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The G6’s available
3.5-liter V6 is a vast improvement over the standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder,
with far superior acceleration and refinement for only around $900 more.
However, neither G6 is a great car. The V6 lives up to the car’s sporty
styling with quicker acceleration, but the car is still neither fun to drive
nor roomy inside, still has a stiff ride, and still has mediocre interior
quality.
The G6 has a stiff,
uncomfortable ride that is unsettled over uneven pavement and not absorbent.
Despite this, the G6 is not particularly agile. It performs capably in fast
cornering, but it doesn’t feel nimble or fun to drive. Body roll is at least
well-contained. The numb, overly-light, and rather vague steering further
hinders the driving experience. The car accelerates very well with its V6,
which provides impressive power at all speeds. It is not exactly quiet,
however, and road noise is excessive. The V6’s gas mileage beats even most
4-cylinders in this group.
Inside, the G6 has very
comfortable and supportive front seats, though they are too soft. The rear is
too hard, and though the seat is reasonably well-shaped, headroom is
insufficient for taller drivers, limited by the car’s sloping roofline. The
interior uses too many hard, cheap plastics on the center stack, and some trim
pieces don’t fit well throughout the interior. The red-lit gauges are clear,
but some instruments could use additional contrast. The front seat’s bolsters
improve seat comfort but are a slight obstacle to getting in and out, and the
sloping roof requires care when accessing the rear. Drivers sit comfortably
enough, and the coupelike styling doesn’t interfere with rearward visibility
as one might expect. The trunk is small by this group’s standards, and it is
somewhat narrow as well.
The G6 did very well in
crash testing. It earned five stars for the driver and four for the front
passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash test, and five stars for both the driver
and for the rear passenger in the NHTSA side crash test. The IIHS has not
tested the G6, but the Chevrolet Malibu with which it shares its platform did
very well in their offset and side test.
The G6 3.5-liter reviewed
here came in at $20,095, identically equipped to the 4-cylinder version. Both
came with a sunroof, a 6-disc CD changer, an OnStar emergency notification
system, antilock brakes with traction control, torso and curtain-style
head-protecting side airbags, a remote starting system, XM satellite radio,
and power-adjustable pedals, among other items. Leather and power seats
(except for a height-adjuster) are only available on higher-end versions, and
stability control isn’t offered at all. But both G6s come very well-equipped
for the money.
Overall, 3.5-liter V6 is
well worth the $900 price premium over the 2.4-liter 4-cylinder for its
significant improvements in power and refinement with a negligible gas mileage
penalty. But neither car stands out in this class, with a stiff ride, cramped
rear seating, mediocre interior quality, and lifeless steering. There are
better choices, including the Chevrolet Malibu, which is essentially the same
car with practical rather than sporty styling.
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