2002 Pontiac Grand Prix Review (continued)
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Walkaround

Grand Prix's styling is bold and stunning. It drew magazine and industry awards when it was launched for 1997. In an era when Asian, European and American shapes flow toward neutrality, the Grand Prix is the most American of cars. Its lines are modern, yet evoke memories of the muscle cars of the '60s.

Our GTP sedan test car came in a shiny graphite shade. Striking and classy, this paint does much for the car's lines. But nothing does as much as the low, sleek coupe-like roofline. Remember how, just a few years ago, four doors meant a square-edged roof? Other eye-catching elements include the twin-post aerodynamic sideview mirrors, the mini-megaphone twin exhaust tips, and low-profile tires mounted on chromed wheels that reveal beefy disc brakes and calipers.

The Grand Prix's wide track accentuates its overall shape, which really is impossible to fault. Its wide, sculptured hood flows down toward Pontiac's trademark split grille, smooth fender flares bulge just the right amount, reflector optic headlamps form sharp clear eyes, and big muscular hips make it look ready to pounce. But it's clearly a Pontiac with fat rocker panel fascia, deep recesses for the foglights, horizontal black bars in the taillamps, a rear deck spoiler and definition grooves in its wraparound bumpers.

Interior Features

Our test car was equipped with leather seating surfaces ($520) and a power glass sunroof ($795).

The graphite gray leather seats were great. Four-way lumbar support for the driver is standard on GTP, and electric heat a $100 option. The mounting track of the driver's seat is wide, to allow more foot room in the back. (Unfortunately, the passenger side has none of this.) The console is comfortable when nudged by the driver's right leg, and there are perfect padded armrests for driving with both elbows parked. The cabin is very friendly for long drives.

And speaking of long drives, the Grand Prix offers an eight-speaker Bose sound system ($345 on GTP), with no less than nine adjustments. It's all that you might expect in sound quality and volume. With selector controls on the steering wheel, and CD and radio data alongside mph in the windshield's head-up display, it's clear that tunes are a high priority among Grand Prix buyers. The self-dimming rearview mirror, standard on GTP, is nice. Over-the-shoulder visibility is restricted, however.

There's less head room in the back seat than in front, but it feels like more because rear-seat passengers' heads ride aft of the headliner. Two cupholders are contained in a wide shared armrest, which folds down and steals the space for a third passenger, while allowing limited access to the trunk. There's a pocket on the back of the front seats, but no storage in the rear doors, which have a reflector but no light to warn traffic of an open door at night. (The front doors have lights). There's a grab handle over each rear door, but unless your passengers' shoulders are double-jointed, they'll be grabbing the front-seat headrests to exit.

Fresh-air lovers will appreciate the big sunroof and rear windows that open all the way. The layout and visibility of the analog gauges is very good, and the heads-up digital display of speed in the bottom of the windshield is not a gimmick, it's an excellent technical innovation and a safety feature that hasn't caught on. As for the orange-red instrument lighting, opinions have long been strongly subjective. A standard driver-information center offers useful data along with some gimmicky stuff. There's even a combination compass/outside air temperature display on the optional electrochromic mirror.

The information center indicated a 22.4-mpg average after an 820-mile trip; one that included quite a few floorboard shots just to feel that supercharger rush. That's good mileage for 240 horsepower, and one virtue of supercharging. The bad news is that 92-octane fuel is required.