Pontiac's front-wheel drive Grand Am is an overachiever of sorts. Last year, it was the seventh best- selling car in the United States and continues as Pontiac's top- selling vehicle. Sales last year totaled 234,226. Although it's built from the same automotive platform as the Buick Skylark and Oldsmobile Achieva, Grand Am clobbers both its General Motors' corporate cousins in sales. Pontiac's strong marketing campaign and sporty image make this possible. Grand Am, like the battery bunny on television, keeps going and going. One reason for such strong sales numbers is Grand Am offers good value at a reasonable price. Both the two-door coupe and four-door sedan start at $13,499. Grand Am competes in a class situated between true compacts, and a true mid-size. Competitors include the Ford Contour, Dodge Status, Mazda Protege and Nissan Sentra. Pontiac markets Grand Am between its entry-level Sunfire, and mid-size Grand Prix. Grand Am received a major redesign in 1992, but some traits date back to the late 1980s. Both two-door and four-door models are available in SE trim levels, and upgraded GT models. Automatic transmission is optional in both editions, and air conditioning is standard in GT, but optional in SE. With extras including tilt steering wheel, cruise control, rear defroster, air conditioning, power windows and four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive, our bright red, four-door SE test model's bottom line reached $17,690, including a $500 destination charge. When seated behind the wheel, one can't help but notice how low drivers are positioned. In this respect, Grand Am feels more like Pontiac's Firebird muscle car. Those looking for a sports car perspective may enjoy this. People who turned in their racing gloves years ago for a more traditional sedan feel may not be as thrilled. This design leaves occupants slightly more susceptible to bumps in the road. Two adults fit most comfortably in the back seat area. Although headroom is average, legroom is tight. Three preteens are best suited for rear-seat travel. Pontiac needs to update Grand Am's back seat so it folds forward, opening access to the truck for carrying long cargo. The sound system and temperature control layout is superb. All stereo buttons are large and thoughtfully arranged. Three dials, arranged in a row immediately below the stereo, coordinate fan speed, direction and temperature. The instrument panel is well laid out, too. Like most other Pontiacs, the instrument panel is back lit with red lighting at night. Optional power locks and windows are operated from the door armrest. Standard fuel door and trunk release levers are on the floor, just left of the driver's seat. Standard safety features include daytime running headlights, which illuminate whenever the engine is running , and four-wheel, anti-lock brakes. A passenger-side air bag, new this season, joins the driver-side bag. Two cup holders are within easy reach; one in back of the floor-mounted automatic transmission and one in front. A removable, circular ashtray fits into either one of these cup holders. If non-smokers primarily occupy Grand Am, the ashtray may be completely removed. Between the front bucket seats is a deep, flip-top storage bin for cassette tapes and other knick knacks. Our rear spoiler, a worthy $150 option, gives this four-door sedan sporty pizazz. Grand Am has a more conservative look without one. A revised front grille with new headlight layout provides an aggressive look. The new standard engine is much improved. It's a twin cam, 2.4 liter, 150 horsepower, 4-cylinder engine that replaces last year's 2.3-liter engine. In years past, drivers noted noisy, tinny growls emitting from under the hood. Even though growl is markedly toned down, you'll still hear some feedback from the peppy system. The trade off is that from 0 to 60 miles per hour, this four-cylinder powerplant is one of the quickest in its class. Grand Am also offers an optional V-6 powertrain with 155 horsepower. Estimated gas mileage is decent at 22 miles per gallon city, and 32 mpg highway. Our test model, with 10,100 odometer miles, registered 24 combined, one of the lowest in its class. The fuel tank holds 15.2 gallons of unleaded fuel. General Motors assembles Grand Am in Lansing, Mich. |