Up Close: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sport Truck

I’ve heard the term sport truck before, but this one definitely has more sport than most. The G8’s aggressive front end, combined with long, clean flanks and a jacked-up rear end, make for a compelling presence. The cab is shorter than I expected, really exaggerating the length of the cargo box. Honestly, I can’t tell if the profile is awkward or if it’s just that I’m looking at an animal that’s altogether unfamiliar to the eye.

The rear window is right behind the occupants’ heads — similar to a roadster, and resulting in surprisingly good rear visibility. The interior is straight out of the G8 sedan, which is to say of decent quality and design, but a little foreign compared to the average North American-built GM car.

Everyone’s wondering aloud who the buyer for this model would be, and some have suggested that it’s the casual pickup truck buyer who wants to pay less for gas. I don’t think someone who wants to pay less for gas is going to go buy a new car — especially not this one, seeing as its starting price will be around that of the G8 GT, which is almost $30,000. Then there’s the fact that it’s powered by the GT’s 361-hp V-8, which delivers 15/24 mpg city/highway in the sedan. Pontiac says the sport truck’s fuel economy estimates should be similar because its standard soft tonneau cover eliminates any aerodynamics penalty. There’s currently no plan for a V-6 version of the truck, but Pontiac says there’s no reason it couldn’t be done if it’s demanded. Maybe pickup truck fans will be drawn to the base GT’s 17/25 mpg. Or maybe buyers will be more interested in sport than in truck.

Related:
2008 New York Auto Show: 2010 Pontiac G8 Sports Truck