The 2009 Pontiac Solstice is based on the Saturn Sky, and both have become renown over recent years for their super cool sporty roadster image, but plagued with inherent issues of clumsy manual softtop, mediocre performance and poor reliability. This year Pontiac counters at least some of these criticisms with a new hardtop coupe with removable roof panel to make the summer fun last all year long. If it is image you are after then the Solstice is a brilliant American roadster, but if you yearn for a bit of substance behind the glamour, the GXP turbocharged version offers a touch more power. However look over to the Mazda Miata, Scion tC and MINI Cooper and you will find a great deal more refinement in performance and interior without a huge difference in price.
2009 Pontiac Solstice Performance
The baseline 2009 Pontiac Solstice features a 2.4-liter DOHC four-cylinder Ecotec engine that produces 173hp and 167lb-ft of torque. It is not spectacularly powerful, and GM claims it reaches 60mph in 7.2 seconds which is on the slow side for a sports car. Variable Valve Timing is included for engine efficiency and fuel economy, and five-speed manual transmission with short-throw shifter is standard. Five-speed automatic transmission is also available. The 2.4-liter Solstice does not handle brilliantly, although Pontiac has tried hard to improve the steering with a hydraulic rack and pinion system and 18-inch wheels. It still feels somewhat loose and unresponsive but braking is certainly good.
It is well worth forking out the extra cash for a GXP version of the Solstice, which sports an Ecotec turbocharged four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine with a much more respectable 260hp and 260lb-ft of torque. Unlike its slower brother it reaches 60mph in just 5.8 seconds. Sport suspension stiffens the ride considerably and you do feel every bump in the road, but it gives it a far superior sporty feel. Direct fuel injection gives increased fuel efficiency by producing a more complete burn of fuel/air, and as a result the GXP fuel economy roughly equals the much less powerful base model at 19/25mpg city/highway compared to 19/28mpg for the base model.
The Solstice Coupe comes in the same two engines and even the chassis is largely unchanged to cope with the fixed roof which is made from magnesium. The extra weight has been minimized with the use of aluminium joints and mountings, so that in the end only an extra 31 pounds has been added. Strangely though, the roof panels do not fit in the trunk, and so an optional soft top must also be carried if you venture out without the roof and it starts to rain. The new coupe features a slightly more aggressive body styling, ducktail spoiler and different taillights.
2009 Pontiac Solstice Interior and Features
One of the main criticisms of the Pontiac Solstice, as with its sibling the Saturn Sky, is its clumsy manually-operated convertible cloth soft-top which requires the driver to be standing outside the car to unlatch the front pegs, press a button in the glove box, manually fold the top and close the lid. The trunk is also operated from outside and opens up rearward to make access very awkward.
Another complaint has been the cheap looking hard plastic interior which is a constant reminder of the budget nature of the Solstice compared to its European and even Asian counterparts, but this has not changed much this year and remains an area to improve for next year.
Aside from these issues, the interior is surprisingly spacious for such a small car, with comfortable and supportive seats, full power accessories and seven-speaker 225-watt stereo system. In the Premium Trim package comes leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel which features audio controls, steel pedal covers and chrome accents on the internal trim for a stylish look. The dash is nicely set-out however the important gauges are strangely located in deep tunnels which make them difficult to read especially in strong light and with the top down there is almost no hope of reading them.
The GXP features polished chrome exhaust outlets, a slightly different grille for better air flow and black-trimmed headlights. It also carries a different styling on the gauges and a Driver Information Center for key information readout.
The Solstice Coupe has responded to the customers cries for just a little more storage, and added a storage tray behind the headrests, and an opening through into the trunk. The trunk opening mechanism has also been improved with liftback glass, and has added a few storage areas to hold the groceries, tools etc.
2009 Pontiac Solstice Safety
The 2009 Pontiac Solstice scored four stars out of five for front and side impact which is reasonable considering its small size and light-weight. It features a full range of safety features including electronic stability control, limited slip differential and anti-locking brakes to prevent the vehicle losing control in emergency situations. This year the OnStar service is included in the standard package and features the Turn by Turn GPS navigation system which allows drivers to get directions from a live advisor through the GPS. Front and side airbags are included, plus a passenger sensing system to prevent unnecessary airbag activation.
Safety features:
- Electronic stability control, anti-locking brakes.
- OnStar safety system
- Front and side airbags
- Three-point safety belts with pretensioners
Overall the 2009 Pontiac Solstice is a fun roadster, particularly the GXP turbocharged version, and has made some big improvements this year with the hardtop coupe styling. Even with this however it has a hard time convincing the driver of its level of sophistication and falls consistently short in overall refinement.