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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  2005 GTO - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Keith Gander - September 7 - 7:23 am

  The fit and finish on this car is great. The best Ive seen on a GM product. The LS2 engine is a dream come true, 400hp right off the lot, and it was $25,000 to $30,000 cheaper than a Corvette. The suspension reminds me of a Bonneville or Park Avenue (to soft). I had Hotchkiss sway bars installed front and rear, plus JBA headers, Borla exhaust, and a K&N intake. This car is performance bargain!

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  Great Car - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By DC - September 7 - 4:40 am

  I just purchased my 2006 Pontiac Pursuit G5 (we had it in Canada before the U.S), and I absolutely love it. The 2.2 litre mated to the 4 speed automatic is just great. It shifts smoothly, and has plenty of power to spare. The interior quality is superior to any prior gm products, and the silver-colored accents on the dash board give the interior an upscale feel. Furthermore the stock radio/CD player is very good (considering the price of the car). In addition to that, the trunk is of a decent size, although the opening is a bit narrow. As far as road handling capabilities, the G5 soaks up any frost heaves and cracks in the road, transfering very little noise into the car.

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  Mixed Bag - 2002 Pontiac Aztek
  By SueW - September 7 - 2:00 am

  I was singing its praises for the first few months of ownership, but now- 2,000 miles into ownership, on its first road trip-major problem. A boot on the drive shaft broke and left me stranded for more than a week while the part had to be shipped from Detroit. GM has no trip interrupt policy so they paid some but I was out $500 in expenses-plus the inconvenience. The dealer said if the drive shaft would have dropped on the pavement at highway speed-wed be dead! A few other minor complaints- the rear hatch struts are too weak for the heavy trunk. The radio is possessed-stations will change, tracks will change, and the mode AM/FM/CD will change.

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  Go for the GA - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By wuphat - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for just over 4 years now and have had only one thing go wrong other than routine things like brakes and such. The tumbler on my ignition went out but was covered under warranty. That was almost 3 years ago. Other than that this car has been nothing but reliable. I will certainly be buying another GA in the future.

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  1998 Pontiac Trans Am - 1998 Pontiac Firebird
  By Russell Ruggiero - September 7 - 2:00 am

  The Pontiac Trans Am offers super overall performance at a low point of entry. This is my third Trans Am and the best of the lot. The LS1 is a great engine, and maybe the best V-8 in the world, save for the LS6. A great value that is now dead. However, the new GTO will lead GM into mid-market greatness.

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  dream car - 2000 Pontiac Firebird
  By ta12sec - September 7 - 2:00 am

  My firehawk is my 4th f body. My first and second both were less then ideal as daily drivers and my 3rd was a highly modified 86 that ran 10 second 1/4miles. but again far from a good all around car. My firehawk has it all enough power to destroy the 275/40/17 firestone firehawks in first and second and shifting into third often gets a solid chirp or sets off the traction control. It will tear through a corner that a lesser car would quiver at. I average 30 mpg+ on the freeway and find it to be a very comfortable cruiser.

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  Best Bang for the Buck - 2000 Pontiac Firebird
  By MalteseFalcon - September 7 - 2:00 am

  WS6 / Ram Air six-speed version. Turns heads, handles extremely well, is much faster than anything else in the price range. An enthusiasts car. Hard to get into, ride is very firm, but seats provide good support and it sticks like glue in the corners. No warranty work or reliability problems with the car. 15 passes down the drag strip. Best I can do is 14.1 at 100 mph; better driver would see high 13s. Excellent highway and city gas mileage. Kids in back seat cant actually see anything but the back of the front seats. Skip shift is annoying, but can be easily disabled using a widely available kit that sells for about $30.00 US.

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  WoW - 1999 Pontiac Firebird
  By Justin Baker - September 7 - 2:00 am

  Ive had this car for going on 4 years now and have yet to have any problems. Makes a great everyday driver and weekend racer. I would recommend this car to any responsible driver.

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  This car........ - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By dvp560d - September 7 - 2:00 am

  ....is a piece of GM junk! The door handles feel shoddy and the same for the unsensitive steering. The seats are thoroughly unsupportive and become uncomfortable after only an hour. Literally, everything about this car feels like it wasnt worth my wasted $12,000. The engine is harsh and sounds terrible. Ive driven Hondas, and their engines sound much sweeter. The sound system is good until you turn it up over the third bar. Then, the bass gets floppy and the treble is harsh on the ears. If considering this car, please, for your own good, change your mind! The only good thing about this car is the exterior design, which is fair at best.

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  Montana SV6 - 2006 Pontiac Montana SV6
  By David Battistel - September 7 - 1:26 am

  We really didnt want to purchase a minivan, but it was really our only option based on our space requirements. I will only buy GM products, so the SV6 was a natural choice. I was not too keen on it at first (I would have rather had an SUV), but it has grown on me since. I really enjoy driving it (not as much as my Sierra though) and I am impressed with the overall package. If it turns out to be as great as my truck, I will be very happy.