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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  on my new car - 2002 Pontiac Grand AM
  By midniteman24 - August 26 - 2:00 am

  I am very happy happy with my new car the se1 model has many options i like and some i probley have yet to figure out it is very nice to drive and looks even better i would suggest anyone atleast test driving one if not buying.

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  A car to buy ...Trust me - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Danrivas - August 24 - 10:00 am

  This is the kind of vehicle that you enjoy to drive on the road. It demands attention and respect in eveyones eyes. At first peopel will look and then look even harder to see what it is. This machine in my mind is the equivilent to any overseas vehicle that would like to tango. For the price it is the best you can ask for, pure muscle and respect. I think the only downfall is the sound system could have done better. But if you are thinking of getting a performance car forget the foriegn and go american--------- I have the kills to prove it.

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  Vibetrix - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By cartalker - August 24 - 10:00 am

  Good fuel econonmy and build quality. The Toyota based engine and drive train afre a big plus in this little wagon. Very omfortable.

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  Great Car! - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By Brandon C - August 24 - 10:00 am

  I needed someting to replace my 1993 Grand Am and wanted something versatile. The Vibe came along just in time as I am an exclusive Pontiac owner. My Vibe is just the right size and handles much better than most other cars its class. So far I have averaged about 33.5 MPG split with city/hwy driving. The Toyota engine is a good selling point. Overall, the Vibe is the best value considering its size, fuel economy, horsepower, etc. Best of all, its a Pontiac!

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  1997 Pontiac GRAND AM SE 2 dr 2.4 ltr Automatic - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
  By larrytauch - August 23 - 10:40 am

  We purchased the GRAND AM SE 2dr 2.4 ltr Automatic with 39k January 14th 2014. Runs, Drives, Handles, and Comfortable Vehicle!

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  Good first car, lots of problems. - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By whiteside1013 - August 23 - 7:36 am

  This car is a good first car, but not much more than that. I purchased it from my older brother, who owned it for about 2 years. Before him, it was owned by a family friend and before that a car rental service, so my car has seen its fair share of abuse. When my brother bought the car, it had a leak in the cooling system to where it had to be filled every week or so. It was too expensive to fix, so Ive been living with it. The driver side windows have been broken twice. The oil switch broke, which almost totaled the car. The starter went out. The washer pump is broken. The horn is broken. The dashboard is warping up. The keyless entry system is broke

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  The good and the bad - 2000 Pontiac Bonneville
  By BCORTIS - August 22 - 3:26 am

  Overall I love my Bonneville! I love the way it handles. Lots of room for taller people like myself. Gas mileage is good for the size of the car. The engine has been reliable, The main problem Ive had with this car is the windows! I have to replace both regulators in the back doors and the front passenger motor seems very sluggish. Some rusting right on the edge of the front hood not sure if thats normal for this model. I did have to have the trunk lock cylinder taken out and unjammed/cleaned. Of course brakes and rotors seem to wear quicker than normal. I also tried to convert radio/cassette to CD but couldnt because of factory settings. Otherwise I absolutely love my Bonneville.

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  The GTP coupe rocks! - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By NY G6 Owner - August 21 - 3:00 am

  This is the second new Pontiac that Ive owned and I think that GM has hit a home run with it. What a great looking car! The G6s styling, quality, and performance are all way above par. Thank goodness GM did away with all of that plastic cladding they had on the GrandAm. If you buy a G6, go with the GTP. Its worth the extra investment since the GTP model with the 3.9 V6 is a mover! The only complaint that I have with the car (and its a minor one at that)is that GM could have done a little better job with the finish on the interior surfaces. Its a shame that GM isnt marketing this model much more aggressively.

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  good evey day car - 2003 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Mondrakus Harper - August 20 - 9:16 pm

  I really enjoy driving the sunfire. I gives a sporty look and perform really good when your trying to pass. Its a good car for the price. no more than 12,000 for it thoug.

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  Wow - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Don P - August 20 - 7:30 am

  Been watching and reading about this car for months. Finally got to see it and test drive it on a rainy night. Amazing performance, handling, ride and comfort. Has just the right features and accessories to make it the perfect car. What a treat to drive. Absolutely the most exciting vehicle Ive ever owned. A good value, even at MSRP.