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 love my V-Bay - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By My V-Bay - July 7 - 7:43 pm

  I love my car. I bought it 01/2007 and have put 5k miles on it. It goes like 80 miles before it hits under the F on the gas tank. Gave a 7 for build quality due to the noise when driving on rough surface. I bought base model - and love it. Car does really well - fits my small and large friends who are 300+. Car accelerates quickly. Looked at Matrix and Caliber which are in same class as the Vibe. Looked at the Toyota Yaris as well. Took this car for test drive and bought it same night. This was our 4th car from the dealership and are very happy with it. Hope to keep it for many years

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  Really love it - 2005 Pontiac Aztek
  By K moore - July 6 - 4:23 pm

  We had one for a company car. I had alot of long trips and noticed how comfortable the ride was and got great gas milage. I went out and bought onr for the family.It has alot of head room and is great for pulling our boat. Great for tailgating as well.

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  Great vehicle - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Jose - July 5 - 2:53 am

  This really puts the ball in the opponents court. This vehicle has been very reliable and has been nothing short of what I need in a family vehicle.

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  Love my sunfire - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By teri - July 5 - 1:33 am

  I have had my Sunfire for 2 years and drive 50 miles ( all highway) to work and 50 miles home 6 days a week, and I love my car. I too dont think these cars got the reviews they deserved. I love the fold down seats in the back... so much more room ! The gas mileage is great ! the only suggestion I would have is the placement of the cup holders but other than thats its a great little car. I have put 40k miles on it in two years and it still runs like a charm !

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  The Anti-SUV - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By P.Crew - July 4 - 2:00 am

  As a family on the go and requiring an economical and functional car, we have hit the nail squarely on the head. The combination of price, breeding (Toyota thru-and-thru), economy, and comfort are staggering in todays market. The car sits just high enough to afford a good view, without being rude to other drivers. While performance is moderate, it is exceptional for the 34 mpg we actually get in combined driving. At 63" I am very comfortable in this wonderful car. The lone gripe is that the angle of the top of the doors gives a somewhat "distorted" feel when looking over your shoulder or using mirrors to change lanes or back up.

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  Good affordable car. - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By kyyankee7 - July 3 - 10:56 am

  We chose this car after driving the Accord and Corolla. This replaced my wifes old Sentra. While this car certainly did not have the bells and whistles that the other cars did, and this was a very basic model besides, there was still quite a bit to like about it. It is comfortable and roomy inside and has all the amenities for the daily commute. Bottom line is that it has been a very good car for thousands less than its competitors.

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  Love My Vibe! - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By Ellen - July 3 - 12:53 am

  I love my VIBE! This car handles great, is fun to drive, is fuel efficient (and clean burning!) and it looks cool. It easily carries our canoe, kayaks, bikes and hauls around our 100lb Black Lab.

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  A Good Vibe! - 2010 Pontiac Vibe
  By Janda - July 2 - 5:56 pm

  We picked up our new Vibe just in time for a family trip - loaded the boys, the bikes and the bags and put 700 miles on pretty quickly. This is the best purchase Ive ever made - I love it, Im glad i got one in time and wish they were still making them.

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  Ultimate Driving Machine - 2000 Pontiac Firebird
  By Hockeystud - July 2 - 10:00 am

  The Pontiac Formula/Trans Am is the ultimate driving machine. If you are an enthusiast who loves speed and power this car is for you. When driving down the road, you will get looks from just about anyone because of the sleek design. Mine is the Navy Blue Metallic, so I get comments about it looking like the Batmobile. I havent found anything wrong with it yet. The Bird is definitely the top in its class. p.s. Mustangs & Camaros suck.

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  More than I expected - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Gregg - July 1 - 1:23 am

  Very roomy especially in the back seat. Nice standard features. I am averaging 27 mpg on a 35-40 mph loop. Very responsive power with 4 adults in car. Very little wind noise even at higher speeds. The cars gets a lot of comments and looks from people. I looked at over 30 different cars in this class and found the G6 the best car for the money. Hopefully it will hold up over the long term. Dealer has been honest and very helpful through the whole purchase process. I highly recommend this vehicle for the price.