instrument panel -- a cacophony of orange and red dials that rival a carnival midway

when they're lit for nighttime driving.

You soon get used to that, however, and all of the controls are pretty easy to figure

out and use. The radio buttons are especially big and friendly, and the heating and

cooling system is operated by three large, simple knobs just below the sound system.

But getting comfortable in the Grand Am is more of a challenge than in most other

mid-size cars. The front seats seem to sit lower to the floor and there's a slight

sense of having to look up and over the dashboard to see out. Many drivers also find

that they have to sit too close to the steering wheel in order to comfortably reach

the pedals.

The Grand Am's cabin feels smaller than in many competitors, including the Accord or

Dodge Stratus. Pontiac says the Grand Am has comparable legroom and headroom. But

four adults will feel much less cramped and more comfortable in an Accord or Stratus,

and we don't need a ruler to tell us that.

Aesthetically, the Grand Am's interior fabrics and plastics have been improved for

'96, and they're pleasant enough to pass muster. Less pleasing are the two big round

vents that have appeared in the middle of the dash, just above the radio. They're new

for '96 and Pontiac says they'll rattle less than the old rectangular vents and

contribute to the "overall harmony" of the Grand Am's interior. We found them to be

so prominent as to be almost annoying.