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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  I loved it when I bought it - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Duane - August 29 - 2:26 pm

  As a car guy I really enjoyed this car at first. So far Ive had the steering repaired. Recently, the a/c compressor bearing went out. That skewed the belt which put tension where it didnt belong. The alternator, tensioners and compressor all needed replacement. The new compressor (a GM part) has significantly higher sides to keep the belt in place. Ive also learned theres a problem with the intake gaskets and some day theyll need replacement. (My wifes 05 Impala already went through this.) GM has some serious quality problems here and its not just on Pontiac. I hate to say it, but Ill be looking at foreign cars next time I buy and GM can only blame themselves.

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  No-More-GM - 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Martyev - August 29 - 8:16 am

  I have been a loyal GM owner my whole life (now 45) and this is my last GM product. It is no wonder they are in the trouble they are. I have owned my Bonneville for almost 3 years. I love the comfort and its a very fun car to drive. But if you read my review and other we all have the same problems. Mine has a bad noise in the front suspension. Persistent leaks. The rear spoiler allows water to store in the trunk lid and you get wet when you open the trunk after a heavy rain. I also leaks at the driver door and the rear floorboard. Had to replace a rear window motor and heated seat element failed.

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  GOOD VALUE FOR THE PRICE - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By tonytone - August 29 - 2:00 am

  Ive had a very good experience with my Grad Am. Bought it with 30,000 miles on board. Other neg. reviewers must have driven the car too hard. Ive enjoyed the Power,the Styling,the Reliability. Only had typical American car problems.(replace d altenator,water pump,)Interior is cheaply made,but,holds up very well to usage.

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  so far so good - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By ducky - August 29 - 2:00 am

  A very cosy and secure-feeling vehicle.Drives more like a mini-van but has the versatilityof an SUV. Appears very reliable at a relatively low price, making it good value for the money.If you are searching for a unique vehicle(it`s called an SRV by GM) that rides higher than a standard car and offers many good options(e.g.,excellent sound system), Aztek(named after aboriginals of Mexico where it is built) is worth a look!

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  Great car overall - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By ToddF - August 26 - 2:56 pm

  I have owned this car 3 1/2 years and driven it 25,700 miles, mostly to and from work. I love it. It has been trouble free, except for a few blown fuses (turn signals and lighter). For the price, I couldnt ask for much more. My complaints about the car are very cheap upholstery(even for a cheap car), lousy cup holders (worthless for anything other than a 12 oz can) and for me the seats are uncomfortable on long trips (although they are fine for short trips) I do avoid taking this vehicle on long trips because of the seats. The car has developed a few squeaks and rattles in the suspension. Overall, though, I love this car and plan to keep it for as many years as it remains trouble-free

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  used - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By guyver53402 - August 26 - 2:00 am

  just bought a used aztek awd, went to minnesota and back,820 miles, quiet and comfortable. I like the cargo capacity and rear bench room for my 3 kids. 23mpg doing 74 mph ave. Anyone having mech probs. I am going to get a extended warranty because of my past experience with american vehicles

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  96 Grand Am - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Tanner - August 26 - 2:00 am

  When i first bought this car is was not sure how it would work out but in the end i feel in love with this car. It has been a good sturdy car that has lasted me longer than i expected.

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  Sleeping Giant - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By The Reaper - August 24 - 5:56 pm

  Ive owned my GP for about 6 months now and its time to write a review. What can i say about this car except WOW. I got mine for a steal at only $4600. My previous car was a 97 GA with the 2.4, needless to say, there is certainly an increase in power. I absolutley love this car, its fast, handles very well, and looks incredibly mean. freeway driving is a blast, and it only takes a moment for the speedo to jump from 70 to 100, which makes passing a breeze. I have found that working under the hood isnt that bad, much easier than the GA. there are plenty of perfomance parts available, and they are easy to find. best of all, nothing makes my day like annihilating some kid in a boy-racer. LOVE IT!!!

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  2004 Grand Am SE1 - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By GrandAmmer - August 22 - 7:43 am

  Bought this car with 21K miles in good condition. Had to replace front brakes at 40k miles and front wheel bearings at 51K miles. I have now found out that these are common issues with Grand Ams. Car has been reliable running and decent on mileage. But resale value drops quickly. There are some shortcuts in this car, like no dipstick for transmission fluid level. Fog lights are for appearance only and are totally ineffective in actual fog. Not a bad car for the low price, but expect to pay for additional maintenance if you keep car for a few years.

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  A - 2003 Pontiac Montana
  By headhound - August 22 - 2:00 am

  We wanted to replace our 1995 Suburban. My wife didnt want another SUV but did want/need AWD. We were pleased with the price/performance of the Montana. It came with a misaligned front and rear parking assist problem. The dealership has been good about adressing the issues. The rear window washer does not spray enough volume. They dont know if the problem can corrected or if it is a design issue. The van is safe, easy to drive, inexpensive to operate, excellent in bad weather, and holds a lot. Overall, it is a tough little "Tony" Montana that can handle what is thrown at it.