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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  Impressed - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
  By StellaGomez - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I bought this car used from a friend who had bought it used. I have no idea how well it was taken care of before I bought it, but I assume not very well. I have owned it for three years and have yet to have a problem with it. There are interior/cosmetic issues from previous use but it has never been a problem for me. Ive driven two hour trips across Michigan several times and never had a problem. This is one tough car. Perfect for a student/young driver who just drives in town and who is on a budget.

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  Not a happy camper - 2009 Pontiac G3
  By Not a happy camper - August 19 - 10:00 am

  I have now had this car about a year in a half! Mind you its my first brand new car! I thought i picked a great choice for my first new car. Well I was WRONG! My car has been to the shop 8 times! Front end problems pulling me to the left hard, driver side mirror shakes so bad i cant even see out of it when it rains or on im on the high way! Thermostat has gone out. And just yesterday i had to get the heater blower thing fix! I am trading this car in! They will not see me again!nor get my business again! It sucks gas! It doesnt ride smoothly! Worst choice i could have ever made buying that car!! I regret every day of it!

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  Good Car, So Far - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Mike - August 16 - 5:20 pm

  My wife was bent on buying one of these things from the first time she saw one on "Survivor." I was wary, partly because I wasnt thrilled about getting an SUV, and partly because Im wary of purchasing anything else from GM (or any American auto maker, for that matter). To be honest, I must admit that Im pleasantly surprised. The ride is comfortable. and it drives quite nicely. The sound system is more than adequate, and we love the sun-roof and leather heated seats. It doesnt feel top-heavy when rounding corners, and rides more like a car than a truck. Weve had no problems thus far. And for the record, I dont ever like admitting when Im wrong. But this was a good choice.

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  2005 GTO - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Mike - August 16 - 5:06 pm

  The GTO is a fun car to drive. It is an everyday car with a very comfortable interior design. With the 6.0, you do not lack performance.

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  I love my Solstice......a great machine! - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By Kent M. Sherry - August 16 - 7:20 am

  There are dozens of sport cars on the market, but none come close to offering the most bang for the buck that a Solstice does. GMC has a real winner in the Solstice. Every place that I go, people want to take a closer look at this stylish engineering marval. Having driven a Triumph (TR3) as a young man, the Solstice brings back old memories. The sound of the exhaust, the increase in Gs with every shift of the gears, and best of all the 30.7 mpg that I averaged on my last 200 mile road trip. This car is going to be a classic. While some might stash it away as an investment for the future, I bought my Solstice for fun!

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  Nice Van - 2005 Pontiac Montana
  By storm - August 15 - 2:53 pm

  Bought new in Dec. 05. No problems at 43,000 miles of mostly city driving. Only issue is with tire wear, need to rotate every 5,000 miles or rear tires will cup. Overall very nice van for the price.

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  Vibe 2009 - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By dangelo - August 15 - 12:40 pm

  Bought a black 2009 Vibe, because the car I really wanted was not available in my area. The Vibe is a nice car, but GM still does not have a clue on how to build a small car with the things most Americans are looking for.

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  not bad at all - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By simon - August 15 - 2:10 am

  i bought the 2004 with incentives and im glad i did , very tightly built , smooth acceleration, love listening to that deep exhaust when just cruising at like 70 , you get to 70 so fast you dont even realize it. if you want a real quick american v8for 34000 you cant beat it . not many cars faster in this price range or less and the interior seats are flawless , you get macnine pedals , you get the whole race car feel and still room in the bac seat for 2 more people , yes unlike the mustang there is room there .

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  sporty and reliable van - 2000 Pontiac Montana
  By montana mom - August 15 - 2:00 am

  This is my 2nd Montana van in 2 years. I purchased a 1999 and loved it, so I traded in for the 2000 with the power sliding door and entertainment system. This is the sportiest looking van around. I have broken cupholders and problem with the air bag light coming on. I would definetly buy another Montana.

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  Best of the New Breed - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By Dr Will B - August 15 - 2:00 am

  Checked out all the competition. More head room, easy in and out, fun features. Basically all th bells and whistles on a luxury suv with the interior of a sport model. Very practical and a real head turner. Deserves a 2nd and 3rd look before you decide.