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| (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
From the front, the G6 is easily recognized, with the trademark grille being updated but familiar. The Ferrari 512 inspired raked molding on the sides did not carry over from the Grand Am. The side profile is very plain looking, and if not for the chrome wheels, it would struggle to get noticed at all. The real sport sedan appearance is inside. The seats are wonderfully sculpted and the simple black fabric paneling on them reminds me of my old hockey equipment. This is a good thing- the hockey equipment stood up to years of abuse. Unlike the hockey equipment though, the seats are comfortable and very supportive in all the right places, with side bolsters holding you tightly in place when you round a corner quickly. The minute I sat down I had to re-think the exterior of the car since these seats would feel appropriate in something much more powerful.
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| (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
The instruments grab your attention as they all sweep from their minimum to maximum readings when you start the engine. Built for drivers indeed- the seat grabs your attention (and your backside) instantly, and watching the needles dance does it again a few seconds later. Small details, but try and find another car that shows you its ready for a play twice before you shift into gear. The dashboard is typical Pontiac as well- sculpted with chubby, rounded corners and protruding buttons and switches that have a rubbery finish. Chrome accenting looks bling, but you may not like the glare off the instrument cluster bezels and lenses in daytime driving. This can make for difficulty trying to see which gear you are in while using the transmissions manual mode, for instance.
On the road, the G6's ride was fairly quiet but firm. My tester had over 4000 kilometers under its belt and as such was well broken in. The suspension is stiff and coupled with the big wheels, made the car feel and sound as though it was pounding its way through the bumps. This stiffness pays off on the twisty sections of highway I drove on, with plenty of grip available, and lots of fun carving through corners. You can really feel the suspension help the car bite into its line. Simply put, the G6 told me I was in complete control, whereas in some cars this is taken for
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| (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
granted. Its always nice to be informed. Electric power steering isn't my favorite, but it reacts quickly and varies the degree of assist depending on your speed, though it is perhaps a tad numb. It functions wonderfully at low speeds in parking lots for instance, you can steer with only one finger. One note on handling, this car has over 220 pounds feet of torque, and being a front wheel driver this means the G6 will happily light up the inside tire if you poke the throttle prematurely while exiting a corner at a low speed. Though this is plenty of fun, I recommend using the torque to rocket out of the corner instead. With all the glass panels and windows closed, there was little wind noise at speed, and no unexpected sounds. Driving position is perfect and I would imagine the supportive seats and quiet interior would prove well suited for long trips out of town just as much as short trips into the office.
