A V-8 gives the Bonneville new life

Pontiac’s 2004 Bonneville shows how a minor redesign can give a car a whole new personna. While the basic Bonneville has been around for some time now, changing the front and rear styling, using smooth cladding on the sides and adding a V-8 engine to the top model transforms this sedan.

 The instant you twist the key of Pontiac’s Bonneville GXP, the rumble of its Northstar V-8 lets you know that this is no ordinary Bonneville. 

 Putting the 275-horsepower Northstar V-8 into the top-of-the-line model gives this front-wheel-drive sedan a welcome shot of vigor and sophistication. The freshened exterior is so clean and smooth that it almost looks completely new.

 There are three models: the SE, SLE and GXP. Base prices are $27,690 for the SE, $30,540 for the SLE and $35,995 for the GXP. The SE and SLE have 205-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engines.

 The GXP is quite a nice package. With a new rear-wheel-drive Cadillac STS just around the corner, the GXP and the Cadillac DeVille are GM’s only two front-wheel-drive models with the Northstar. Acceleration is smooth and strong. Two-hundred-seventy-five horsepower gives a good kick in the pants and makes passing slower vehicles a breeze.

 Putting this much horsepower through the front wheels can be a little tricky, and you can feel them fighting for grip if you mash the throttle. Traction control and GM’s StabiliTrak electronic stability system help keep the vehicle under control, however. The four-wheel disc brakes have standard antilock.

 The GXP comes with very handsome 18-inch alloy wheels. The front and rear independent suspension provides a firm ride that can turn a bit harsh on certain kinds of pavement. The Bonneville’s chassis and 112.2-inch wheelbase have been around for a number of years, and the ride quality is not quite as fluid as some of GM’s newer platforms.

 Inside, the GXP’s deeply contoured front bucket seats are cozy and pleasant. All seats are covered with leather. Suede seat inserts look rich and help hold the driver and passenger in place during vigorous driving. The driver’s seat has power lumbar support and a memory setting.

 The Bonneville’s instrument panel is not exactly subtle. There are lots of knobs and switches, and at night the switches and gauges have red lights. The test car had light tan upholstery, and the center of the instrument panel was dark gray. That subdues things nicely. Shiny carbon fiber plastic panels are placed around the air vents, and they look a tad gaudy. The shift lever is topped with a piece of brushed aluminum. The GXP’s cabin is pretty sporty but slightly overdone visually.

 Dual-zone climate controls are standard, as are side-impact airbags. Fingertip controls for climate and audio are mounted on the steering wheel.