Get comfortable with the G6 sedan

Think of the Pontiac G6 as a stylish, fun-to-drive sedan with good get-up-and-go and respectable gas mileage.

If you were tuned in to Oprah Winfrey in September you saw the afternoon TV matriarch give away 276 Pontiac G6s to a screaming, near-riotous audience, in what has been described as the most daring marketing coup in the history of the auto industry. Most people have never even heard of a G6s, let alone seen one, but area dealers are receiving shipments now, and I recently took a sample out for a test drive.

The G6 rides on GM's new Epsilon platform, as does the Chevy Malibu Maxx, but unlike the Maxx, the Pontiac is intended as more of a performance sedan than a typical family hauler. But I found it could perform both duties admirably, and my impression is that it holds an edge in handling over many of its contemporaries. The G6's 112.3-inch wheelbase is 5 inches longer than the Grand Am it replaces, and is one of the longest among mid-size sedans. It does much to enhance ride quality, eliminating the hobbyhorse effect many cars produce on concrete expansion joints. The G6 yielded a pleasant ride, with comfortable seating in the front and adequate headroom throughout, despite an expansive new front-to-rear sunroof that steals some rear-seat headroom.

Although Pontiac sells its cars with a performance mind-set, and the G6 moniker certainly sounds "sporty," don't buy this vehicle thinking you're getting a hot rod. Because it's powered by an aging but reliable V-6 engine, it's no match for the muscular V-8 Pontiac GTO, which I reviewed a few weeks ago. Think of the G6 as a stylish, fun-to-drive sedan with good get-up-and-go that can haul your family or friends in comfort, while achieving respectable gas mileage.

In terms of acceleration, most competitors in this price range offer a V-6 engine with more raw horsepower than G6's 3.5-liter 200-horsepower engine. But as we're seeing in the latest generation of cars, horsepower is just part of the story. What matters most is how that power is applied to the pavement! Torque delivery, transmission efficiency, final gear ratios and traction are just as important as horsepower. The G6 delivers 85 percent of its torque just off idle, and can do the 0 to 60 sprint in just 7.9 seconds. It's no slouch! And, that engine/transmission combination, with ratings of 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway, gets better mileage than a lot of cars. With soaring gas prices, the G6 might be the right car at the right time for Pontiac. Still, if Pontiac would replace the G6's standard four-speed automatic transmission with a five- or six-speed automatic like some of its competitors, both its fuel economy and performance would improve.

If there were anything memorable about my test drive, it would be the G6's panoramic sunroof that provides twice the opening of a traditional sunroof. It's a $1,500 easy-to-use option controlled by a slick overhead rotating knob. I found it extraordinarily fun to play with, and even when running at highway speed with the sunroof wide open, I was able to converse with passengers without shouting. The sunroof is composed of three glass panels that tilt and slide to the rear as the front panel becomes a large air dam when it tilts upward to direct air and noise away from passengers. It's the closest you can get to the feeling of an open-air convertible, without the inherint disadvantages of a ragtop. Is it worth the money? Have you priced the cost of a convertible and the insurance lately?

The G6's target age group is 30-to-50-year-olds, and Pontiac is making no secret that the vehicle is marketed strongly toward women. Features that include a remote starter system, easy entrance and exit, space for three child seats in the rear, rear windows that roll all the way down, a 14-cubic-foot trunk and a $700 airbag package that includes both side airbags for front occupants and full-length head curtain protection, should keep the target audience happy. Pontiac designers have succeeded is creating a machine that looks and feels new, without giving up passenger space or practicality. I was surprised with this sports sedan's rear seat room -- it's certainly adequate for long-distance family travels.

The G6 is available in three different trim levels: base, GT and GTP. Prices start at about $21,000. With solid handling, a quiet ride, comfortable deeply-bolsered seating and a catchy name, the G6 will be an American alternative in the hot mid-size race. If you think sedans are bland, the handsome G6 might change your mind. It may not make you faint, but it will demonstrate that sports sedans don't have to be cramped, noisy and uncomfortable.

Steve Robertson of Robertson's Creative Photography is a car enthusiast and former staff writer/photographer for the Southeast Missourian. Contact him at sjr1@robertsonsphotography.com.