When the Pontiac G8 first debuted, it created quite a buzz amongst aficionados. The sleek design, smooth handling and modest price promised a vehicle that surpassed models produced by Pontiac in the past. A performance car has to offer a comfortable driving experience. The interior has to be functional and aesthetically-pleasing while providing a relaxing environment for the driver. Here are a few highlights about the Pontiac G8's interior.
The dashboard of the new G8 has a smooth design with a generous layer of plastic that feels soft to the touch. The center of the dashboard leads right into the center console which houses the stereo system controls and air conditioning. The entire center portion is contained in a durable hard plastic that cascades directly into the area that separates the driver's seat and passenger seat.
Besides the stereo and air conditioning controls, center console also contains a screen that provides information about the car's battery and oil temperature. Oddly, the G8's LED screen doesn't offer much more information about the car. The screen is large, takes up a lot of room, but provides minimal data. To us, it seemed strange. But, the design is pleasing to the eye even if the functionality leaves a bit to be desired.
Some car enthusiasts have said that the interior of the Pontiac G8 doesn't excite them at all. While they agree that it comes with nearly everything they could want without an overbearing presentation, they prefer some changes. For example, the readouts including the oil gauge and battery seem dated to them. The style is reminiscent of earlier models from over a decade ago. Plus, they're less-than-enthused by the leather seats, which are a standard piece of the G8's premium pack. They'd prefer the option to have cloth seats which tend to grip a little better.
Frankly, we partly agree with what they're saying. The truth is that the Pontiac brand has rarely been a major competitor in its class (they're trying to change that image with the G8). They could inspire more broad appeal to potential owners by designing the G8's interior with more flair. That said, we tend to gravitate toward functionality. The G8's knobs, readouts and placement of gauges and other controls offer comfort and easy reach. While the leather seats don't provide as much grip as cloth seats, they're shaped nicely and contoured to fit the body well.
Overall, we're very pleased with the interior of the Pontiac G8. While some say it lacks panache, we argue that its simple design is unobtrusive and doesn't call needless attention to itself. Everything seems well-placed to offer a tactile feel to the control and instruments. Plus, the G8 comes with seat-mounted airbags as well as the dual stage airbags in the front. Amenities such as passenger sensing, power-adjustable seats and a leather trim steering wheel make the interior a winner in our book. In fact, aside from the Enclave from the Buick line, the Pontiac G8 has one of the best interiors that GM has produced in years.
Simple design, clean aesthetics and effective controls make the G8 a contender in its class.
