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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  2000 GPGT - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Scott85 - October 28 - 2:30 pm

  This was a good car in the beginning. Bought it @ 45K , it now has 70K . The GPGT is probably one of the best cars Ive ever driven in the snow, it goes through it without missing a beat. The power is decent, gas mileage is good, looks great! It does very good on long road trips. Now the bad part. Luckily when we (fiancee and I) bought the car, we got the extended warranty. It has helped pay for the $5K in repairs of this car. So far - intake & exhaust manifold gaskets have been replaced, HVAC fan was stuck on high, steering rack & pump replaced, front drivers side ball joint went out and in a "chain reaction" of events - broke the drivers side axle in two, replaced both of the tie rods.

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  First GM Buyer - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By First GM Buyer - October 27 - 12:23 pm

  I bought this car in July with warranty for 5 years or 40,000 miles. The drive is very comfortable however there is a noise problem with the steering wheel (it rattles every time you take a turn). At this moment car is mostly sitting in the garage. The dealer has already replaced the steering column but the noise is still there. GM refuses do anything more, but I am still fighting to get it fixed. I like every other feature though. Don’t expect more in this price range, at least $4000 less than comparing Japanese models and the G5 has better features, look, fuel efficiency. I am not sure why GM took this brand off the market.

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  A Smooth Cruiser - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Sui - October 26 - 12:23 pm

  I know a floaty car that has decent power when I drive one. The Grand Prix is not the largest sedan I have driven nor does it have the most powerful engine, but this car basically drives and feels like a real 4-door sedan - comfy and very easy to drive, good acceleration, and it passes Sunday drivers with authority. Idle is barely noticeable; the road and wind noise is also low. Steering has some play in it, which I prefer because one doesnt have to grip the wheel so hard to keep it in a straight line. Brakes are mushy, but work very well. Interior and body are "dated" but I love the symmetrical look (especially the hood). Dashboard offers many features and functions.

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  Keep the Recall in Mind - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By bike_canoe2 - October 26 - 7:21 am

  I agree with Edumonds it is sluggish, but 32 mpg city is a definate advantage. The seating is comfortable, road noise is average. It is fun to drive but its not a sports car. NOW ABOUT THE RECALL - the PCM (performance control module) has issues, it will leave you stranded on the side of the road when it fails. The recall covers specific years, and specific engines so check yours at NHTSA.GOV and have it replaced if yours is recalled! The recall will cover replacing the PCM, labor, and towing to a GM dealer, but it does not cover a loaner vehicle. The dealer is very confident about the reliablity of this vehicle, this is the only issue they have with this vehicle.

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  Disappointing - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Skylark - October 25 - 2:00 am

  Car is cute, but disappointing. The tires are the worst!! They had to be replaced already and are going bad again. The tread is wearing on the outside. Does not go in the snow. TOO MANY BLINDSPOTS!! Drivers seat is not comfortable. Defective battery!!

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  Grand Am not bad - 2000 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Rich Langster - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Fairly decent vehicle for the price. Looks good and turns heads. Good amount of power but not very solid in highway driving. Rearview window has poor visibility and no room in back with the coupe. Body is very flimsy and while interior does look good, it is rather cheap with interior parts always coming loose. Brakes started making noise at 12000 miles.

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  So far so good - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By G Miller - October 23 - 5:10 pm

  Ive had my Torrent for a week. I love it! Sure, its not a Lexus or Infiniti, but it is good value for the money. I happen to like the seats. Theyre firm, and they dont catch me under the knees like most car seats do. There is very little noise filtering in while on the highway. The back seat legroom is fantastic, as is entry/exit. And if you lower the back seat, you have tons of room. I think GM worked out some of the bugs from the Equinox and has a winner with the Torrent. There are a few things I dont care for, but just about every car has those things we dont like. Id recommend it to anyone!

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  Nice car, but could be a great car - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Jeramy - October 23 - 4:06 pm

  I have had this car for over a year and love driving it. Even with the problems I have had I would still buy the car again. The passenger door locks do not work occasionally, of course the dealership cannot duplicate. Additionally, there is a constant noise from the drivetrain. The dealership says it is functioning properly. I have owned an E36 M3 and this car almost competes, even considering the problems the dealership cannot fix. For the money, no better car in this market. I considered a low mileage E46 M3 and decided on the GTO due to the price differential.

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  Excellent car for the money - 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By tarponking - October 22 - 2:13 am

  Great car, very responsive. Love the supercharger, love the looks, drive and feel of this car. Plenty of room for family of four. Would love to see better gas mileage. For the price you cant beat this car.

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  Still Thining! - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By Klawdad - October 20 - 8:36 pm

  I traded in a Toyota truck just because of payments, but I love Toyota. When I read that the Vibe was essentially a Toyota, I went to the dealer because everything I read was good. I have never had a small car, so I was hesitant, but this car is actually fun to drive and the MPG is awesome--right now Im getting 28-30 in combo driving. Yes the wheel caps fall off and yes the ride is bumpy, but I am not sorry I traded--except when I needed a half ton of mulch last week.