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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  love the car - 1999 Pontiac Firebird
  By bill - September 30 - 10:43 pm

  The cars great, except for the headlight doors. I had an earlier model and it had the same problem.

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  This car is GREAT! - 2005 Pontiac G6
  By Brad - September 29 - 4:06 pm

  I really like my new G6. I also own a 02 Grand Am GT. I still like the Grand Am but the G6 rides smoother, handles better, has more power, is more comfortable, and just seems to have a higher level of build quality. Im a manufacturing engineer and I look for all the little mistakes people make when they bolt, weld or snap parts together - so far I cant pick out any issues on my G6. My drive to and from work just got a lot better.

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  Fun to drive - 2006 Pontiac GTO
  By Kelly - September 28 - 8:56 am

  The car is fun and fast, a real head turner especially in red. Have only had the car for 2 months and so far the car is what i expected of it.

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  Cool Car - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Jim in MS - September 27 - 9:50 pm

  The car is very fast (6.0 is great), handles great, and is very hard to find. Dealer looked for weeks before we found a GT that would do. It still was not the color we wanted (we got red wanted gray, but car does turn heads) nor did it have the performance package, but it does have the sunroof and leather. Great seats, great steering, really really fast. Dealer only discounted $500 off the sticker, but still good value for so much car.

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  Awesome - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By Terri - September 27 - 4:00 pm

  I have had my car since mid August and love the way it handles. Have not seen any others on the road so far! Got the Electric Blue...great color. Has great pickup..have to watch your speed since you can be going 80 before you know it! Smooth ride, great leg room in the back seat, good size truck. I added the upgraded 17" cast aluminum chrome wheels, along with the adjustable pedals and the remote start. Getting 26 mpg in city driving so far! No problems to date! Great sound system. Glad I bought the G6 instead of the Toyota Solara. Better pricing and almost the same styling

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  Very Good Car - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By CJ - September 27 - 4:16 am

  I enjoy driving this car. I used to own a 95 Sunfire. The timing chain on that one snapped at 198,000 miles. I ended up just buying a new one. After having the new Sunfire for over a year, I enjoy this one more than my old one. I wasnt happy with the newer styling, but it has grown on me. I drive the car about 100 miles a day, and I have not had any problems with it, except for having to replace two of the tires already and the windshield(Im not good with windshields, I had to replace the windshield four times in my old Sunfire). Very good for cruising, especially in the summer with the sunroof and windows open.

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  Great car! Definately feeling the vibe - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By GaryMan - September 26 - 10:00 am

  I love this thing. After my sis accident on the highway with the sluggish Pathfinder, we bought this car and its great. Lots of cargo space and good fuel economy too, what more can you ask for!? Dont expect this car to be gutsy, but it sure is fun to drive.

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  Superb Vehicle - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By roadwarryr - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Had my 02 for almost a year now, and it is great. Ive hauled heavy loads, and except for up steep hills, it did a decent job. Only real problem has been the HUD...havent taken it in yet, but i think the wire is loose. Great mileage for a lumbering beast. Steering is great, handling too except in high wind. Love all the unique features (cooler, air compressor, etc). GM: tweak it on a lambda platform! Dont kill the car!!!

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  Vibe time - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By CHThom - September 26 - 10:00 am

  Great ride and great looks. Lots of head room and leg room for passengers but for a tall driver, the "dead pedal" for the left foot is annoying and forces my foot into an uncomfortable position. Long rides are sometimes a chore because of this arrangement. Lots of cargo space and the rear window opening is fantastic for loading & unloading groceries. All in all, I would buy this vehicle again without hesitation. I just wish that they would get rid of that "dead pedal".......

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  The Best Car YET!!! - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By IBSALY - September 26 - 10:00 am

  The Vibe is the best purchase that we have ever made. It is fun to drive, awesome to haul small stuff, and how cool is it that the back seats fold down FLUSH with the trunk to make for easy hauling of larger items. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a well-priced, economical, reliable vehicle that stands out from the rest out there!