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2007 Pontiac Solstice Road Test
Date Published: 5/06/08
Also in the 2007 Pontiac Solstice Review:
1.
2.
Pontiac Solstice Road Test
3.
4.
Our road test for the 2007 Pontiac Solstice includes a full evaluation of the
2007 Pontiac Solstice from the inside out. We evaluate not only engine and
handling performance for the 2007 Pontiac Solstice, but also interior cabin
and cargo space. Let our comprehensive road test ratings for the
2007 Pontiac Solstice help you decide if a 2007 Pontiac Solstice is right for
you.
2007 Pontiac Solstice Road Test
| Pros | Cons |
| Steering/handling | Instruments/controls |
| Acceleration | Cargo room |
| Seat comfort | |
Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings
Acceleration
Solstice or Sky, nonturbo engine slow to rev. Still, plenty of pep for most needs, though highway passing power is modest. Overall, feels quick enough to support General Motors' claim of about 7.2 sec 0-60 mph with either transmission. Turbo versions have strong power after initial wait for turbo lag. GM pegs turbocharged Solstice GXP/Sky Red Line at under 5.5 sec 0-60, which also seems credible. Automatic transmission no real penalty vs. manual, which some testers say has notchy shift action.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 6.4 |
Solstice or Sky, nonturbo engine slow to rev. Still, plenty of pep for most needs, though highway passing power is modest. Overall, feels quick enough to support General Motors' claim of about 7.2 sec 0-60 mph with either transmission. Turbo versions have strong power after initial wait for turbo lag. GM pegs turbocharged Solstice GXP/Sky Red Line at under 5.5 sec 0-60, which also seems credible. Automatic transmission no real penalty vs. manual, which some testers say has notchy shift action.
Fuel Economy
Nonturbo test models with manual transmission averaged 20.8 mpg in city/highway driving, 23.0-25.2 in mostly highway driving. Test automatic Solstice averaged 18.1 mpg in mostly city driving. Turbocharged test models with manual transmission averaged 20.8-23.5 mpg in city/highway driving. Pontiac and Saturn recommend premium-grade fuel for both engines.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5.5 |
Nonturbo test models with manual transmission averaged 20.8 mpg in city/highway driving, 23.0-25.2 in mostly highway driving. Test automatic Solstice averaged 18.1 mpg in mostly city driving. Turbocharged test models with manual transmission averaged 20.8-23.5 mpg in city/highway driving. Pontiac and Saturn recommend premium-grade fuel for both engines.
Ride Quality
Base models remarkably compliant and composed over most bumps--for sports cars with 18-inch tires. No float or wallow on high-speed dips and swells, but ride can be jiggly on wrinkled pavement at highway speed. Sky suspension tuned slightly softer than Solstice's, but difference hard to detect. GXP/Red Line versions more taut, transmit more impact harshness even over small bumps.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Base models remarkably compliant and composed over most bumps--for sports cars with 18-inch tires. No float or wallow on high-speed dips and swells, but ride can be jiggly on wrinkled pavement at highway speed. Sky suspension tuned slightly softer than Solstice's, but difference hard to detect. GXP/Red Line versions more taut, transmit more impact harshness even over small bumps.
Steering/Handling/Braking
Hits the mark for sporty fun, especially GXP/Red Line models. Quick, well-balanced through turns. Grip generally good, but large midcorner bumps can upset GXP/Red Line. Confidently stable on the highway and in strong crosswinds. Responsive steering has just-right road feel.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 |
Hits the mark for sporty fun, especially GXP/Red Line models. Quick, well-balanced through turns. Grip generally good, but large midcorner bumps can upset GXP/Red Line. Confidently stable on the highway and in strong crosswinds. Responsive steering has just-right road feel.
Quietness
Engines buzzy or boomy depending on rpm, loud enough to mask most tire rumble. Turbocharged engine particularly noisy, with test models suffering from annoying ticking sounds at idle and while accelerating. Test cars had panel squeaks. Some testers noted annoying top-up wind rush around side windows due to poor sealing.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Engines buzzy or boomy depending on rpm, loud enough to mask most tire rumble. Turbocharged engine particularly noisy, with test models suffering from annoying ticking sounds at idle and while accelerating. Test cars had panel squeaks. Some testers noted annoying top-up wind rush around side windows due to poor sealing.
Controls
Simple controls, but some awkward to reach in these tight confines. Gauges set in deep tunnels, have overstyled graphics, so are hard to read even by day; they're obscured for some drivers by steering wheel rim. Sky's interior brightwork, piano-black finishes look upscale vs. Solstice cockpit, but both cars awash in hard, unappealing plastics. Impractical cupholders require awkward reach behind.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5.5 |
Simple controls, but some awkward to reach in these tight confines. Gauges set in deep tunnels, have overstyled graphics, so are hard to read even by day; they're obscured for some drivers by steering wheel rim. Sky's interior brightwork, piano-black finishes look upscale vs. Solstice cockpit, but both cars awash in hard, unappealing plastics. Impractical cupholders require awkward reach behind.
Room/Comfort/Driver Seating (front)
Tighter for six-footers than Mazda MX-5, but OK leg space, good top-up head room. Low seats won't suit some shorter drivers--and aggravate entry/exit--but GM promises a power driver-seat height adjuster. Seats have good lateral and lower-back support, but lack lumbar adjustment. Double-hump rear bulkhead hinders vision astern for shorter drivers. Top cannot be lowered or raised without getting in and out of car to manipulate folding mechanism, rear-roof pegs, trunklid.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5.1 |
Tighter for six-footers than Mazda MX-5, but OK leg space, good top-up head room. Low seats won't suit some shorter drivers--and aggravate entry/exit--but GM promises a power driver-seat height adjuster. Seats have good lateral and lower-back support, but lack lumbar adjustment. Double-hump rear bulkhead hinders vision astern for shorter drivers. Top cannot be lowered or raised without getting in and out of car to manipulate folding mechanism, rear-roof pegs, trunklid.
Room/Comfort (rear)
(No rear seating.)
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.1 |
(No rear seating.)
Cargo Room
Top collapses into trunk after raising rear-hinged lid, leaves room enough for only a couple pieces of soft luggage. Precious little cockpit storage, even for a sports car.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 |
Top collapses into trunk after raising rear-hinged lid, leaves room enough for only a couple pieces of soft luggage. Precious little cockpit storage, even for a sports car.
Value within Class
The base Solstice and its Saturn Sky sibling match Mazda's MX-5 for performance, handling, and style, but not for practicality or powertrain polish. The turbocharged Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line are notably faster, but suffer the same drawbacks as the base versions. Still, Solstice and Sky are affordable, fun-to-drive American sports cars, even if they don't always impress of refinement, decor, or design detail.
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6.2 |
The base Solstice and its Saturn Sky sibling match Mazda's MX-5 for performance, handling, and style, but not for practicality or powertrain polish. The turbocharged Solstice GXP and Sky Red Line are notably faster, but suffer the same drawbacks as the base versions. Still, Solstice and Sky are affordable, fun-to-drive American sports cars, even if they don't always impress of refinement, decor, or design detail.
Total Score
| Base, man. | Base, auto. | GXP, man. | GXP, auto. | Class Average |
| 43 | 42 | 42 | 42 | 47.3 |
Scores for all Sporty/performance Cars
| Low Score | 41 | |
| Average Score | 47 | |
| High Score | 57 |
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Also in the 2007 Pontiac Solstice Review:
1.
2.
Pontiac Solstice Road Test
3.
4.
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