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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  Vibe even better now that it is paid for - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By HBarkley - June 29 - 2:20 am

  Bought my 04 Vibe in July 04 when the new 05s were coming out & got a good deal. Right away had a bad feeling when the car wouldnt start the day I had to pick it up.The dealer had left the dome light on overnight and drained the battery but after a jump start and a night on the battery charger no problems occurred. Gets great gas mileage:avg 33mpgs. The center console under the shifter constantly pops open, just recently had this addressed by the service dept.and now seems to be fine. Been to FL,IA, & CA from TX and the cars performed admirably.Great car for small family (1 or 2 small kids).Great interior capacity for trips.

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  Not a bad little car - 2008 Pontiac G5
  By cam - June 28 - 12:46 pm

  I bought this car brand new in 08. Definately an impulse buy. The resale value is bad but that didnt bother me at first. I drove it about 55000km the first year without any major problems. Now had it for a year and a half and put 88000km on it with only oil changes every 5000k. I do 98% highway driving and it does just fine. Plus the dark blue color with 20% tint looks very sharp.

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  Not just a city car - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By PontiVibe - June 28 - 12:03 pm

  Purchased my Vibe one day and set out on a 2000 km journey the next and was very impressed with the ride and handling. Completing mostly highway driving the 2.4 L engine has lot of power and is able to cruise along comfortably at above average highway speeds. For a small car the gas mileage is not overly great and is better compared to a small SUV than a car of equal size. However, if the Vibe is going to be used for highway driving the bigger engine provides lot of power for passing and merging into traffic. One real benefit of this vehicle is that it is able to handle unpaved roads very well and the traction control is an added asset when coming upon loose gravel.

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  Sharp! - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By GaryL - June 27 - 8:20 pm

  Just picked up this 05 after test driving an 04. Impressive power and comfort all in one package. Exterior looks make it a deceptive speed predator at the traffic lights. Seat slowness does stink but not a big deal when all else adds up to an awesome vehicle build. Blue on Blue is a very sharp look for this vehicle. Looking forward to aftermarket tools for this great mid-life crisis requirement.

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  Would recommend - 2008 Pontiac Torrent
  By Persy - June 27 - 1:43 pm

  Bought in Pittsburgh in Feb 2008. Has handled very well in snow and rain! Doesnt have a lot of horsepower - but, that keeps the MPG lower. Some of the inside features are breaking (mirror covers). But, overall a very reliable car, and I drive a LOT.

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  Good car...Great price - 2005 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Moe - June 21 - 3:23 pm

  My wife loves this car...she says she feels at home in it. I am 64" and I even fit with some comfort. These days with gas prices this car is a perfect fit with our budget(by the way...Edmunds say this cars actual value is around $11,000..we paid $8600 including tax) Good car....Great price!

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  My baby blue! - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By DFO - June 17 - 4:40 pm

  We have enjoyed this car so much! We havent had any major repairs, only regular maintenance repairs.The car has get up and go!......Love the hum when accelerating! Feels like Im driving a more expensive sports car. Downside: noisy, interior is cramped, cup holder is behind gear shifter, and it wont go into park with a large size drink in it .... bummer!

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  My grand am gt - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By maddy - June 17 - 2:00 am

  I recently bought a used 96 grand am gt, so far it has been ok other then my alternator is already going out...but I also have the 95 grand am gt and we have replaced the alternator once, the heater core, the brakes, the thermostat 3 times, and just recently the water pump. but other then that (which is a lot) i have had no MAJOR problems...I love the new look of the 96-98 model grand ams...and it handles well..

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  Wonderful car - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By shamgar - June 16 - 7:03 pm

  Bought this car new based on research into cars that got good mileage. We are extremely happy with it. Current mileage is about 65000 and the car has been dead reliable. It has a five-speed and since teaching my daughter to drive stick I now have to fight her for the car when I need it. Great fun to drive, loads of room for cargo. The only negatives are esthetics. Its not terribly comfortable on long drives and the low profile tires are extremely noisy especially on freeway expansion joints. Now that Pontiac is gone, I would buy a Toyota Matrix without hesitation.

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  07 GP GT - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By GP & TA - June 16 - 1:00 am

  Ive had the GT for about 3 months and love it over all. I do not have any regrets about my choice. Rush-hour commuting is now far more tolerable. Id even say enjoyable, but driving the GT is far better than the stop and go of rush-hour. The drivers seat is very comfortable. The A/C and climate control options are far better than any other car Ive owned or driven. Granted, it would be nice if the front passenger seat had the same power options.