Pontiac Grand Am

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Pontiac Grand Am Models

Two body styles are available, a two-door coupe and a four-door sedan. Sedans cost about $300 more than comparable coupes. Sedans offer slightly more rear headroom, but otherwise they are nearly identical to the coupes.

A 150-horsepower 2.4-liter twin-cam 16-valve 4-cylinder engine comes standard. An optional 170-horsepower 3.4-liter V6 offers substantially more power. SE and SE1 models come standard with a new 5-speed manual transmission built by Getrag, a renowned German gearbox manufacturer. Other trim levels come equipped with an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission.

Models and trim levels include SE, SE1, GT and GT1.

SE trim comes with air conditioning, aggressive P215/60R15 tires mounted on 15-inch wheels and many other standard features. Grand Am Coupes in SE trim start at $16,140. SE1 Sedan, which adds cruise control, power everything and alloy wheels, retails for $18,170.

GT models feature unique bodywork and aluminum wheels, plus a 175-hp version of the V6 ¾ the extra five ponies courtesy of a Ram Am induction system and a freer-flowing exhaust. Retail prices range from the $20,235 GT Coupe to the $21,805 GT1 Sedan.

Driving the Pontiac Grand Am

The Pontiac Grand Am has a smooth and controlled ride quality. There's a noticeable absence of shimmy and shake and rattles over potholes. It's also quiet inside.

Miami's busy roads provide little opportunity to explore chassis dynamics, but the Grand Am felt taut, overall. Its sharp steering response makes the driver feel connected to the road.

We focused on a sedan equipped with the standard 2.4-liter engine and the SE1 trim package as that's what most people buy. With its relatively flat torque curve, this engine delivers plenty of power around town and offers good acceleration for tackling freeway on-ramps. The four-speed automatic offers smooth, positive shifts and seems a good match for the engine.

That wide-track Pontiac stance gives the car an athletic handling response. The wide front track - the distance between the left and right tires - and the stretched wheelbase adds to the Grand Am's aggressive, sporty appearance. It also increases stability at high speeds, in corners and in cross winds. Grand-Am's 107-inch wheelbase is longer than other compact cars.

Beneath the Grand Am's sporty appearance is a rigid unitbody structure. Pontiac says Grand Am's structure is more rigid than that of the Nissan Altima - one of the Grand Am's chief competitors. That's good news for drivers and passengers because a stiffer unitbody allowed GM engineers to design a three-link rear suspension that offers more precise control of the wheels and better noise and vibration damping. That adds up to improved handling and ride quality, areas where previous-generation Grand Ams left something to be desired.

Big front brakes offer good braking distances. Aluminum brake calipers present lower unsprung weight, which improves handling in bumpy corners. All Grand Ams come standard with antilock brakes (ABS) and electronic traction control, both of which make the car easier to control in limited traction situations.