2008 Pontiac G8 GT Road Test Video

By Edmunds Video Productions | Published September 25, 2009

3:24 min

No sooner does the smoke of spent Bridgestones clear than we realize the 2008 G8 GT is the best Pontiac ever � better than the recent GTO and better even than the original GTO. Yes, Really. That�s quite a statement but this new G8 backs it up with a 6-liter V8 good for 361 hp and 385 lb ft of torque. A six speed automatic transmission clicks off precise upshifts and matches revs on downshifts. It�s enough muscle and precision to get the Pontiac from 0- 60 in 5.4 seconds and cover the quarter mile in 13.7 seconds. Both times are a mere tenth behind the last Charger SRT-8 we tested. But this Pontiac isn�t only a straight line performer � GM engineers delivered a world-class performance sedan that�s just as comfortable on a crooked mountain road as it is the drag strip. With a near perfect 50/50 weight balance, the G8 cracks the 65 mph mark in the slalom and delivers a 0.85g skidpad performance. Even with the standard stability control turned off, the G8 is fast, stable and a blast to toss around. There�s a little more body roll than we�d like but it never gets in the way of fun. The G8 GT's four-wheel disc brakes are also worthy. They help produce a stopping distance from 60 mph of just 109 ft with excellent fade resistance, and they can hang with the best from Germany. Unfortunately, those brakes are activated by a soft pedal that provides little feel. It's the one real dynamic flaw in an otherwise impressive package. Unlike previous Pontiacs, the G8 feels finished � it�s obvious the engineers care about how the car feels AND performs. The obvious restraint that went into the G8�s exterior look is another small victory � the lack of garish spoilers and body cladding is a welcome departure from Pontiacs of the recent past. This departure is obvious inside the G8 too. When you consider its well-shaped seats, simple white-on-black gauges, and three-knob climate controls, it's clear that Pontiac's designers didn't take any unnecessary risks. Instead they built an honest, interesting interior that doesn't try too hard. When�s the last time you could say that about a Pontiac? Still, it�s not perfect � for example, there�s no redline on the tach and the digital gauges look like the worst of 1980s technology. But those are minor bumps in the road when you consider just how good this G8 is � Pontiac needs a homerun here and the G8 is it. Fast, fun and functional the Pontiac G8 completely reinvents the brand and restores GM�s performance division to it former glory.