General Motors' Pontiac division builds on its sports/performance image with the 1996 Bonneville. During the 1995 calendar year, Pontiac sold a total of 599,123 vehicles, 83,364 of which were Bonnevilles. While this full-size, front-wheel drive, four-door sedan shares the same automotive platform as other GM products, including Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Eighty Eight, Bonneville's styling cues provide a more aggressive look. Bonneville is marketed in two trim levels: base SE and a performance SSE. Both trim levels are available with popular option packages already included. SE models ordered with popular options receive the SLE (Sport Luxury Edition) suffix while the SSE trim levels with bells and whistles is refereed to as the SSEi supercharged package. Head lamps, front grille, fenders, tail lamps and trunk lid are revised for 1996. A rear spoiler adds an aggressive, sporty touch and is standard on SSE models and an inexpensive $110 option on SE. Standard safety features in every Bonneville include dual air bags, anti-lock brakes and daytime running lights that automatically illuminate whenever the engine is running. Traction control is optional Other standard features include four-speed automatic transmission, air conditioning , cruise control, power windows and locks, rear-window defogger, tilt steering wheel and intermittent wipers. We had a chance to test drive a black, SSEi with a base price of $26,559. However, Pontiac loaded up this model with all sorts of intriguing gadgets, and the bottom line ballooned to $32,051, including a $590 destination charge. The base SE has starting price of $21,589. Inside, all occupants have excellent head and leg room. Our dark leather seats were comfortable, but a little cold to the touch on frigid March mornings. The back bench seat accommodates three adults. If only two passengers are in back, a center console containing dual cupholders and storage bin can fold down. A second cigarette lighter is accessible by rear passengers for portable phones and other accessories needing battery power. The long, flat trunk is accessible through a sliding panel when the console is down. Ceiling handles help passengers exit Bonneville, and the four doors are lightweight and easy to close. The dashboard instrument cluster is well laid out in a sweeping half-shell design. At night, as with many other Pontiacs, the dashboard is backlit with fire-red lights. Stereo and temperature controls are easy to reach. Stereo controls are also mounted on the steering wheel. One option, helpful for the directionally challenged, is a three-dimensional in-dash compass. This handy device provides occupants with a visual illustration about which direction the vehicle is traveling. Another intriguing device, which is just starting to be offered in select automobiles, is a heads up display (HUD). This feature projects information onto the windshield to a visual point just above the hood; information including digital speedometer reading, turn signal flashes and a low-fuel indicator. The thinking behind this is drivers will keep their eyes and attention focused ahead, and spend less time glancing down at the dashboard. I found this heads up display useful. Drivers who find this distracting have the option of simply turning off the projection. Between the bucket seats, accessible to both front seat riders, are nine, good-sized toggle switches controlling power seat adjustments. Power window buttons are located on the door, and conveniently incorporate a slightly angled design. Both the front driver and passenger doors have molded cup holders formed directly into their design; a novel idea, that can present a challenge to right-handed drivers who must maneuver a beverage with their left hand. Also molded into the doors are map pockets and thick, easy to grasp handles. The trunk release button is found on the driver's door. The fuel tank door is designed differently. It unlocks when the power doors unlock, and automatically locks when the passenger doors lock. Bonneville provides excellent views of the road ahead and behind. Blind spots are minimized. The standard engine in SE models is a 205 horsepower 3.8-liter V-6. Drivers thrusting for more power can opt for the supercharged V-6 engine, delivering 240 horsepower, 15 more than last year's supercharged version. This supercharged engine is standard on SSEi, and optional on SLE models. The supercharged engine provides more power, but sips more fuel. Coolant and spark plugs in both engines are designed to last 100,000 miles. The fuel tank holds 18 gallons of premium unleaded fuel. Mileage estimates for the supercharged V-6 engine was 17 miles per gallon city and 26 highway. The standard 205 horsepower engine gets 19 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. Our test drive car, with 12,000 odometer miles, registered 18 mpg combined. General Motors markets Bonneville with a slue of options designed to enhance ride and comfort, including the opportunity to select "performance" ride or "touring" ride firmness with the push of a button. These options also add to the price. Even if consumers opt not to purchase these gadgets, Bonneville is still a solid automobile. Bonneville is built in Orion Mich. |