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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  G6 Rating-Poor - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Carrie Fitzgerald - October 29 - 3:46 pm

  I purchased a new G6 in early 2005. It is very sporty looking and I get lots of comments on the appearance. Appearance aside, I have had nothing but problems out of the car. It was in the shop within the first two weeks having a new amp installed because the original quit working. The drivers side sunvisor broke, the cupholder in the backseat broke, the automatic lock on the passengers door did not work and had to be fixed, a clicking sound on the drivers door was fixed, a new starter was installed, and the sunroof had to be fixed because of a constant rattle. Purchasing this car has definitely made me decide to never purchase another Pontiac again.

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  Good Sporty Car - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Jacob - October 29 - 8:30 am

  I bought this car with 49000 miles on it. The alternator went out at 65,000 miles, Both window regulators needed to be replaced at around 75,000 miles. Do not open the windows if your car is iced over they will break. New front brakes at 77000 miles. Trac light comes on occasionaly. everything else is OK. Love the engine 3.4L , plenty of power, 27-32 mpg. Half the price of any similar Japanese car. Buy this car one year old and you will save a ton of money.

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  gasser - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By z-man - October 28 - 9:13 pm

  This has been a great car to drive so far and turns a lot of heads. Handling is great & very tight, but gas mileage is worse than I expected. The convertible is easy to operate. The stick is not smooth to shift at times but OK otherwise (dont expect a Porsche feel). Im glad I bought it and Ive had a Corvette before. This is more fun and looks even better. Its got character. No spare tire :-( Trunk? What trunk? But then who cares? Bring on the summer!

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  Sunfire Lover - 1999 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Sunfire Lover - October 28 - 11:46 am

  Love the car. The dealership was the worst part. Extremely RUDE People working there including the owner. I havent have to replace anything other than the brakes the entire time that I have owned the car!

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  Surprisingly amazing! - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Surprised - October 25 - 3:00 am

  I got the Pontiac G6 as a company car. I wasnt expecting much but was surprisingly amazed. The vehicle is quieter than most cars Ive driven, including my personally owned vehicle, an Acura. It is fast and spunky ... just the way I like to drive. I havent noticed fuel economy, mostly because the company pays for the gas. Im interested to see how this baby performs after she gets a few miles under her belt! Being the research hog that I am, I looked up the cost of the vehicle and the ratings. I wasnt surprised by the great consumer ratings the vehicle received but I was surprised at the low sticker price. An absolute steal.

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  Great choice - 2008 Pontiac Torrent
  By Rob R - October 22 - 7:16 pm

  I had the Equinox LS for the past four years and had no real complaints. I know Ive only owned the Torrent for a few weeks and its new, however the ride, handling, and style is superior over the Equinox. I would have gone for the new Vue however the cost to lease is unreal. I agree 100% with a lot of the other writers on the quirks based on my experience with the Equinox, but the Torrent is such a better upgrade.

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  A bad bitty - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Dallas S - October 22 - 2:00 am

  I owned a 79 trans am for a while until an one day the car desided to blow up, literally. So I went into the market for a car, and found the GTP. I didnt think that a Grand Prix could take off like that. Coming from a tire eating monster I thought I would have been disappointed. I was wrong, this Pontiac hauls. And I love the mileage Im getting.

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  Montana - 1999 Pontiac Montana
  By foster - October 22 - 2:00 am

  The electrical functions of this car were always a concern to us. Also the interior parts of the car that are made up of plastic cracked or broke and needed to be replaced.

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  Be Careful At 100,000 Miles - 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By ch7 - October 22 - 2:00 am

  I bought this car with about 90,000 miles on it expecting a few repairs. What I have replaced over the past year includes roughly $5,000 of parts and labor. Transmission, oil pan, 2 alternators, 2 batteries, power steering pump, alternator belt, and a number of other smaller things. The charging system seems to be faulty because I dont feel that its very reliable. Pontiac needs to seriously consider increasing their factory warranty because their cars sure dont hold up after the three years are gone. I think the Grand Prix is a GREAT car but the one I bought was a lemon. Just to be forewarned though, you might want to buy the extended warranty.

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  Test Drive One and Youll Buy It - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By Jimmy L - October 22 - 2:00 am

  I was set to buy a sedan when I stopped by the Pontiac dealer on a whim, test drove an Aztec and I bought one that same day. Its the most exciting car Ive driven in years! It handles great, has nice power, is extremely comfortable and is laden with terrific features. Dont be put off by the styling - Im still getting used to that but the rest of the vehicle makes up for it.