With General Motors putting future rear-wheel drive models on hold, the Pontiac G8 could be the only sedan of its kind from the General for years to come. That said, the G8 is good enough that we probably wouldn’t mind if it was the only rear-drive sedan GM offered.
Backstory
It’s hard to really put the Pontiac G8 squarely into one segment. As far as dimensions go, it’s about the same size as the BMW 5-series, but the G8 can’t really be compared to the BMW since there is a vast difference in interior appointments, as well as price — about $30,000.
With a base price of just over $27,000, the G8 is priced similarly to V6 Honda Accord and Toyota Camry models, but its rear-wheel-drive layout places it out of the typical mid-size sedan market. That price of entry also puts the base G8 about $5,000 more than a comparable Dodge Charger .
So while it might be hard to write a list of even a few competitors for the G8, it’s pretty easy to use a few words to describe it: best-in-class.
Performance (4/5)
The G8 is fitted with GM’s 3.6L V6 — which produces 256 horsepower — whereas the G8 GT uses a 6.0L V8. While the V6 isn’t as good as the V8 at hauling around the nearly 4,000 pound of steel, it still does a good job. Pontiac claims a 0-60 time of 7.0 seconds, and our seat-of-the-pants rating seemed to back up that claim. Power is adequate, but there isn’t quite enough on tap to really throw you into the back of your seat. However, most buyers will find the V6′s performance sufficient.
Of note, the G8 has the best sounding V6 exhaust tone this side of the Infiniti G35.
Despite being one gear short of the G8 GT’s setup, the V6 G8′s five-speed auto seemed to always put the engine in its sweet spot. Shifts — both up and down — were quick, although using the console-mounted manual shift mode had a noticeable delay — a fair tradeoff for being able to pre-select gears and downshift on demand.
The G8 uses the same FE2 suspension as the G8 GT, which can really be appreciated in the twisties. The G8′s chassis is rock solid and was never upset by bumps. Steering is on point, but lacks any real feedback. The G8′s relatively sharp handling and fresh new platform puts it a full step ahead of the Dodge Charger or Chrysler 300 , justifying the small premium in price.
Aesthetics (3.5/5)
One area where the G8 falls short is styling. That’s not to say it’s a bad looking car — it’s actually quite handsome — but it’s neither daring nor dramatic. It’s clearly more muscular than a Toyota Camry, but it doesn’t necessarily look as modern. The G8 will never turn heads like the 300 and Charger did when they hit the market, and side-by-side the Pontiac will look more sedate. On the other hand, a less polarizing design means there will be fewer people who hate it — albeit fewer who love it, too.
Cabin (3.5/5)
Inside, the similarity between the two trim levels continues. The only major differences between the two is that the G8 GT comes standard with leather seats and an upgraded stereo.
Short of the Cadillac CTS and Buick Enclave , the G8 has arguably the best constructed interior of any GM vehicle. Since the G8 is built in Australia, its interior parts are all Holden-spec and therefore all-new to U.S. customers — you won’t find the G8′s interior bits in other GM vehicles.
Where the cabin disappoints is visual appeal. To be frank, the G8′s interior really isn’t that interesting. It works, it’s well made, but it’s not captivating. It looks slightly dated, and more importantly, does nothing to shake the competition. For a struggling brand like Pontiac, the G8 would benefit from a more daring interior design.
Bottom line
The G8 is already sold in Australia as the Holden Commodore, and a few other cars (the Statesman and Ute) share its platform. Holden drivers are used to rear-wheel-drive sedans, so the G8/Commodore is merely the evolution of a good idea.
On the other hand, the G8 is a big deal to those of us here in the United States. Aside from Charger and 300, rear-wheel-drive American sedans have been a rarity for years. The more, the merrier, we say.
The G8′s “Zeta” platform will also underpin the forthcoming Chevy Camaro coupe and convertible. GM hopes to sell 100,000 Camaros a year, so, pardon the pun, a lot is riding on this architecture. Based on our tests of the G8, it’s safe to say Zeta is better than Chrysler ’s LX or Ford ’s Mustang platform.
While CAFE fuel economy regulations may have put other rear-wheel drive sedans from GM on hold, its nice to know that we’ll have the Pontiac G8 for the foreseeable future.
Check back soon for a more in-depth look at the Pontiac G8 GT.
Words and photos by Drew Johnson
