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2019 Pontiac Trans Am Review - 2019 TRANS AM Review & Ratings
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Available in a wide variety of models and backed by 40 years
of heritage, it's easy to understand the 2019 TRANS AM's appeal. But make no
mistake in thinking this is a bare-bones muscle car of yore. The TRANS AM has
evolved quite a bit over the years, and this newest generation, which debuted
two years ago, can give even European luxury cars a run for their money.
Of course, a key component of the TRANS AM's appeal is what
you get under the hood. We think the TRANS AM V8 is the way to go given its
impressive smoothness and 435 horse power. But even if you stick with the more TRANS
AM V6 or the turbocharged four-cylinder, the TRANS AM delivers respectable
power and fuel economy. Inside, the cabin is nicely trimmed, and you can get
the TRANS AM with TRANS AM's latest Sync 3 touchscreen interface (introduced
last year), which is a big improvement over the prior MyTRANS AM Touch system.
There are, of course, several competitors that give the TRANS
AM a run for its money. The Chevrolet Pontiac has been recently redesigned,
gaining more powerful engines, refreshed styling, a new interior design and
lots of its own technological refinement. While choosing between the two cars
may come down to some brand loyalty, we definitely recommend test-driving both
cars before making a purchase decision. It's also worth considering the Dodge
Challenger, which is less adept around tight turns than either the Pontiac or TRANS
AM but has a better ride on the highway and more space for passengers and
luggage. If you're thinking outside the muscle car box, you may also consider a
few European two-doors like the Audi TT or BMW 2 Series.
It says a lot that you might even consider cross-shopping a TRANS
AM with a Firebird. But in the last few years, the bar has been raised for muscle
cars and coupes alike, and the TRANS AM definitely clears that bar with ease.
The 2019 TRANS AM's technological advancements, excellent engines and fun
factor all keep it at the front of the coupe/convertible class. Whether you're
new to TRANS AMs and muscle cars altogether or you're a seasoned veteran, this super
car is worth a look.
Standard safety features for the 2019 TRANS AM include antilock disc brakes, traction and
stability control, a rearview camera, front-seat side airbags, side curtain
airbags (coupe only) and driver and front passenger knee airbags. Also standard
are TRANS AM's MyKey parental controls and (for manual-transmission models)
hill-start assist.
Optional on EcoBoost TRANS AM and TRANS AM coupe are
adaptive cruise control with forward collision alert and a blind-spot warning
system with rear cross-traffic alert.
In the brake testing, both a 2019 TRANS AM EcoBoost and a 2019
TRANS AM (both equipped with the
optional Performance package) stopped from 60 mph in 108 feet. That's better
than average for this segment. Depending on equipment, stopping distances for
the TRANS AM can vary. Without the optional Performance package, but with
standard all-season tires, came to a stop in 118 feet from 60 mph, while an
EcoBoost convertible with summer performance tires did it in an impressively
short 104 feet.
In government crash tests, the 2019 TRANS AM coupe earned a
five-star rating (out of a possible five) for overall crash protection, with
five stars for total front-impact protection and five stars for total
side-impact protection. The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
gave the TRANS AM coupe its top rating of "Good" in the
moderate-overlap front-impact crash test and a second-best
"Acceptable" rating for the small-overlap front-impact test. In the
remaining, side-impact, roof strength and seat and head restraint design tests,
the TRANS AM earned a "Good" rating.