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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  Fueling Excitement - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By aboatz - July 3 - 9:43 pm

  Cars are often rated by factors such as reliability, safety, and performance, but there is one key feature that most reviewers cant explain...the thrill. The Grand Prix, particularly in the GTP w/ Competition Group package, was a car that was immediately exciting to sit in, and even moreso once it was taken on the road. All stresses and worries are taken away every day when I get in it now...it has the stability and roominess of a large car, but effortless steering and power more typically associated with lighter sports cars. Not only that, but the car allows me to go fast, look fast, and not look like a pompous jerk or a pimpled teen while doing it. Accords dont have that ability.

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  Unleash The Beast - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By BigUnit42 - June 30 - 3:56 am

  Unlike many who own a GTO, mine is a daily driver. My commute is 35 miles one way. In addition to that I take it out often on social occasions. Needless to say I spend a great amount of time in this vehicle. This is the best sports car you can buy for the price. The performance is immaculate, and a year and a half after purchase, it still surprises me. Another surprise was the quality of the interior. Leather all around, comfortable electronic seats, and a stylish dashboard. No part of the interior looks cheap or plastic- looking like many cars today. Gas mileage is low for current standards, but for the size of the engine, it can be preserved quite well if driven conservatively.

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  1,500 miles - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By Stacey - June 29 - 1:03 pm

  A beautiful car inside and out. It feels like driving a more expensive car. The power adjustable pedals and seat make for a perfect fit. I purchases the optional 18" wheels with stability control(only $390 sticker for all)and am surprised at how aggressively the car corners. Most of my time is spent driving sedately and the quiet ride with Monsoon system have made me enjoy driving again. I find myself using the heated leather seats on warm days to help my lower back. The headliner is nicely cushioned, and the two-tone interior is very visually appealing. I look forward to the drive every time I get in this car.

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  I love it - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By RBH - June 28 - 8:16 pm

  I did a lot of research before i bought this car. I acutally gave up a cadillac dhs for this car and am glad i did. This is a great looking car and is pure fun to drive. The stereo is better than what i had in the cadillac but i love the panoramic sunroof the best. The sunroof moves quickly and easily. Acceleration is great and the trunk room is unbelievable. I just took my first trip in my new g6 and got 30.2 Mpg. Back to the stereo-it is loud and crisp and beats the bose i had. Someone put a lot of thought into designing this car. Fun, fun, fun, is what this car is.

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  Love my vibe!! - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By marcieb - June 27 - 7:36 pm

  130,000 miles and still going strong!!!! I bought this car with 32,000 miles on it and have never had any big issues except A/C quit getting cold to which I took it in and no one could find a leak but after having a/c charged 3x and a/c only lasting a couple days there must be a leak somewhere but Ive chosen to live without it at this point. Ive used this car for sooooo many things, hauling just about anything I could fit in it (cake deliveries, landscaping materials, home improvement materials, furniture ect...). Hoping to see 200,000 miles or more on this baby, still looks in great shape!! Oh i usually get 33mph highway :)

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  An excellent Mini Van - 1999 Pontiac Montana
  By Dave10541 - June 26 - 10:00 am

  Since 9/11 we have been very aprehensive about flying as a family, so we have been driving everywhere. Two years ago we drove from NY to FL. During this 24 hour drive we well all very comfortable and delighted with the performance of the Montana. Since then we have gone back to FL, driven to MI, & MA a few times. The Van is more comfortable to drive than my family sedan. I am very happy with the product and intend to by another.

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  Fun,fun,fun! - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Fiesty Diva - June 24 - 6:03 am

  The Car is fun to drive, the suspension is much better than my previous nissan,the only thing i would change is possibly more compartments in the car for storage and possibly an additional power source for a handy mp3 charger. If you enjoy power, buy the car!

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  Lack of Storage Space? Bunk! - 2008 Pontiac Solstice
  By John Bruning - June 22 - 4:53 pm

  Weve got 3,800 miles on our 08 GXP. It has gone through deserts, an Idaho sand storm, crossed mountains in flash- flood conditions and has shined in every situation. Two rebuttals on criticism: 1.) Some critics say the manual tranny is rough and hard to shift. When broken in at about 3K, it becomes butter-smooth. 2.) No storage space. Bull. You just need to know how to pack. I just took our GXP on a road trip to support a SWAT teams training operation. In the GXP, I had a large camera bag, tripod, large duffel with a weeks change of clothes, gun bag, laptop bag, and ten blank-firing pistols, rifles and a shotgun. Plenty of room for all! Treat yourself: buy a GXP!

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  Red is hot - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Dorothy - June 21 - 9:43 pm

  I absolutely love my car. I have had it over 6 years and it now has 120,000 miles on it. I just drove down from Massachusetts to Florida and it was a joy. The car purred. Great on the highway and suburb in heavy traffic.

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  Great Versatile Car! - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By blazer7t8 - June 18 - 5:31 am

  We bought our 09 Vibe AWD when it was a year old and had 11K miles. It has 90K, now. My wife drives it most of the time and she liked the size and control layout. The interior is nice and the seats are comfortable. We often take this car on a 4 hour road trip to visit family and my back does not hurt. We average 28 mpg. Have gotten as high as 32. It swallows up cargo. Have hauled tall filing cabinets, 8Kw generators, lumber, etc. With the higher ground clearance and AWD it gets around great in Ohio winter snow. It could use more sound insulation. You hear a lot of road noise. New tires at 58K helped but still noisy. No major repairs, only normal maintenance items. Overall, great car!