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1996 Pontiac Transport Review: Interior

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1996 Pontiac Transport Review

Bargains loom as GM readies the next generation.
Interior
The basic Trans Sport SE seats five, two up front, three on a rear bench. Our test van

had 7-passenger seating, which is another plus for these vans, perhaps their strongest

single feature. Arranged in a 2-3-2 configuration, the seats are removable as single

units, lending excellent versatility to the cargo space. And they're light, making

them the most easily removable of any minivan, including Chrysler's new roller seats.

The weakest point of the interior layout can be viewed from the driver's seat.

Although the long nose has been bobbed, it's still invisible from the front seats,

something that's led many owners to complain about not knowing exactly where the snout

ended until it touched the vehicle in front.

Although GM was able to make a modest fix on the extended front end, there was no way

to remedy the extreme rake of the windshield without a major redesign. As a result,

the upper surface of the dashboard is a vast plain of plastic between the driver and

the base of the windshield.

This distance has proved disconcerting to some drivers, and it does take a bit of

getting used to. However, in our past experiences with these vans, including a

one-year long-term evaluation of an earlier Trans Sport, we found that familiarity

breeds comfort.

Passive safety equipment isn't quite up to current minivan standards--there's no airbag

on the passenger side, something that will be corrected in the next generation. On the

other hand, antilock brakes are standard, which still isn't true for all minivans.

With all the seats removed, the GM minivans can hold up to 112.6 cu. feet. That's

considerably less than a standard Dodge Caravan, but it's a good-sized cargo hold

nevertheless. The floor is flat, and the swing-up rear hatch is wide for easy access.

There's also plenty of legroom in all three seating positions.

GM was among the first to recognize America's for mobile dining, a recognition that's reflected in the Trans Sport's impressive array of cupholders. There are eight in the 7-passenger edition, which was probably a world record when these vans first rolled onto the scene. Next Page



1996 Pontiac Transport