2000 Pontiac Bonneville: Overview

Vehicle Highlights

Pontiac's full-size sedan is redesigned for 2000 with new styling but carried-over powertrains. Front side airbags are among new standard features, and General Motors' StabiliTrak antiskid system is included on the top-line model.

Wheelbase and overall length increase nearly two inches, but interior leg room is unchanged and head room shrinks slightly.

SE, SLE, and SSEi models are offered. All come with front bucket seats, but the SE offers an optional bench for 6-passenger capacity. The only engine is a 3.8-liter V6. SE and SLE models have 205 horsepower, the supercharged SSEi 240. The only transmission is a 4-speed automatic. Traction control is standard on SSEi, optional elsewhere. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes replace a disc/drum setup, and a tire-inflation monitor is a new standard feature on SLE and SSEi. SSEi's StabiliTrak is designed to selectively brake the front wheels to counteract skids in turns. SSEi models also come with GM's EyeCue head-up display, which projects main instrument readings onto the windshield, and GM's OnStar assistance system.

COMPETITION

This segment has been hardest hit by the huge popularity of sport-utility vehicles. Just a few years ago there were more than 12 cars in the segment and now there are just seven. Heading up the field as Best Buys are the Chrysler Concorde and Dodge Intrepid twins. They have real room for six, exceptional road manners, and plenty of power.

Toyota's Avalon and Buick's LeSabre are twoRecommended choices. Both have room for five and offer a comfortable ride (with modest handling capabilities). If you are looking for towing ability or don't mind having a rear-drive car, then we recommend you take a look at the Ford Crown Victoria. With its rear-drive layout and body-on-frame chassis it's a dinosaur in this class, but Ford has updated it nicely over the years and it comes at a reasonable price.