Like all Pontiacs, the Sunfire's sporty exterior theme is carried throughinside. GM has been upsizing its gauges and controls, and that's reflected
here in big primary instruments--a speedometer and tachometer--plus large
rotary knobs for the climate controls and bigger-than-average buttons for
the audio system. We applaud this trend; it makes gauges easier to read
at a glance, and secondary controls easy to operate when the car is moving.
Auxiliary audio controls on the wheel hub help in this respect, too.
With almost as much rear seat room as a Ford Contour, the Sunfire and
Cavalier are exceptionally spacious for cars in this size class. Chrysler's
Neons hold a small edge, but not by much.
We found the front bucket to be average in terms of comfort, with a
fair range of adjustability and modest lateral support. The rear seat is
a full-folding bench, with room for two, three in a pinch.
Child-safety rear door locks are standard. So are rear ventilation ducts.