Pontiac Solstice Review

2009 Pontiac Solstice Convertible

For much of the past four decades, the affordable roadster segment has consisted solely of cars hailing from England or Japan. Now, however, there's another choice, and this time it's built right here in America. The winner of an Edmunds.com Most Significant Award, the Pontiac Solstice finally brings real excitement to the Pontiac brand, and it's available as a targa-topped coupe, too.

The Pontiac Solstice began its life as a concept vehicle at the 2002 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. After it received rave reviews and plenty of public interest, Pontiac decided to fast-track the creation of a production model. The company wisely kept the concept's styling nearly intact. Big 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels, fluid lines and a smooth, retro-style front end give the car a very distinctive look.

Automotive consumers interested in an affordable coupe or roadster will find a lot to like about the Pontiac Solstice. Its fluid exterior styling is certainly its most dramatic attribute, and it turns heads just about everywhere it goes. The Solstice also boasts a fun-to-drive nature and, in GXP trim, considerable performance potential.

However, our editors recommend taking Pontiac's latest for a long test-drive before settling on a purchase. Many of the car's downsides might be missed when one is swept up by the car's dramatic good looks and new-car hype. Additionally, the car's reputation for reliability is quite poor.

Current Pontiac Solstice

The Pontiac Solstice convertible sticks with the classic roadster formula, which consists of a front-mounted four-cylinder engine, rear-wheel drive, four-wheel independent suspension, a near 50/50 front/rear weight balance and a manually operated convertible soft top. The coupe is identical save for its targa roof -- think T-tops without the bar in the middle.

Underneath the hood is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine. In the base Solstice versions, it's normally aspirated. Although the engine features an aluminum block, dual overhead camshafts and variable valve timing, it doesn't feel much like a sports car engine. Tall transmission gearing and a lack of responsiveness results in a slow-to-rev persona, and the engine doesn't sound particularly smooth or refined near redline.

A better choice for performance enthusiasts is the Pontiac Solstice GXP. This version of the Solstice provides dramatically improved acceleration thanks to a powerful turbocharged, direct-injection version of GM's 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The GXP also has a sport-tuned suspension, stronger brakes and high-performance tires.

Either version will prove to be entertaining in terms of handling. In our review of the base Pontiac Solstice, we observed that the car is more of a cruiser with sporting tendencies than a hard-edged racer. But for most driving situations, the car responds quickly and without drama. A tight turning circle makes urban navigation a worry-free affair.

Thanks to respectable amounts of headroom and legroom, the vast majority of Solstice drivers will find it comfortable with the top up or down. A low-to-the floor seating position, a high beltline and a wraparound dash give the impression of sitting in a fighter-plane cockpit. Unfortunately, Pontiac chose to go with rather basic interior materials, and there's very little that impresses in terms of quality.

The Pontiac Solstice ownership experience is also dampened by three other unfortunate qualities: a fussy multistep top operation process for convertibles (complemented by awful rearward visibility for coupes), a dearth of interior storage space for things like cell phones and wallets and a small trunk that's almost unusable in either model. None of these makes the car unlivable, but they are certainly design flaws that limit the car's everyday functionality.

Used Pontiac Solstice Models

The Pontiac Solstice debuted for the 2006 model year. Changes were mostly minor prior to the 2009 introduction of the coupe model. For 2008, OnStar, an acoustic headliner for the soft top and a trip computer became standard equipment for both the base and GXP versions. Also for '08, a Club Sport Package that includes firmer suspension tuning and silver-painted wheels became available. In addition to the arrival of the coupe, 2009 marked the advent of the soft-top Solstice Street Edition, which includes upgraded standard features and a sport suspension. Also, ABS, stability control and a limited-slip rear differential were made standard across the board, and Bluetooth connectivity was newly available.

SELECT A SPECIFIC PONTIAC SOLSTICE MODEL YEAR*

* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.