Pontiac Cars

Within the GM family, Pontiac primarily serves to fill the performance niche. That might be hard to believe after seeing Pontiac cars like the G3 and G5, both slightly veiled copies of efficient little runners sold by Chevrolet. But dive deeper into the lineup and you'll get a better glimpse of the brand's sporting intentions. Even rides like the Pontiac Torrent and Pontiac Vibe are offered with performance-oriented trims.

Pontiac Solstice Overview

Pontiac SolsticePontiac Solstice

The Pontiac Solstice convertible sticks with the classic roadster formula, which consists of pontiac solstice accessories like a front-mounted four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension, a near 50/50 front/rear weight balance and a manually operated convertible soft top. The coupe is identical save for its targa roof -- think T-tops without the bar in the middle. Underneath the hood is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. In the base Solstice versions, it's normally aspirated. Although the engine features an aluminum block, dual overhead camshafts and variable valve timing, it doesn't feel much like a sports car engine. Tall transmission gearing and a lack of responsiveness results in a slow-to-rev persona, and the engine doesn't sound particularly smooth or refined near redline.

A better choice for performance enthusiasts is the Pontiac Solstice GXP. This version of the Solstice provides dramatically improved acceleration thanks to a powerful turbocharged, direct-injection version of GM's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The GXP also has a sport-tuned suspension, stronger brakes and high-performance tires. Either version will prove to be entertaining in terms of handling. In our review of the base Pontiac Solstice, we observed that the car is more of a cruiser with sporting tendencies than a hard-edged racer. But for most driving situations, the car responds quickly and without drama. A tight turning circle makes urban navigation a worry-free affair.

Thanks to respectable amounts of headroom and legroom, the vast majority of Solstice drivers will find it comfortable with the top up or down. A low-to-the floor seating position, a high beltline and a wraparound dash give the impression of sitting in a fighter-plane cockpit. Unfortunately, Pontiac chose to go with rather basic interior materials, and there's very little that impresses in terms of quality. The Pontiac Solstice ownership experience is also dampened by three other unfortunate qualities: a fussy multistep top operation process for convertibles (complemented by awful rearward visibility for coupes), a dearth of interior storage space for things like cell phones and wallets and a small trunk that's almost unusable in either model.

Pontiac Solstice Road Test