I don't share all of the same reservations that my compatriot Ed has (see here) regarding our long-term 2008 Pontiac G8's interior. In the G8's refreshing lack of shiny accentry, GM shows a contemporary perspective on cabin design.
Save for the gear selector shaft and the badge on the steering wheel, everything that is silver in color in the G8's interior has a matte finish. Why is this important? Because an interior should never distract its driver, and chrome accents do exactly that--they shine reflections.
If I had my way, chrome would be outlawed from cabins. Penalties would be levied on automakers found applying chrome--their decision-makers would be forced to drive across Arizona at midday in said chrome-laden vehicle.
Matte silver accomplishes the designer's task of brightening up the cabin without the downsides of fake chrome (which also shows fingerprints and has a tendency to flake off).
Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor @ 6,941 miles
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They ripped a lot off from Audi, even the headlight switch is kinda-almost the same design.
The overall layout isnt bad at all but the center stack bothers me for some reason. Its not Ford Focus cheap but for $30K I expect a bit more.
the center stack in real life looks good.
as good as a 30k accord.
except for one thing: that stupid oil/battery meter. FTL
The interior is overall very good looking (a HUGE step up from the fugly Pontiac interiors of past) but those two BIG strips of hard black plastic that surround the otherwise good looking center stack have got to go. They're the first thing I see when I look at this picture because they go from the windshield all the way to the shifter area.
To the bottom of the steering wheel (and the left of the shifter) you can see that they don't fit well with the piece that they meet at the bottom, either. Looks like you could use that gap as a coin holder.
The Mustang comes to mind as the worse offender of using 'AMT model car' chrome all over it's interior. Tacky!!
I agree with with opfreak. Take a look at the car in real life. I think it has a very nice interior. Better than a $30K accord.
Very nice interior to this car, looks particularly cool at night. Its a vast improvement over the Grand Prix.
From a materials standpoint its not really better than the Grand Prix but the design is better. The GP's dash was a little unconventional but the fit finish and materials were fine. The G8 is a $27k car so it's not like this is a luxury model. With a few options and a V6 every midsize family car easily costs more than the base G8.
I am seeing more and more on the road. I have likely seen 8-10 so far.
The old Chevy van my parent's had in the 80's when I was a kid had a headlight switch like that. I don't think it's fair to say they stole that from Audi :) I'm pretty sure my wife's Saab has a similar switch as well.
Dad's Impala has a similar headlight switch. In fact, many '80s-'90s GM cars had left dash mounted headlight switches- some round and some square.
G8's interior looks good in person- pretty unique in this country. For '09, now battery/oil display so everyone can stop crying. If you don't want NAV, the G8 has a great interior.
some people are complaining that the removal of the gauges are worse than their presence since that panel is now blank. Be careful what you ask for.
Why is this car, which starts at a base of 27k and is a RWD true sports sedan, being compared to a FWD family sedan Accord, which starts at a base of ~20-22k?
I like the interior overall...I'd like a little more refined gauges and to have useful information in the center stack display, but otherwise it's very nice. I think it perfectly fits it's price point as welll....nothing flashy, but nothing cheap.
1487 - "From a materials standpoint its not really better than the Grand Prix but the design is better. The GP's dash was a little unconventional but the fit finish and materials were fine."
Are we talking about the last generation Grand Prix? I mean, I loved the 1990 Grand Prix interior....but the ~2004+ Grand Prix (I forget which year it started)?
That thing rivalled Chrysler products for the worst interior design, worst interior materials, worst fit and finish, and generally most uncomfortable car. I feel bad for my father-in-law, who had one as a company car for 2 years. It was one of the single worst interiors I've ever seen.
And I actually kinda liked the design.
Joe
"Why is this car, which starts at a base of 27k and is a RWD true sports sedan, being compared to a FWD family sedan Accord, which starts at a base of ~20-22k?"
I think it's because the 6 cylinder Accord starts near $26k, any options push it to about $30k - not too far from the G8s list prices.
I like the G8s interior much more than the Accords. I didn't care for the Accords - too busy, too swoopy.
Mnorm - My point is that they both have the same (almost) interior at their starting price point. So the Accord's interior has to "start" at a base price of around 20-22k, while a G8 has s starting point of ~27k.
Further, one is a sport sedan and is styled accordingly, while the other is a family sedan and is styled accordingly.
It's like me saying "I like the Acura TL interior more..."
Joe
"That thing rivalled Chrysler products for the worst interior design, worst interior materials, worst fit and finish, and generally most uncomfortable car. I feel bad for my father-in-law, who had one as a company car for 2 years. It was one of the single worst interiors I've ever seen."
The 2004-2008 GP did not have poor fit and finish. I've been in several at auto shows and my ex coworker had a GTP model. The panel gaps were very tight inside and the ergonomics were good. It also had great front seats with nice bolstering.
The info in the center display can be changed. It's not a static display. Have you seen all the information it can convey to the driver?
Ok, well, one of my best friend's owns a 2004/2005 GP GTP and it has terrible fit and finish inside. The seats (leather, heated) are spasm inducing on longer rides, for both him and I (we range from 5'9"-6' and 160-190 pounds).
My father-in-law had a 2006 GP II that had terrible fit and finish and cloth seats which caused numbness after 45 minute rides in myself, my wife, his wife, and quite probably him (though he's a tough guy so who knows what he really felt).
When I said uncomfortable, I was referring to the seats (both leather and cloth) in which I've had rather extensive experience. And don't get me wrong, they felt fine when I first sat in them. I liked the leather alot, and the cloth was spongy feeling which felt comfortable. I'm talking 30-45+ minute drives. Very bad.
GPs have long had great info display centers, and I totally agree that the 2004+ model was a class leader in that area.
Joe
P.s. Just to be clear, since I know you see anti-american car bias in all non-positive postings, my 2006 Honda Civic SI has pretty poor fit and finish. Panel seperation & plastic flashing is quite common, among other issues.
I'm not holding brands accountable, I'm holding individual cars.
"P.S. Just to be clear, since I know you see anti-american car bias in all non-positive postings, my 2006 Honda Civic SI has pretty poor fit and finish. Panel seperation & plastic flashing is quite common, among other issues. I'm not holding brands accountable, I'm holding individual cars."
Very true Joe, Im assuming you have one of the first batch 06 Si's? From what Ive witnessed the 07 and up Civics have been much better in terms of fit/finish and flashing or lack thereof.
"I agree with with opfreak. Take a look at the car in real life. I think it has a very nice interior. Better than a $30K accord."
I have seen the G8 in real life as my local Acura dealer shares space with Pontiacs. The fact is (like Joe pointed out) the Accords and for that matter the Malibus interior fit/finish is equal to or better than the G8 while having MUCH MUCH MUCH lower starting prices. Overall design and simplicity (to some extent vs the Accord) are better in the G8 but dollar for dollar the $30K Accord EX-L V6 interior comes off as more expensive and modern.
I think a better comparison would be a $28K Acura TSX interior vs the $27K G8 since both have much closer starting price points (although completely different missions). The TSX interior wins easily here as build quality, materials and fit/finish are superb.
Im certainly not bashing the G8 as I think its a very handsome car and awesome performer but at these price points I expect more from the interior. I prefer interiors that meet or exceed my expectations....like the Hyundai Genesis that my brother, my best friend and I sat in 2 weekends ago. I was REALLY impressed with that car from a build quality, materials, execution stand point all for $36K. Everything about the car had an almost Germanic feel to it, very robust and solid.
-Patrick
P.S. Edmunds, can you post pics of both the LT Accord and G8 interiors with the same angle?
Hi Patrick,
You said, "The fact is (like Joe pointed out) the Accords and for that matter the Malibus interior fit/finish is equal to or better than the G8 while having MUCH MUCH MUCH lower starting prices."
Actually, I didn't say that. I said that why was a $27k base sports sedan interior being compared to a $20-22k base family sedan interior?
I've been on here and have said repeatedly I think the Accord has the best-in-class interior. I think it looks and feels fantastic throughout, compared to all the competition....2nd place would be the Malibu which isn't far behind. I know the Accord Center Stack has a superfluous amount of buttons in a large font. It's not terrible in my eyes, but it is unnessarily cluttered.
I think the G8 is somewhat in a class of it's own right now. I can't think of any other car that's about 30k that offers the level of power, interior space, RWD, and branding that the G8 offers.
I think it's interior is fine and befitting of it's price point and offerings, quite honestly, though I think a few improvements can be made. But I can say the same of almost any interior.
The G8 offers a sporty, dark-ish, un-cluttered interior with materials of a medium grade, nice (looking) ergonomics (I haven't driven one), and a classis layout.
I think it looks and works well, and I think it shouldn't be getting compared to an Accord
But that's just what I think :)
Joe
"Hi Patrick,
You said, "The fact is (like Joe pointed out) the Accords and for that matter the Malibus interior fit/finish is equal to or better than the G8 while having MUCH MUCH MUCH lower starting prices.
Actually, I didn't say that. I said that why was a $27k base sports sedan interior being compared to a $20-22k base family sedan interior?"
Joe, I was expecting this from you as after I posted I realized that I didnt word it correctly. I do apologize as I fell victim to multi-tasking =).
My post was however similar to yours as I mentioned the large variance of base price (Accord vs G8). I added the Malibu to the mix so I wouldnt seem "import biased" and the fact that the fit/finish of the Malibus interior is actually damn good.
"I've been on here and have said repeatedly I think the Accord has the best-in-class interior. I think it looks and feels fantastic throughout, compared to all the competition....2nd place would be the Malibu which isn't far behind. I know the Accord Center Stack has a superfluous amount of buttons in a large font. It's not terrible in my eyes, but it is unnessarily cluttered."
I think the same although the gap has narrowed considerably as the competition has made leaps and bounds in terms of interior execution and overall quality. I still however think the Accord has the best interior overall considering all variables.
I prefer the Accord interior over the Malibu, Aura, Altima, Camry, etc....but I prefer the G8 interior, in the G8, over the Accord interior in the G8 :)
And I'm really starting to love the CTS overall dash/center console design above all others...
BMW gauges & seats procreating with the CTS dash and center console....mmmmm....
Joe
Combining interior design elements from different cars Joe? Hmmmmmm.....
The CTS interior is quite a nice place to be but its a bit too luxurious for me. I prefer a more business like, simple, somewhat sportier design.
My ideal interior would be:
- E46 M3 interior with updated electronics and center stack. I also like the 09 TSX interior.
- Civic Si, NSX or M3 seats although Id want full manual adjustability and I want them covered in alcantara/leather. Power seats = more weight.
- Honda S2000 steering wheel and shifter, possible the best in the business.
- Honda NSX or S2000 pedal placement
- Audi type execution, fit/finish, materials.
I guess all the "27K" talk is irrelevant at this time since the '09 V8 will start at 32K. Too bad, that might be a breaking point for me...given gas prices.
"P.s. Just to be clear, since I know you see anti-american car bias in all non-positive postings, my 2006 Honda Civic SI has pretty poor fit and finish. Panel seperation & plastic flashing is quite common, among other issues. "
The Si may have poor fit and finish but I have never seen a Grand Prix (last gen) that was guilty of that. I would love to know where all of these poorly installed pieces were in the car. When the 2004 came out they made a big deal of how they had tightened the panel gaps on the interior. My experience suggests they succeeded.
blobster, They're talking about the V6, not the V8.