Acceleration

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
9	9	6.4

Real muscle-car feel lends credence to Pontiac's quote of 4.7 sec 0-60 mph with either transmission. Automatic transmission hesitates a bit to downshift, lacks a manual shift gate. Manual transmission has imprecise shift action, long throws, heavy clutch action.

Fuel Economy

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
4	4	5.5

Manual transmission test cars averaged 17.5-18.0 mpg in mostly highway driving. No opportunity to measure with automatic transmission. A federal Gas-Guzzler Tax applies with automatics. Pontiac recommends premium-grade fuel for GTO.

Ride Quality

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
5	5	3.9

Performance-car firm, but mostly comfortable. Some testers find ride control laudable, others criticize it for bounding over bumps and swells. Little impact harshness or tire thump except on very sharp bumps with 17-inch tires. No chance yet to test optional 18s.

Steering/Handling/Braking

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
8	8	8

Assured, athletic. Minimal body lean, strong grip, quick reflexes. Steering has slight on-center dead spot, but is otherwise crisp, responsive. Strong brakes.

Quietness

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
4	4	3.2

V8 growls at full throttle, makes subdued burble at steady 65 mph. Tire noise audible but not intrusive, except on very coarse pavement. Wind rush rises markedly above 70 mph.

Controls

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
6	6	5.5

Large, legible gauges. Simple, generally user-friendly controls, though display for standard trip computer needs better daytime contrast. Cabin trim attractive, but way short of BMW-level look and feel.

Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
7	7	5.2

Six-footers have ample leg room, about an inch of head clearance. Firm, well-shaped, comfortable seats with great lateral support in turns. Good driving stance, helped by standard tilt/telescope steering column, but offset pedals with manual transmission cramp left-leg space. Visibility good all-around. As in other coupes, long doors are clumsy in tight spots, but afford easy front entry/exit.

Room/Comfort (rear)

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
3	3	1.4

Seat shaped for two only, but roomy enough for adults. Front seats power fore/aft via outboard buttons on backrests, but very slowly. Even then, entry/exit quite tight, as backrests don't tip forward far and there are no assist handles.

Cargo Room

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
1	1	3.2

Puny for exterior size. Trunk fairly deep and wide, but only some 18 inches front to rear, so a couple of golf bags fill it up--and rear seatback doesn't fold down. Cabin storage just adequate.

Value within Class

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
7	7	6.6

A nicely appointed cabin with a usable back seat are pluses in this class, but it's the blend of American muscle and Euro-worthy road manners that makes GTO a Recommended pick. Low demand has dealers discounting already reasonable base prices, but be sure to budget for potentially heavy fuel thirst.

Total Score

Base, man.	Base, auto.	Class Average
54	54	48.9

Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars

Low Score		40
Average Score		48
High Score		58