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2008 Pontiac Solstice Review

STYLING | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

a 21st-century American concept car brought to life
Road & Track

exotic good looks
Kelley Blue Book

turns heads just about everywhere it goes
Edmunds

a cockpit defined — and constricted — by its sweeping center console
Road & Track

Top down, it gushes charisma by the drum
Automobile

The 2008 Pontiac Solstice is an instant attention-getter, bristling with flair and stunning exterior design.

“The Solstice easily rivals such stylish competitors as the BMW Z4 and Audi TT, yet costs half as much”--so says Kelley Blue Book, echoing the praise heaped upon the Bob Lutz-inspired roadster that proves GM still employs talented designers who can turn out original, nonderivative, and pleasing designs. Remarks Automobile, “the side view looks like a Hot Wheels for adults with tires too big for its britches.” They add that “the nose and rump have the sexiest curves this side of Hollywood and Vine.”

“The look is smashing in the stowed position, less attractive erect,” notes Automobile of the “soft roof with flying buttresses” that they feel mimics BMW and Ferrari cabriolets. Road & Track appreciates these design features, calling them “elements of high style, not stripped-down functionality.”

If the interior is not quite the home run that the Solstice’s sexy skin offers, at least it features a driver-oriented cockpit with respectable ergonomics. Whereas Automobile finds “the cockpit mood is simple and inviting," Autoblog criticizes interior bits and pieces as “decidedly behind the curve” and goes so far as to say that the top of the door panels and the area behind the center console seem “to have stolen bits of our Project Big Wheel to make the bean counters happy.”

Conclusion

The 2008 Pontiac Solstice inspires, excites, and provokes in just the right way.


Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Saturn Sky is very closely related to the 2008 Pontiac Solstice but includes much more standard equipment, albeit for a base price that’s several thousand dollars higher, although many consider the Saturn’s interior design to be superior to that of the Solstice. The Honda S2000 may be the closest competitor to the Solstice GXP; it brings an incredibly rev-happy 237-horsepower, 2.2-liter VTEC four-cylinder and six-speed manual. Though it doesn’t match the Red Line for straight-line performance, it beats it for the tactile experience. The Miata covers the basics with a certain tactile charm that the Solstice lacks; the shift action, very direct steering feel, and sound of the modest engine powering the balanced, lightweight roadster is still unbeatable. The torquey Nissan 350Z Roadster is also worth a look for those who seek V-6 grunt above all else.

Next Steps:

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See the Pontiac Solstice in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006

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