Pontiac Solstice Reviews

"Solstice hits the mark for sporty fun. Predictable through turns, well-balanced, and agile in quick changes of direction. Responsive steering feels connected to the road."

"Quick lane changes can be done with no tire squeal, body lean or instability. It's almost like piloting a go-kart."

"The aluminum 16-valve engine produces 177 horsepower, which is enough to propel the fairly heavy 2,860-pound Solstice to 60 mph in a fairly quick 7.4 seconds if you rev it hard."

"Its rakish styling features Pontiac's twin-honeycomb grille, sexy curves and two retro-style head fairings on the trunk lid that look as if from slinky 1950s sports-racing cars now considered works of art."

"One of the most attractive aspects of the Solstice is its curvaceous looks. There's hardly a straight line or crease on the body."

"One of the features that makes a sports car a delight to drive is a really good gearbox with short throws and precise shifts. The Pontiac team nailed this with the Solstice, as its gear changes are a delight to the touch, and I never came close to missing a shift."

"...cabin stowage space is about as limited as that in the trunk - a pocket behind the driver's seat, a map holder in the wall behind it, a small compartment in the wall between the seats and a tiny glove box, and that's about all it will hold."

"The comfortable bucket seats are supportive, but their controls need to provide a larger range of comfort settings."

"Trunk is wide enough to fit one large or two small golf bags. Two soft duffle bags will also fit, but don't expect to carry even medium-sized boxes."

"A 5-speed automatic transmission won't be offered for the Solstice until 2006, and the car's 5-speed manual gearbox must be shifted a lot to get the best performance."

"...the fuel gauge in the instrument panel is so deeply recessed it's impossible to see the needle at times."

"Standard items include power steering, an adjustable steering column and an AM/FM/CD sound system, but not a heck of a lot else."

"And, of course, there are the obligatory-in-America cupholders so we never have to go thirsty."

"The 18-inch wheels on the Solstice, compared to 16-inch wheels on the Miata, make the Pontiac look even sportier."

"To all intents and purposes the Solstice is GM's answer to the highly regarded Honda S2000 roadster as well as the Mazda Miata."

"The top is more complicated than the Miata's, as it involves opening the clamshell rear decklid and then pulling the top up and forward."

"GM has delivered that "gotta have" car."