2004 Pontiac Grand Prix New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix?
The 2004 Grand Prix receives an extensive restyling and interior update. The new car retains Pontiac's "ribbed" appearance in the front side marker lights, the decklid and the taillamp lenses, but is devoid of the usual body cladding and creasing that has characterized the company's lineup in the past. A new Competition Group package for the GTP trim level includes performance suspension components, stability control and Formula 1-style paddle shifters on the steering wheel. A Head Up Display (HUD) option for the upper trim levels projects relevant information on the windshield where it’s easy for the driver to scan. All models benefit from optional side-curtain airbags and more flexible cargo solutions including wider opening rear doors and a folding front passenger seat.

Advantages of the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix:

• Powerful supercharged engine in the GTP
• Lots of feature content for the money
• Useful utility
• Excellent brakes on GTP models

Objections to the 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix:

• Basic architecture dates to the mid 1990s
• Dreadful rear seat comfort
• From behind the wheel it feels much larger than it is
• Still cannot match the refinement of many competitors

Editor's Advice:
The 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix can be equipped with a wide variety of creature comforts and performs respectably. Two models are available: GT and GTP. The GT's standard 3.8-liter V6 engine whips up 200 horsepower while the GTP's supercharged 3.8-liter V6 makes 260 ponies and 280 pound-feet of torque. However, competition in this class is stiff, ranging from the ultra-refined Honda Accord V6 and German-engineered Volkswagen Passat to the lusty Nissan Maxima and fun-to-drive Mazda 6. Even the redesigned 2004 Mitsubishi Galant shows promise. Unfortunately, the Pontiac Grand Prix doesn’t put these cars on the bench in terms of performance, style and quality. Based on the same, albeit updated, platform as the 1997-2003 model, the restyled and substantially improved 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix is just good enough to keep General Motors in the hunt until a completely redesigned car arrives a few years from now.