Overview & Reviews

The Pontiac brand is part of the General Motors family, and is home to many of the automaker's more performance-oriented vehicles. Currently, the marque offers a broad range of sporty cars and SUVs. However, as part of GM's restructuring plan, the brand is slated to be discontinued by the end of the 2010 model year.

Pontiac originated as the Oakland Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan, in 1907; it was founded by Edward Murphy. Acquired by General Motors in 1909, Oakland introduced the first Pontiac vehicle in 1926. Dubbed the "Chief of the Sixes," the car was powered by a six-cylinder engine and made its debut at that year's New York auto show. It was so successful that the Oakland name was phased out in favor of Pontiac, the name of an 18th-century chief of the Ottawa Indians. Throughout the 1930s and '40s Pontiac made coupes, sedans and wagons in the low-to-mid price ranges. A unique styling cue of Pontiac cars from the mid-'30s to the mid-'50s was known as "Silver Streak," a set of art-deco-inspired chrome "speed lines" that ran up over the length of the hood to the base of the windshield.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the Pontiac Bonneville. The sprawling, stylish cruiser offered equal measures of performance and luxury, and was a breakout hit. But it wasn't until the 1960s that the Pontiac brand truly came into its own. American manufacturers had begun to offer downsized alternatives to the gigantic cruisers that had ruled the highways in previous decades. Pontiac came to market with the compact Tempest. In 1964, Pontiac made its biggest impact yet with the creation of the GTO option for the Tempest. By equipping the car with the powerful 389 cubic-inch V8 from the full-size car line, Pontiac created the first "muscle car." Phenomenally successful, the GTO helped define the burgeoning muscle car category. Pontiac also saw tremendous success during the latter part of this decade with its Firebird and Firebird Trans Am.

The oil crisis of the '70s made fuel efficiency a priority for many car buyers. Following the lead of its GM siblings, Pontiac made compact vehicles like the Ventura and Phoenix a major part of its lineup. The '80s saw the launch of the two-seat Pontiac Fiero. Despite its modest beginnings (it was initially marketed as a "commuter car"), the Fiero eventually blossomed into a credible sports car.

The '90s saw the launch of Pontiacs like the Sunfire and Montana minivan. Pontiac has slowly lost sales due to changing tastes and a lack of differentiation between its models and those of other GM divisions. In hopes of recapturing past glory, the division embarked on a plan to retire aged models and introduce all-new ones with distinctive styling and personality. For a while, the effort seemed to be bearing fruit. New models like the Vibe, Solstice and G8 made Pontiac a brand to consider in many segments. However, GM's financial troubles in 2008 and 2009 have resulted in the company's decision to phase out Pontiac as a brand. It's expected 2010 will be Pontiac's last year for new models.

User Reviews:

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  nice car - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Raymond Presley - November 22 - 2:00 am

  The 2003 Grand Am is not a race car by no means, but handle well and is fun to drive. It is also stylish, conformable quality automobile at a good price, especially with the $6000.00 + rebates from Pontiac.

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  The Great One - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By douglasrmyers - November 21 - 6:33 pm

  GTO is by far the best car I have ever owned. Fast, powerful, comfortable, handles and rides beautifully. There is nothing else like it.

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  Solid Comfort - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Stewart Williams - November 21 - 11:23 am

  It drives easily and offers a very comfortable ride. I especially enjoy driving it on long trips. It seems to ride most comfortably when its fully loaded with cargo and passengers. Its V6 gives me plenty of power to ease onto Interstate highways and it climbs over the mountains of Western Maryland with ease. The 5 speed transmission is the smoothest shifting one Ive ever experienced. I would rate the Torrent as a very good vehicle, but Pontiac would do better by not using so much cheap plastic around the dash area. Also, the front seat cup holder and emergency break placement are very poorly designed.

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  VERY HAPPY, IVE HAD 2 - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By amps333 - November 20 - 10:00 am

  I actually have a 2001 FWD. The initial start has excellent power and speed, merging and passing is done with ease. Very smooth and comfortable on the highway and spunky throuhg the city.I test drove alot of other manufacturers and unless you double the price and still end up with lower gas mileage and less amenities then you start to get close to what the Atztec offers. And the plastic sides some of you dont like works well for accident protection. A station wagon side swiped the front end and left NO sratches or dent. I dont think paint could have handled it!

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  Not a bad little car - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By sims - November 20 - 10:00 am

  This is a really nice car. The design for price is a plus. Its inexpensive and yet doesnt look like a box. With a little four cylinder engine it can really move too.

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  ga gt - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By cwood - November 20 - 10:00 am

  my car is awsome.love the handling,the performance,and the looks.it asks what i want from the car and has a lot of room for a car that is considered a midsize car.so far not one problem and am always smileing to my car when im about to drive it .its styling is quite distinctave and my only problem is that there are too many grand ams on the road ,but i must remind myself that only a few are GTs!!!....if i had a say in future grand ams is that they should have locking gas caps,and a power antenna.oh one more thing lighted visor mirrors!!!!!thank you pontiac.

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  wish I wasnt so upside down - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By sleepless in st loui - November 19 - 10:46 pm

  I bought it as a demo car with about 7000 miles on it and did purchase the extended warranty. Glad I did after reading other reviews, it seems my car is on the brink of a breakdown because I have had many of the same issues mentioned. Sometimes it turns over real hard when you start it but they dont know what is wrong. The tires lose air pretty easily, and it makes this squeaky creaky sound like shocks/suspension but it is not and they dont know what that is either. Also, it has pulled hard to the left forever and I have had alignments done at all different places and even the dealer look to see if the specs were right and it is still weird.

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  Awesome car for the right price! - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By big kev in a 98 - November 19 - 6:40 pm

  Its a great car that loves to be a car! The thing will not quit on you! One of my favorite cars I have owned, and Ive had a lot of them.

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  Amazing Car! - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Anonymous - November 19 - 2:00 am

  I bought my 2002 Pontiac Bonneville a few months ago, and absolutley love it. I owned a 91 Bonneville before, and was very suprised at how reliable the car was even with its old age. I expected nothing less from my new one, and found that it is just as reliable. It is a very smooth and comfortable ride. The cars V6 3800 engine gives it the kick one would expect, while maintaining that level of comfort that is needed for long car trips. It is a larger car, so as you could expect, it does not get the greatest gas milage. Like any car, it does have a few issues such as the leaky doors and trunk, the poping noice in the steering, and noicy exhaust. Other than that, it is an amazing car!

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  GOOD CAR - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By cyclone10 - November 19 - 12:44 am

  I bought my Bonneville new in 2002. It is the best car I have ever owned. I have owned new Dodges and Fords. I have been a Ford fan for most of my life.am a Ford person, but this has been the best car by far I have ever owned. Still own it.