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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  THE AWESOME GRAND PRIX!!!!! - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By gmcanada2000 - September 27 - 10:00 am

  I have a 2002 Redfire Metallic Pontiac Grand Prix GT Sedan. What a car!! It is such a fun car to drive, it makes me feel like I have the best car on the road, which I do. Keep up the good work Pontiac.

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  Adapting quite well - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Larry - September 27 - 8:33 am

  Still like this car alot.After 17 months of ownership nothing to complain about.I still feel the price was more than fair,& Purchased An oem 19" rim & tire at dealer cost(maybe)as a spare.Overall mileage has been 19 to 20 mpg mixed driving,on a 150 mile trip yesterday 23.5 mpg. Biggest problem is watching speed limits, I am old & try to obey the law. Overall I have very pleased with the comfort & performance & especially the reliability so far. Motortrend is saying gm is now inclined to bring the g8 back as a high line chevy limited production. Because of new cafe standards.

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  Sporty goodness - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By Champion3000 - September 27 - 1:56 am

  For the price I found this car to be a pretty solid purchase. I opted for the 3.9 liter engine with the 6-speed manual, and the premium package. I love the way the car looks and handles, and am also positively impressed with the build quality. I am a little disappointed that the 6 disc in-dash changer is not mp3 compatible, and Im also not a very big fan of the front cup holder location. Overall, I am very happy with my purchase and get a smile on my face whenever I drive it.

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  G6 is Great - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Laurie - September 25 - 4:20 am

  I have been driving this car for three months and it handles like a dream - good acceleration, responsive steering and road hugging ride. It is a very quiet, comfortable ride. The panoramic roof is a lot of fun - you feel like you are in a convertible. Plus, just opening the sunshade gives you a bright, cheery interior. I highly recommend this car. It is safe and stylish!!

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  2007 Pontiac Solstice - 2007 Pontiac Solstice
  By Dean in MI - September 24 - 10:16 am

  Ive been a Nissan owner for years but I loved the look and performance offered by the Solstice. I have been very pleased with the cars handling, braking and performance. Im not happy with the lack of change holders, the difficulty of viewing the speedometer and the seat controls. Also its hard to see traffic lights or go through a drive-thru with the top up.

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  Fun Car - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By DJ Drift - September 23 - 10:00 am

  The GT version is fun to drive. The corners, the straight-a-ways, on-ramps, off-ramps(braking), are all fun to do. The only problem I have had, was snow. The engine is an all aluminum engine and doesnt do to hot in the snow. But other than that, the car is quick off the line. Kinda sluggish in the low end torque area, but when you hit 6000rpm all the way to 8k, hold on. Gas mileage is good also. Driving from Virginia to Minnesota, you have to cross through the mountains, which I might add is a blast, I still get great gas mileage. I never want to get stuck someone in the boondocks of West Virginia and in the Vibe I dont have to worry about that.

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  Fantastic car - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By kmag53 - September 21 - 2:53 pm

  All I can say is GM hit a home run with this car. It has virtual everything you would want in a performance sedan except the high price. In todays market it is a true bargain. Very comfortable interior and everything is placed where it should be...exterior is very sharp and it gets many gawkers. I cannot say the handling of the car is sports car like but it is very good for a four door sedan. Brakes are very good and stop with confidence. Of course the raw power of the V8 is awesome with tons of torque. Trunk is very spacious and the back seat is extremely comfortable even for someone like myself who is tall.

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  Loving My GXP! - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By ObcidianButtrfly - September 21 - 8:06 am

  This is my fisrt new car and I am in love. Everywhere I go it gets looks and comments. Great ride. Pick up is good as well. I would recommend this car to anyone look for a fun sporty yet daily driver car. Love this car, Ill definetly have it for a long time. Exterior design is great. No need for any upgrades, street edition comes loaded.

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  2005 V6 G6 - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Cafasco - September 19 - 6:00 pm

  Last week, I traded in my 05 Acura RSX for a 05 v6 G6 std. sedan. It only had 2,842 miles on it. In comparing the two, I really like the G6 a whole lot better. Interior fit and finish is actually better than the Acura (I was surprised by squeaks and rattles in the RSX). Exterior F & F is close, but not quite there. Im getting 31MPG in mixed suburban driving and 34MPG @85mph on the highway. My RSX got 33/36mpg. I have a hell of a lot more room and an AT. G6 Radio reception BLOWS away the Acura as does the sound quality (both have six speaker systems). The G6 handles well, but not as tight as the RSX, which was actually “work” to drive. G6 steering is a touch vague against the RSX.

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  My Solstice - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By Shelia - September 19 - 5:50 pm

  I have driven Pontiac for over 15 years. I think the Solstice is one of the sexy car they made. She smooth, she hugs the curves, and I love the way drive and all the looks I get from men as well as women when I put up or stop at a red light. I like fast sexy cars, at first I was a little hesitant about the speed being that it was 4 cyl, but after her for a spin around the block, I realize the speed she had and I love this car. The way she looks and the way she drive.