with common sense. First, it's notably roomy, both front and back, and

feels more spacious than, say, a Ford Taurus. It's typical for front-seat

passengers to be well-treated; they're usually the ones paying for the

car. But in the Grand Prix, rear-seat passengers will also find plenty

of room for elbows, knees, feet and even their backsides. And since the

coupe and sedan share the same roof, the rear seat space is about the same,

two doors or four.

Control layout is equally accommodating, and Pontiac jazzy. Directly

in front of the driver are large analog gauges, and function switches for

the sound system and heating, ventilation and air conditioning are close

at hand in the center.

In addition to the Driver Information Center, gadget freaks will probably

go for the optional Head Up Display (HUD), which projects a holographic

digital speedometer onto the windshield, just below the driver's line of

sight. The HUD plays well with the Grand Prix's fighter cockpit ambience.

In the center console are a couple of nifty cupholders, and a truly

deep storage compartment with an integrated coin holder and spots for either

tapes or CDs. In the rear, a large center armrest folds down, revealing

dual cupholders and a tray.

The trunk is also spacious, and well shaped with an average liftover

height.

And there's a handy, and fairly large, pass-through, for people who

carry skis, or perhaps two-piece Maypoles.