focused on high mpg, here’s a quick explanation of the challenge... October 11, 2011 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran
Australian V8 Supercars Series May Host U.S. Race
We got a taste of Australia’s V-8 muscle car love with the short-lived Pontiac G8 GT and high-performance GT GXP, which were essentially a rebadged Holden Commodore and... June 6, 2011 by Viknesh Vijayenthiran 2
Bob Lutz kills rumors of Pontiac G8 becoming Chevy Caprice
Pontiac may be dead in the water but some enthusiasts - and until today, Bob Lutz among them - have been clamoring for at least one of the brand’s cars to be rebadged... July 16, 2009 by Ralph Hanson 41
Hurst announces Pontiac G8 H.O. 'Executive Hot Rod'
The Pontiac G8 - and its entire brand - are nearly extinct, but there's time for one last hurrah at Hurst. The historic hot rod company has plans to build 52 special-edition... June 30, 2009 by Nelson Ireson 5
Why should I also consider these?
The G8’s chief rival is the Dodge Charger, which has more aggressive styling but is a little less refined.
The Charger and the similar but more glamorous Chrysler 300 offer optional all-wheel drive, whereas the G8 does not.
However, the Charger doesn’t have the thoroughly in-check body control and poise around corners to match the G8.
The front-wheel-drive Ford Taurus (with an all-wheel-drive option) is just as large as its competitors, but it’s more clearly geared to an older, more conservative crowd.
Then there’s the Nissan Maxima, which trumps the G8 for style but, because it’s front-wheel drive and only offers a V-6, can’t touch the G8’s level of performance.
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