Snapshot: The 2004 Pontiac Bonneville is one of the few large sedans with sporting overtones. Front-wheel-drive, V-6 powered in the base and mid-range series, now offering a V-8 Northstar-powered GPX performance version replacing the SSEi.
How Much?: Price for a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville base model in the US is $27,500; $36,000 for the GPX.
The Inside Story: Large front seats are soft, but lack cornering support. Rear seating area is spacious, though the seat is low, probably to allow for the sloping roofline. There are no lack of features in the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville's sporting but busy interior and even the base SE comes with remote keyless entry and a tire inflation monitor system. An option package includes leather seats plus leather steering wheel with audio controls. SLE's get a driver information center, GPX is fully loaded.
Under the Hood: The pushrod 3.8 liter V-6 in the SE and SLE delivers 205 hp, while the GPX's 4.6 liter DOHC V-8 puts out 280 hp and a very healthy 300 lb.-ft. of torque.
Transmissions: The only transmission in the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville is a 4-speed automatic.
Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper. 3 years/36,000 miles powertrain.
Should You Buy a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville?: As Pontiac is GM's performance brand it's to be expected that the 2004 Pontiac Bonneville will reflect that image. In the SE and SLE this characteristic is rather subtle, thanks to the use of a pushrod engine, but handling has been tuned by the engineers to give a sporting feel. With Oldsmobile being dropped this year, the Aurora's Northstar V-8 become available and it certainly transforms the Bonneville's performance. The 2004 Pontiac Bonneville serves well as a spacious sedan, while the new GPX reflects Pontiac's muscle car heritage. Buy it because you enjoy driving.
