2005 Pontiac G6 in Wauseon

Pontiacs are ubiquitous in the Motor City, but the rest of the country is less interested in the marque. During our first test-drive of the new G6, which replaces the Grand Am, a Pontiac engineer admitted that when he flies to California, he holds his breath after leaving the airport terminal until he sees a Pontiac. Sometimes he nearly passes out before conceding that there are no Grand Ams, Grand Prixs, or Bonne-villes swimming in the sea of Hondas, Toyotas, and BMWs. Pontiac is hoping to change that with the G6 and has even ditched its best-selling nameplate-Grand Am-to make the point that this is a truly different Pontiac.

The G6's sleek, unadorned styling is certainly a refreshing change from the Grand Am's ribbed plastic and bizarre spoilers. The car's long, 112-inch wheelbase, which is shared with its Epsilon platform mate, the Chevrolet Malibu Maxx, helps give the car a great road stance, with a flowing profile and short overhangs. The interior is less appealing. Although a huge improvement over the Grand Am's, it still suffers from subpar switchgear, imprecisely molded plastics, and discordant shapes and textures. Legroom is plentiful, but headroom is sacrificed for a low, sexy roofline.

This year, a 3.5-liter V-6 sending 200 horsepower and 220 pound-feet of torque through a four-speed automatic is the sole powertrain for both the base model and the GT. While smooth at idle, the pushrod V-6 coarsens as the revs rise. For 2006, a GTP model will debut with a 240-horsepower, 3.9-liter pushrod V-6 and an optional six-speed manual. A modern, DOHC, 2.4-liter, 170-horsepower Ecotec four-cylinder also arrives next year, along with coupe and convertible body styles.... Read full article