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:

• 

  Nice minivan for the money - 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6
  By mike - July 18 - 4:20 am

  Bought as new, built in Nov 2005, I bought it in may of 2008, sold to me as new, it is good so far.

• 

  Fast, comfortable and good value - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Sami H - July 15 - 9:16 am

  I just bought my 2005 GTP a week ago and I couldnt be happier! The car is fast, and surprisingly quiet - road noise is lower than in BMW330i I was test driving. With the ton of GM year- end rebates, this car is a bargain! NOTE: there seems to be a rebate on leather interior - free! I found it after checking out the list of rebates the dealer had on his computer; thats free leather until 3/1/05! Ask the dealer. I chose to take the GTP without the CompG - after test driving both, the non-CompG version seemed just as fast and nearly as responsive while having a very smooth ride. Monsoon stereo sucks - bass is muddy and undefined, power lacking; will be replaced. But overall, a great car!

• 

  What fun!! - 2004 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Jamarco - July 15 - 2:00 am

  Ride is tight and quiet. This car is sporty with luxury added in. It is fun to drive, I cant wait for the next curve or to take off from a stop. The interior is a pleasure to sit in. The red lit dash is a big plus. GM has outdone itself on this model.

• 

  no problems till now - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By kbrooks136 - July 14 - 10:26 am

  Up til today i have not had no problems with my grand am i do regular oil changes and maintains but i love my grandam... would take nothing for it right now.

• 

  What a Beaut! - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Rebbratt - July 13 - 10:03 pm

  Had the GT for about a week with 300 in and out of city miles. Man, does this thing hum! Great performance with 23+ so far in all conditions. Runs like a top and the guys at Speedway had already put a air wing on the trunk lid. Really turned some heads and I was told by one admirer that it looked like something right out of Italy.

• 

  Pontiac Excitement - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Black Brad - July 13 - 1:56 pm

  The overall experience with my G6 has been great. This is the best car from Pontiac since the Firebird. The ride is smooth and solid. It handles securely, but lacks a bit of steering feel.

• 

  Favorite Car - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By mike_ike - July 13 - 1:44 pm

  I am writing this review on a 2008 Pontiac Grand Am that I own. I have owned this car for about two years and have only one bad thing to say about the car but other than that the car has been a great fit for me. I have owned the car for about five years. It has great gas mileage, great horsepower, it has needed only minimal repairs, and the only thing bad thing about it has been an issue with the ignition but that has been fixed. This is my first Pontiac I have bought and I don’t regret the decision one bit. Every day I have to commute about 20 miles to work, so most of the miles I have put on my car are highway miles. My Pontiac gets around 30 miles per gallon on the highway.

• 

  Perfect car for me - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By 2K GTP - July 13 - 10:00 am

  This car kicks A$$... You get strong acceleration, sharp handling wraped in one of the best bodys on the road. I almost always opt for this car over my wifes 99 Maxima SE. Gas milage is impressive for 240HP, 280 ft. lbs. The computer reads an avarage of 24.6MPG mixed city/highway and i havent reset it in about a month. Just waiting patently for the 280X2 3800 V-6.

• 

  GTP Review - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By CWM - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Lots of power on demand for passing or steep hills. The "head up" display is a feature ALL cars should have. It is convenient and more importantly, a saftey feature. It does not interfere with normal driving vision as it is projected only slightly above the top of the hood. The only real problems have been the Driver Info Computer, which resets itself at times, and wind noise from the side windows. Mazzei Pontiac couldnt repair either of these conditions after several repeat visits. Im sad to hear that GM will drop the 2- door model when other manufacturers are now producing 2-doors at an invigorated pace.

• 

  outstanding minivan - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By minivanmama - July 13 - 10:00 am

  Had this van for 2 years and I still love it. It is fun to drive. The Montana has a very powerful engine and it rides smooth. I think this van is the coolest of all vans. It is really sporty looking. The only problem so far is the oil change light wont go out. I have the 7 seater but shouldve went for the 8 seater.