By Rick Popely
Cars.com National May 31, 2001Vehicle Overview
Minor styling changes and the availability of the OnStar communication system are the big news for the front-drive Grand Prix.
New front styling for the SE models includes trimmer twin grille ports and new fog lamps and fascia, all to accent the Grand Prix’s WideTrack stance, which positions the wheels wider apart for better handling. The OnStar communication system is now a factory-installed option on the GT and a standard feature on the GTP.
The Grand Prix is built on the same basic architecture as the Buick Century and Regal, Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, and Oldsmobile Intrigue, but has different styling.
Exterior
Though the Grand Prix usually is considered a midsize car, cars.com includes it with full-size models because the 110.5-inch wheelbase — the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels — exceeds 110, the magic number for full-size status. The Grand Prix’s overall length of 196.5 inches is about 6 inches shorter than the Pontiac Bonneville but in the same ballpark as full-size luxury sedans such as the Acura 3.5 RL and Lexus LS 430.
The Grand Prix is unique in this class for making both a two-door coupe and four-door sedan available. The curvaceous styling is the same on both except for the rear doors and rear side panels.
Interior
The Grand Prix is shorter than the Bonneville in both wheelbase and length but it still is roomy. Headroom is ample for all seats, though adding a power sunroof steals some space. There is adequate legroom in the rear seat even when the front seats are as far back as they go. The deep trunk holds 16 cubic feet of cargo, and a pass-through section in the rear seatback accommodates long items.
Under the Hood
The front-drive Grand Prix comes in three flavors: mild, spicy and hot. The mild SE sedan uses a base 3.1-liter V-6 engine with 175 horsepower. The spicy variety is a 200-hp 3.8-liter V-6 that is optional on the SE and standard on GT models. The hottest is a supercharged version of the 3.8-liter with 240 hp, part of the GTP Package available on GT models. All come with a four-speed automatic transmission and standard traction control.
cars.com From the cars.com 2001 Buying Guide |
Additional Reviews
Cars.com Expert Reviews
| Rick Popely | Cars.com National | May 31, 2001 |
Affiliate Reviews
| Warren Brown | washingtonpost.com | April 8, 2001 |
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