Pontiac really needed a solid hit with its latest model, the G6.
The replacement for the fading Grand Am, G6 comes to us with much promise and one of the greatest automotive publicity stunts of modern history, when Oprah Winfrey opened her season in September by giving away 276 G6 sedans to her audience members. All were donated by Pontiac.
But despite the hope and the hype, G6 fails to connect, coming across as just an average car with little to make it stand out. Hardly what one might expect from Pontiac, what General Motors calls its excitement division.
G6 performs well enough but lacks any sort of character or sporty feel, especially when compared with impressive midsize sedans produced during the past few years, both domestic and imported. Modest styling, unremarkable suspension, vague steering, archaic engine design, G6 feels like it could have been built a decade ago.
After driving two more-successful GM entries, the compact Chevrolet Cobalt and midsize Buick LaCrosse, I expected more from G6.
The only thing that impressed was the unique panoramic sunroof.
No, G6 is not a bad car, but it is a disappointment. What was needed here was a solid performer, tight and sophisticated, that targets driving enthusiasts, the market that Pontiac seeks to attract. There are some new models in the pipeline, a performance-oriented GTP model, a coupe and a convertible, that could help move G6 ahead.
But the GT sedan I drove is, all in all, a fairly ordinary car that needed to be extraordinary.
