The Detroit News's view

The Grand Am has been the best-selling car to wear the Pontiac badge in recent years, but its role is really more important. It’s one of the few domestic cars in the upper-compact segment that provides any real competition for the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord.

One reason for its popularity is the Grand Am has so much more personality than the Camry and the Accord. It’s a distinctively American personality, with that signature split grille, wide ribbing and cozy cabin.

Sure, you can wave the flag by buying a Grand Am – but the only color you’ll want is red.

She: We went out for ice cream with our friends, Ken and Debi, who’ve owned two Grand Ams, an ’86 and a ’92. We figure, what better way to test the redesigned ’99 model. Of course, the women had to sit in the back. Debi’s first words were, “Oh, no, the rear feels like an old lady’s car.” I asked her what she meant, and she said, “Too roomy.” Hmmm …

He: Funny, but Ken was talking about how the price of the Grand Am has escalated. I think he paid $15,000 for his ’92 Grand Am GT. But he wasn’t really complaining. This new Grand Am SE costs nearly $20,000, but it still feels like a bargain.

She: When you drive the ’99 Grand Am, you get the feeling that Pontiac thought about everybody – the people who worry about safety, the people who worry about style and the people who worry about value. Most of all, the people who’ve been driving Grand Ams.

He: I was pleased with the performance on the car. Our test model came with the optional 3.4-liter V-6, which makes 170 horsepower and nearly 200 pounds-feet of torque. It is really lively, even with the four-speed automatic. Fuel economy isn’t bad either with this combination. The EPA ratings are 20 mpg in city driving and 28 mpg on the highway. Ken made a note about the performance, too, but he was upset that you can’t get a manual transmission with the car. I told him it’s coming, but not until the 2000 model year.

She: Even without the manual transmission, the Grand Am still looks and feels sporty. I liked the wide ribbing on the sides of the SE. It reminded me of an athletic shoe. The only part of the vehicle I found offputting was the shape of the top of the instrument panel above the steering wheel. I swear they got an old corset mold or a dressmaker’s form, and used the top of it as a template. It does tend to make smaller women feel inadequate because it’s so overwhelming. But that’s the only part of the car they did wrong.

He: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, dear. For the record, I thought it looked more like a woman’s derriere.

She: Clearly designed by guys for other guys.

He: Let’s not get testy.

She: Another selling point in the Grand Am’s favor – you can order it as either a two-door or a four-door, depending on your needs and marital status. If you don’t want to spend 20 grand, the base four-cylinder car still offers plenty of pickup and a cozy, nicely equipped cabin for under $17,000. That price includes such standard features as air conditioning, power door locks and battery-rundown protection.

He: Either way, the car comes with fully independent suspension and, on the six-cylinder models, variable-assist power steering. Pontiac stretched the wheelbase more than 3 inches, but shrank the overall length slightly. The net result is a car with even better ride comfort that’s a breeze to park and maneuver.

She: I was really surprised by how easy the Grand Am is to live in. I found myself instantly at home in the car. It held up valiantly at the supermarket and on a rare Saturday night date.

He: Don’t you remember? We even took it out for our anniversary dinner in Ann Arbor, which is a 100-mile round trip. We also had a Mazda Miata to drive that week, but my back and my behind couldn’t take the thought of spending two full hours in the Miata. That’s what I like about the Grand Am. All that sportiness doesn’t make it comfortable.

1999 Pontiac Grand Am SE

Type: Front-wheel drive, four-passenger compact sedan

Price: Base, $18,970; as tested, $19,900 (including $525 destination charge)

What’s new for 1999: All new

Standard features:

* Power door locks

* Theft deterrent system

* Fog lamps

* Rear-window defogger

* Intermittent wipers

* Air conditioning

* AM/FM stereo with four speakers

* Electric remote trunk release

Safety features:

* Dual front air bags

* Anti-lock brakes

* Traction control

EPA fuel economy: 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway

Engine: 3.4-liter V-6 with 170 hp at 4,800 rpm; 195 lb-ft torque at 4,000 rpm

Transmission: Four-speed automatic

12-month insurance cost, according to AAA Michigan: $1,121

Rates based on an average family of four from the Livonia area whose primary driver is aged 40 with no tickets who drives three to 10 miles each way to work. Rates reflect multicar discount and, where appropriate, discounts for air bags and seat belts.

Where built: Lansing, Mich.

Specifications:

Wheelbase: 106.7 in.

Overall length: 186.3 in.

Curb weight: 3,116 lbs.

Legroom:

42.1 in. front

35.5 in. rear

Headroom:

38.3 in. front

37.6 in. rear

Shoulder room:

53.6 in. front

52.8 in. rear