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2002 Pontiac Bonneville
Date Published: 2/20/08

2002 Pontiac Bonneville
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MSRP:
$25,865 - 33,285

Invoice:
$23,666 - 30,456

Class:
Large Car
2002 Pontiac Bonneville
Expert Rating Summary
Category SE Rating (See All
Ratings)
Large Car Average Rating
Acceleration 6 5.6
Fuel Economy 5 4.6
Ride Quality 7 6.7
Steering/Handling/Braking 5 5.3
Quietness 6 6.1
Controls 3 5.3
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front) 7 6.9
Room/Comfort (rear) 4 5.9
Cargo Room 6 5.8
Value within Class 6 6.9
Total Score: 55 59.1
Ratings: Maximum 10 points per category
2002 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE BUYING RESOURCES
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2002 Pontiac Bonneville Review
Minor styling alterations to the base SE model highlight the few 2002 Bonneville changes. SE, SLE, and SSEi models return. All come with front bucket seats, but SE is available with a front bench for 6-passenger capacity. All have automatic transmission and a 3.8-liter V6; the SSEi's engine is supercharged for more power. Standard are front side airbags, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, tire-pressure monitor, and load-leveling rear suspension. Optional on SE and standard on the others are traction control and General Motors' OnStar assistance system. SSEi exclusives include a standard antiskid system and head-up instrument display. Also for '02, a CD player replaces a cassette as standard on the SE, and SLE/SSEi get revised alloy wheels. Bonneville shares its basic design with the Buick LeSabre and Oldsmobile Aurora.
Competition
This segment has been hard hit by the popularity of sport-utility vehicles. Just a few years back 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 two Recommended choices. Both have room for five and offer a comfortable ride (with modest handling capabilities). If you are looking for towing ability, the Ford Crown Victoria with its rear-drive layout and body-on-frame chassis is an option. Ford has updated it nicely over the years and it comes at a reasonable price.
News
After sagging 24 percent in calendar 1999, Bonneville sales jumped 45.4 percent in 2000, likely on the strength of the 2000-model redesign. But Pontiac's full-size was down again in '01, year-to-year sales sliding 21.8 percent through the third quarter.

The latest buzz from Detroit's rumor mill says Bonneville will be dropped after the 2004 model run. The reasons aren't entirely clear, but Pontiac seems to be betting its future on the youth market with offerings like the new Vibe sportwagon, which emphasizes low cost and a high fun-to-drive quotient. Full-size sedans don't really fit the "active lifestyle" image Pontiac is now trying to shape for itself, hence Bonneville's likely imminent demise.
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