Pontiac Solstice GXP: The Underdog Sports Car

Packing an Impressive Punch

Arguably the most underappreciated automobile of the 2000s, the Pontiac Solstice GXP is the personification of a GM sports car. It mirrors the 'best bang for your buck' philosophy of the Corvette in so many ways, and in my eyes, Pontiac's final masterpiece was the unofficial entry-level Corvette. 

The GXP version came out of the factory producing 260 HP and 260 lb-ft of torque via the Ecotec 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine. General Motors offered a tune for the powertrain that boosted the power up to 290 HP and the torque to 340lb-ft, turning the Solstice into a fun-loving, mighty piece of American engineering. 

Purity in Handling

The Kappa platform was developed for the purpose of putting the Solstice concept car into production. This platform utilizes the basic architectural makeup of the Corvette, making it quite the capable chassis for the little car. The GXP model, being the sporty version of the Solstice, combines a significant amount of power and grunt with the great handling capacity to create a truly fun sports car. 

>>Join the conversation about the Pontiac Solstice GXP right here in Corvette Forum.

(Lack of) Practicality

Some might argue that a fallback of the Kappa platform is its poor packaging and low storage volume. The trunk is effectively rendered useless by the presence of a big hump right at the center of it (nicknamed the Mayan Temple) which houses the gas tank. The interior space is very small, there's little storage space --though, the designers did well to put little pockets here and there -- and it's certainly not your luxury SUV seating position. And with a fuel economy of 19 city and 28 highway, you're going to have a hard time convincing your wife that buying a Solstice is a good idea! 

>>Join the conversation about the Pontiac Solstice GXP right here in Corvette Forum.

Sports Car Comfort

With the packaging limitations of this tiny monster, it is understandable that the cabin space is about as tight as an American 95th percentile male can barely fit into. And speaking as an American 95th percentile male, and proud owner of a Solstice, I can tell you first hand, it is not a comfortable car by any means. In reality, though, the driving experience of the little Pontiac is so engaging that creature comforts become trivial.  

>>Join the conversation about the Pontiac Solstice GXP right here in Corvette Forum.

The Experience

Calling the Solstice the 'poor man's Corvette' is not an insult to the Pontiac by any means. The truth of the matter is that with the insane amount of fun that driving a Solstice GXP is, taking into consideration just how little the sub-3,000-lb go-kart costs only makes the experience of driving and owning one exponentially more joyful. 

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Quality

When examining the manufacturing quality of these cars, You have to consider the state of the American auto industry in the mid-2000s, and the fact that the Solstice and its Saturn counterpart the Sky were last-ditch efforts by GM to save the brands by exerting some youth into them. In addition, these were entry-level sports cars that cost about the same as the Mazda Miatas of the world. Therefore, as is the case with pretty much every other American-made car of the era, there is a slight lack of quality and high-end feel overall. 

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Styling

Although some prefer the more muscular and angry-looking styling of the Saturn Sky, the overall design of the Solstice is, from an automotive designer's standpoint, about as pure as it gets. The homogeneous form language, the amazing proportions, the hips and dips in volume and how seamlessly they flow in transition are all visual ingredients that make the Pontiac a true car person's car. The designers did not miss an opportunity to make the Solstice as unique as possible in every way.

Check out The Sunday Club's episode on the Pontiac Solstice GXP on youtube.

>>Join the conversation about the Pontiac Solstice GXP right here in Corvette Forum.

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