Like all Pontiacs, the Sunfire's sporty exterior theme is carried through
inside. GM has been upsizing its gauges and controls, and that's reflected
here in big primary instruments--a speedometer and tachometer--plus large
rotary knobs for the climate controls and bigger-than-average buttons for
the audio system. We applaud this trend; it makes gauges easier to read
at a glance, and secondary controls easy to operate when the car is moving.
Auxiliary audio controls on the wheel hub help in this respect, too.
With almost as much rear seat room as a Ford Contour, the Sunfire and
Cavalier are exceptionally spacious for cars in this size class. Chrysler's
Neons hold a small edge, but not by much.
We found the front bucket to be average in terms of comfort, with a
fair range of adjustability and modest lateral support. The rear seat is
a full-folding bench, with room for two, three in a pinch.
Child-safety rear door locks are standard. So are rear ventilation ducts.
The trunk is bigger than the Neon's, with a low lift-over and expandability
via the rear seat fold-down feature. The glove box is almost an auxiliary
trunk, with enough space for a 12-pack of sodas. Remove the ashtray from
the front console and it becomes a cup holder.
Even with a three-speed automatic, we enjoyed the performance of the
Sunfire's upgrade 2.4-liter Twin Cam engine. It revs freely, pumps up plenty
of torque and even though it's not as quiet as, say, a Honda four-cylinder,
it's an improvement over the 2.3-liter Quad 4 from which it evolved.
With this engine, the Sunfire comes to play with more horsepower than
a Honda Civic and more torque than a Dodge Neon Sport. It raises the Sunfire's
performance from the realm of acceptable to spirited.
The suspension is composed of MacPherson struts up front and a twist
beam axle in the rear. It's not as sophisticated as many setups in this
class, but gets the job done.
We found the Sunfire's handling to be average in quick maneuvers, stable
at higher speeds and thoroughly predictable. Ride quality is very good
for a car in this class, and firm enough to make the car fun to drive.
This pleasant combination is largely attributable to GM's new-found
emphasis on increasing body rigidity, which also improves durability and
noise isolation.
GM has also made adjustments to the Sunfire's power rack-and-pinion
steering that improve precision, on-center steering feel and quickness
(fewer turns from lock to lock).
Like most GM cars, the Sunfire and Cavalier disc/drum braking system
includes an antilock feature. However, it's not as sophisticated as the
systems found on more expensive cars, and overall braking performance is
average.