First Glance
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, BMW's 650i Coupe is blushing right now. And, hey, the BMW 6-series is a gorgeous car with great long, low lines and visual interest from every angle, not to mention a $71,800 base price. If Pontiac's imitating, at least they've chosen a beautiful original.
The G6's nose has two nostril-like grille openings around a bridge of metal with the Pontiac arrow – not unlike the BMW kidney grilles. Both cars look like they were shaped by the wind, with steeply raked windshields, low rooflines and abrupt trunks. There's a real sense of forward motion in the design. Pontiac simplifies the design in some respects – there are fewer creases in the G6's bodywork than in the 650i's.
But let's be clear – similarities aside, the G6 is no 650i. It's disappointing to harp on build quality, but the gaps and seams on the G6 are uneven and ugly. The G6's paint is afflicted by "orange peel." When you look at a flat painted surface, like the trunk lid, from an angle, instead of a mirror-like reflection (the ideal) you see an uneven surface that resembles orange peel, or bad skin on a supermodel. Still, park a G6 at the local supermarket, and your neighbors will notice. Again, just like a supermodel.
In the Driver's Seat
Pontiac's interiors have style and sportiness down pat. The GTP leather seating (part of a $1,265 option package that includes a power driver's seat, heated front seats and other luxury appointments) is classy and comfortable, with perforated leather seating surfaces and contrasting inserts. Head room in the driver's seat was a little tight for me at 6'2" (I'm mostly torso, which is a bummer), but I was able to find a good driving position thanks to the standard tilt/telescopic steering wheel and optional power adjustable pedals ($125). The back seat is best for collecting empty soup cans and scraps of paper – don't try to put an adult back there, or you'll need a crane to get them out.
The G6 dash is nicely arranged. Above the steering wheel, a big round speedo is flanked by a big tach on one side and a smaller gas gauge and water temp gauge on the other. I like the asymmetry of the setup, because it works and it makes sense. The center stack is similarly logical, with big round air vents above the radio and climate controls down below. Pontiac asks a little too much of the radio display; not only does it handle audio settings, it's also the info center for the car. I'd rather see the info settings up near the gauges.
On the Road
The G6's 3.9 liter V6 engine has a healthy amount of power on tap – 240 hp and 241 lb-ft of torque, as mentioned above. Getting useable power to the ground is always the challenge, and the challenge is complicated by the G6's front-wheel drive setup. Punch the gas pedal from a stop, and the G6's traction control will allow a tiny bit of wheel spin before it kicks in and stops the fun. The car chirps off the line and then tries to wring the steering wheel out of your hands – you're experiencing a front-wheel drive phenomenon known as "torque steer." It doesn't add to driving pleasure, which is why most of the powerful cars in show rooms right now have rear-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive does have its advantages – the engine is closer to the drive wheels, so there's less drive train lash. The engine's weight is directly over the drive wheels, which can maximize traction in certain situations. And it makes for a big trunk – the G6's is deep and cavernous. I'd swear I heard an echo in there.
The G6 has a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive – a bit of old technology in a new car. It works just fine, though a 5-speed would take better advantage of the engine's dynamics. I wasn't nuts about the G6's heavy hydraulic steering.
Journey's End
Some of life's great disappointments come from raised expectations. When I first saw the G6 from a distance, I was in love. The closer we got and the more time we spent together, the less enamored I became. Perhaps my expectations were too high – maybe looking like a 650i from a distance is the best you can expect from a $28,000 coupe. At least the G6 gets decent gas mileage – 18 city/26 highway, according to the EPA.
But there are other performance coupes on the market that will give you a thrill in a similar price range. For front-wheel drive coupes, check out the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry Solara, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Dodge Stratus and Chrysler Sebring. For more driving fun, the Ford Mustang coupe and the Dodge Charger sedan sport rear-wheel drive. There's a Dodge Challenger coupe in the pipeline. If your budget has some elasticity, check out the Lexus IS 250 sedan and the Infiniti G35 coupe (one of my personal favorites).
Or you could always spring for the original, a BMW 6-series. You'll get a fantastic car and you'll attract a much higher class of supermodel. You probably won't be able to afford to eat at nice restaurants until you pay off your car loan, but look on the bright side – supermodels don't eat much anyway.
