2009 Pontiac G8 GXP
by Jim Prueter -07/2009

Muscle bound beast disguised as a family sedan

With 415 horsepower under its dual-scooped hood, little else about the re-badged Australia-built Holden Commodore suggests Hemi drivers might soon be watching the rear end of the Pontiac GXP fade in the distance. That’s because everything except its brute performance is understated.

GXP ($37,610) is the most powerful of the G8 sedan offerings, which also include the 256-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 base G8 sedan ($28,250) and 361-horsepower 6.0-liter GT ($31,755). With the exception of descriptive model badging on the rear trunk lid, all three are virtually identical in appearance.

There’s a slim rear spoiler affixed to the rear deck lid, and four chrome tipped exhaust pipes and 19 inch wheels on the GXP that hints at the vehicle’s power but then again, any number of lesser performing cars do that and more.

But under the hood of the rear-wheel drive GXP there’s a 6.2-liter Corvette engine that launches the car from a dead stop to 60 miles per hour in about 4.5 seconds, and covers a quarter mile in 13 seconds. That’s fierce acceleration in a family sedan, which is why it’s so much fun and so addictive to drive.

Our test car was equipped with a standard computer-assisted six-speed automatic transmission. A six-speed manual shifter is $695 extra. The only other option offered is a power, tilt-sliding sunroof ($9000).

The suspension is firm but not overly stiff, it handles cornering with agility and confidence, and brakes are excellent. Driven hard, the GXP wants to please and you never feel like the vehicle is getting away from you when pressed coming out of a corner. Steering feels a bit on the light side.

Inside, the cabin is big and comfortable with bolstered leather seats and telltale “GXP” stitched high on the front bucket seat backs. Not particularly upscale, not luxurious, but nonetheless pleasing and fitted with high-grade plastics and a soft-touch rubberized dash.

The steering wheel tilts and telescopes, but some will find the power window switches located on the center console rather than the door to be awkward. This is a convenience setup from GM so they can avoid having to reconfigure the switches or door panels for right-hand-drive countries like Australia or left-drive like the U.S.

A few gripes: We didn’t like the bright red dash lights, confusing and small radio control knobs, and the G8 is one of the few cars we’ve driven that doesn’t offer navigation. The trunk is roomy but the rear seats don’t fold down. However, there is a pass-through that opens in the center of the rear seat to transport long items like skis. The GXP does not have a spare, rather a can of tire sealant and an air compressor to handle flat tires.

Standard safety gear includes driver and passenger front and side air bags with head-curtain side airbags for both front and rear, traction and stability control, limited slip rear differential, four-wheel antilock brakes with electronic brake assist, BremboÒ front calipers and keyless remote door and trunk locks. The G8 has not been crash tested.

If interested, buyers shouldn’t wait. Pontiac says it will import just 1000 GXPs to the U.S. and GM has announced that the brand will be discontinued at the end of the 2010 model year. Too bad. We think the G8 GXP is the best Pontiac we’ve ever driven, and now it’s going to die.