Instead the manual adjustable buckets are reasonably comfortable, with fairly adequate side bolstering. Their cloth pattern is a personal choice issue, but I didn't find it particularly offensive. The rear seats are good for two adults in a squeeze and quite reasonable for kids. While it looks like a hatchback it alternatively offers a fairly accommodating trunk, good for 351 L (12.4 cu ft) of luggage.The Sunfire's interior plastics quality is actually pretty good considering its price, while the general fit and finish of my test car was passable. Again, it's important not to pit the Sunfire against BMW quality levels - its $16,085 base price can't justify it. All in all, primary and secondary controls are within easy reach, work well and are fairly attractive to boot.
The standard 5-speed shifter, as equipped in my test car, is fairly nice to row through gears, especially due to the engine it connects to. The 140-hp 2.2-L Ecotec 4-cylinder is a blast. It revs quickly and easily and mated to only 1,193 kg (2,629 lb) of curb weight shoots car and passengers forward with amazing zip. And even though 150 lb-ft of torque pumps through the front wheels, dreaded torque steer is kept to a minimum. I actually found myself taking the Sunfire out instead of the much higher priced and more respectable sedan parked next to it just because of its heightened fun factor. There's also the added benefit of improved emissions and an impressive 6.7 / 10.0 L/100 km (28 / 42 mpg) city/highway fuel economy rating.