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Sunday, June 12, 2011
There are few cars in the $20,000-$30,000 range that can turn heads quite like the Pontiac Solstice. Even though it's entering its fourth year of production, this curvaceous roadster still commands looks from fellow drivers and passers-by. This sexy styling, along with the Solstice's able powertrain and sporty driving dynamics, have made it a sales success. For 2011, Pontiac has added even more varieties of Solstice to the menu.
Most notably, this model year sees the debut of a Solstice coupe that's available in the same base and GXP trim levels as its roadster sibling. Like the Chevy Corvette, the Solstice coupe actually has a targa-style removable roof panel. Pontiac says it's concave on the inside to allow for more headroom -- slightly more than 37 inches total. The coupe keeps the roadster's rear fenders and rear fascia, but features a slightly different taillight design, and the deck lid is topped with a sleek-looking (and functional) ducktail-style rear spoiler. And although the interior remains mostly the same as the original Solstice, the area behind the coupe's seats has been redesigned for better access to the cargo area. The result is a car that keeps the original Solstice's sexiness while offering added rigidity and versatility.
Another addition to the 2011 Pontiac Solstice lineup is the Street Edition, which combines the base Solstice's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with the GXP's performance-oriented suspension. We're not quite sure of the logic behind putting the lower-powered engine and all-season tires on a stiffer suspension, but standard features such as air-conditioning and an upgraded seven-speaker audio system offer a level of comfort above that of other Solstice trims.
As before, the soft top 2011 Pontiac Solstice's chief competitor is the Mazda MX-5 Miata. The Solstice (as well as its twin, the Saturn Sky) may have the advantage when it comes to looks and straight-line performance, but the Mazda still beats the Pontiac in day-to-day enjoyment thanks to its more athletic personality, quicker-revving engine, a more polished demeanor and an effortless drop top (including an available retractable hardtop). The Mazda is also more practical and enjoys a vastly superior reputation for reliability. We'd take the Miata over the base Solstice roadster any day, but the powerful GXP is tougher to resist -- and even more so in coupe form.
The 2011 Pontiac Solstice is a budget sportscar, with an emphasis on budget. While the Pontiac Solstice offers a low starting MSRP for its base trim, it also has little in the way of standard features to drool over.
Standard features for the 2011 Pontiac Solstice don't vary greatly between the base and GXP trims, and neither offers a long list of high-tech amenities. ConsumerGuide states that the base Pontiac Solstice includes "OnStar assistance" and an "AM/FM/CD/MP3 player [with] digital-media player connection," while Edmunds points out that "a trip computer and an audio system with satellite radio" are also standard. Edmunds adds that "roadsters have a manual soft top with an acoustic headliner," and those springing for the Pontiac Solstice GXP will get "Bluetooth, cruise control, full power accessories, keyless entry, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel," on top of the base amenities, reports Edmunds.
For those disappointed in the standard features offerings on the 2011 Pontiac Solstice, reviews read by TheCarConnection.com don't hold out much hope for available options. Kelley Blue Book says that "there are four logically-grouped packages," most of which simply add the GXP's standard features to the base model of the Pontiac Solstice. However, Kelley Blue Book also points out that an available Club Sport Package "features a single CD stereo and performance suspension while deleting OnStar, XM radio and all other options save for a rear spoiler" in an effort to save weight. Edmunds reviewers report that available options "on both trims are air-conditioning, leather seating, an upgraded audio system with a six-CD changer, sport pedals and the Club Sport Package," while the "Premium Package adds leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering-wheel-mounted controls." Other stand-alone options, according to ConsumerGuide, include a "Monsoon sound system" and floor mats for the base model.
On the morning the Solstice arrived, the skies opened up, lending themselves to a decidedly negative first impression. Upon opening the driver side door, water poured off the roof directly into the middle of the driver's seat. After voicing a few expletives and wiping the off the dampened throne, we slid in and – like a proper sports car – found ourselves a few inches from the ground. Arthritics take note: look elsewhere for your two-door thrills. Fortunately, the door sills aren't particularly wide or tall making entry and exit a bit easier, if slightly convoluted.
Even before turning the key, thoughts of the Viper immediately spring to mind. The interior is – to put it mildly – snug. The center tunnel is tall and wide to accommodate the transmission and drive-shaft, and unlike many modern sports cars, the Solstice's dashboard and center stack is relatively devoid of the dozens of buttons and switches to control the ever-growing number of features. It's minimalistic and refreshing, particularly in a purpose-built sports coupe.
We could learn to live with the hard plastics, unwieldy color combinations and off-putting textures, but the horrendous fit and finish and ham-fisted ergonomics are a bridge too far. The gaps, particularly between the ends of the dashboard and the doors, are uneven and, in some cases, cavernous. The dark plastic covering the grab handle on the passenger side of the center stack appears as if it's going to pop off at a moment's notice, although the lack of rattling assured us it was firmly attached. Ergonomically, the disjointed theme continues, with the parking brake placed on the passenger side of the console and the window switches placed too far back on the door's armrest to be comfortably operated. And while we appreciate having a switch to toggle the stability control between normal, off and competitive modes, it's placement behind the steering wheel makes it easy to forget (design by lawyers?).
A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque powers the base Solstice, while the turbocharged 2.0-liter four in the GXP models kicks the power output up to 260 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. A five-speed manual transmission is standard for either engine, while a five-speed automatic is optional. Straight-line performance is adequate with the base engine -- it goes from zero to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds for manual-equipped cars. The GXP is much more thrilling; in our testing, it went from zero to 60 mph in a scant 5.8 seconds.
According to the EPA, expected fuel economy for the base Solstice is 19 mpg city/28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. The GXP, despite the added performance, still turns in a respectable rating of 19/25/21 mpg.
In NHTSA's front impact category, the Pontiac Solstice earns a decent four-star rating for frontal crash protection—albeit against vehicles of similar weight. The Solstice also gets four stars for driver and passenger side impacts—though without side airbags. The Pontiac Solstice wins, perhaps unsurprisingly, a perfect five-star rating in terms of rollover resistance, thanks in large part to its low center of gravity.
In response to numerous criticisms regarding the standard safety features on the Pontiac Solstice, GM has upgraded the list to include some very common, and critical, technologies. According to Kelley Blue Book, "new standard equipment includes StabiliTrak stability control [and] anti-lock brakes (ABS)." Edmunds adds that "traction control [is] standard on all Pontiac Solstice trims," although unfortunately "side airbags aren't offered." Other than those newly standard features, TheCarConnection.com discovers little else in the way of active safety systems.
Given the 2009 Pontiac Solstice's small dimensions and generous window size, it's probably unsurprising that visibility is generally good. The only real complaint in this regard comes from Consumer Guide reviewers, who find that "visibility to the rear is partially blocked by a pair of decklid humps directly behind the seat headrests." Although this obstruction is a nuisance, it's not enough to warrant any sort of rearview camera or parking assist on the 2009 Pontiac Solstice.
reference:www.edmunds.com,autos.aol.com,www.thecarconnection.com
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