1996 Pontiac Bonneville Review

The much-improved 1996 supercharged Bonneville sedan from General Motors' performance Pontiac division is a genuine rival to costlier foreign sedans.

That should be good news to the many value-oriented consumers examining 1996 models who don't want to spend thousands of dollars more for ``Bonne'' competitors, such as the Lexus ES 300, Acura Legend and BMW 5-Series model.

The standard 1996 Bonneville SE has a $21,589 base price, while the sportier SSE model stickers at $26,559. Both are well-equipped, with items such as dual air bags and anti-lock brakes.

The high-quality 1996 Bonneville sure looks the part of a world-class performance sedan. It has new front fenders, revised front and rear styling and new three- and five-spoke aluminum wheels. Daytime running lights have been added, and there are fresh, sophisticated colors, such as ``medium jade-gray metallic.''

GM's 205-horsepower 3800 Series II V-6 is the base engine for both Bonneville models. This smooth 3.8-liter engine, which debuted last year in unsupercharged form, is a big improvement over the Series I 3800 V-6 and won't let anyone kick sand in a Bonneville owner's face.

Thanks mainly to the Series II V-6, the 1996 Bonneville is the first GM large car to get an EPA-estimated 30 m.p.g. on the highway. The city rating is 19 m.p.g.

But it's the new, supercharged, 240- horsepower version of the Series II V-6 that thrusts the Pontiac into the world- class sedan category. That V-6, which powered my SSE test car, costs $1,342 for the SE and $1,167 for the SSE. It isn't too hard on fuel economy, delivering an EPA- estimated 26 m.p.g. on the highway and 17 in the city.

Also found in Buick's slick Riviera coupe, the supercharged Bonneville V-6 produces 15 more horsepower and more torque than the 1995 super. charged Bonneville V-6 because its redesigned supercharger works with the improved Series II V-6.

The Series II V-6 has an old- fashioned pushrod design, instead of a modern overhead- camshaft layout, but still delivers strong acceleration without seeming to work hard.

Smooth and quiet, the engine doesn't need the high revs of foreign engines to provide quick entry into fast traffic or to allow easy high-speed passing on two-lane roads. The 0-60 m.p.h. time is just 7.8 seconds, which is quick for a big, approximately 3,700-pound sedan that easily seats four tall adults--or five in a pinch--and has a big trunk.

The front-wheel-drive Boneville's quick-shifting, electronically controlled four-speed automatic overdrive transmis. sion contributes to both quick acceleration and good economy for a performance sedan..

The new Bonneville has excellent ride and handling, thanks to a newly modified all- independent suspension. Instead of using stiffer springs and shock absorbers, which would hurt ride quality, Pontiac gave the car strut valve revisions and stiffer suspension bushings. A handy option is the $175 traction- control system for more stability on slippery roads.

The Bonneville has a new type of variable effort steering, which uses magnetism to vary steering effort. The 110.8-inch- wheelbase car steers well, but not as crisply as some rival foreign sedans.

Powerful brakes haul the Bonneville down quickly and surely, with good pedal feel--although the rear brakes are drums instead of the superior discs.

Inside the curvacious interior are easily read sport sedan instrumentation and nicely positioned controls, which work with buttery smoothness.

The big front seats are comfortable and provide decent side support during spirited driving. However, my test car's costly ($1,024) ``articulating bucket'' leather-covered power driver's seat had far too many controls.

Many foreign cars once had better construction quality than their American rivals, but the Bonneville has solid, rattle-free construction and is nicely painted.

You can bet that none of its competitors wish it well.