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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  One Wasnt Enough! - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By James Bounds - April 11 - 12:40 am

  I was interested in getting my wife a replacement for her high mileage Altima. She just thought her Nissan V-6 was fast! On the test drive I was driving... I punched it and WOW!!..she was sold!and so was I!...We both bought one! Mine silver, Hers,dark red.The looks are head turning...We hear over and over, "looks like a BMW"..For the money this car cannot be beat! Mileage wise 24mpg hwy.. havent checked city hwy combined. The extra few dollars for gas, well worth the FUN!

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  GM can still do it! - 2007 Pontiac Torrent
  By Pontiac Tradition - April 10 - 3:56 pm

  Good looks and excellent performance. I am impressed with quiet cabin and good ride. Back seat leg room is exceptional. Features versus price is way above what I expected. Seats are very compfortable, be sure to opt for the preferred package. Engine performance is better than expected and the 5 speed trany is great.

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  1999 SSEi - 1999 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Jason L - April 10 - 2:00 am

  This has to be one of the best cars I will EVER own. I love driving it, it has more than enough power to make passing a joy. The handling is good for RWD. The 3800 S/C 4T65E Tranny combo are the best. So far I have made no necessary repairs. I upgraded to ceramic brake pads to reduce dusting of the rims. I constantly get compliments on this fantastic car.

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  GREAT CAR - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By ANANAT - April 7 - 11:53 am

  This is a great car for the money and because my husband is a car sales man and I could have almost any car I want and I chose this one says it all. Great car for a family, lots of room - I put a computer (still in box) right in the back no trouble, did not even have to lay the seats down. Excellent power for not having any bigger motor then it has. This car also handles curves wonderfully. I drive fast around them so I should know.

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  2000 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By kdstan - April 7 - 10:00 am

  I purchased a 2000 Daytona 500 GTP in May of 2001. I have owned 3 Grand Prixs. This is by far the best one that I have owned. It has great looks and acceleration. Has the whole package- great interior and exterior. Cannot wait till the newer body styles come out. Get compliments every day on how great the car looks.

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  Give it a chance - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By dmr - April 7 - 10:00 am

  For a couple of years we looked for a vehicle that can carry large, bulky items, gets good gas mileage (25+ highway), is front wheel drive, and is comfortable for long trips (over 12 hours/day). These criteria eliminated the great majority of SUVs out there until the Aztek came along. Against the advice of friends, we had a test drive and were more than pleasantly surprised by the ride, comfort and easy handling. We bought one in Feb. and it keeps getting better the longer we own it. Give one a chance!

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  A good vehicle - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Joanne - April 4 - 11:26 pm

  This vehicle handles wonderfully, is spacious, great visibility, and looks quite handsome. A joy to ride with the added feeling of being safe. I have already recommended this vehicle to friends and family.

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  Pontiac Finally Challenges Competitors - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By AdRock011 - April 3 - 2:53 pm

  I have been a GM - particularly Pontiac loyalist for years now. I have owned two. In any event - I think in recent years - GM has made a strong push to make the Pontiac brand a big player that it was in the 80s (Firebird, GrandAm) - and it all starts with the G6. Sharp design, ergonomics, and smooth and crisp ride make this car an excellent overall value for its class. The once dominant Accords, Altimas, and the like - have a real competitor here. Price, fuel economy, and style were factors in my decsion to buy this vehicle - and Im not disappointed so far.

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  WOW - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Goldenrod - April 3 - 9:43 am

  Waited for the 6.0. well worth the wait.Looks better than the 04. I sell GM products. Compared to vette both great cars but for the money I preferred the GTO, 4 seats smoother ride.Very powerful car with great handling. Australian car with american Drive Train works very well.The only complaint I have is that the Key is too big. You Gotta Drive One!!!!!

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  9500 miles and getting better - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Rod - April 3 - 3:30 am

  I have had my GT for 9 months and it is getting better. Fuel mileage is up, it gets within 2 mpg of the 96 Monte Carlo LS I traded in, and the GT has 200hp more. If I keep my foot out of it average 17 mpg in town. The problem is keeping my foot out of the throttle. When you step down on it it is exhilarating.