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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  Fun 2003 Aztec - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By BKS - April 10 - 2:00 am

  When I told my husband I wanted to test drive an Aztec, he said thought I was crazy. But we went anyway because I was looking for car with some ameneties for around $20,000. What we found was a car with a sense of humor. From the take it along cooler/console to the sliding storage unit to the removable seats. Plus, it was a good drive. It impressed him enough that it is the car I ended up with after test driving a Ford Escape, an Isuzu Rodeo, a Saturn Vue and a Hyandia Santa Fe. I can store my products to sell in the back, keep a seat out for my dog to travel with me and still have room for passengers.

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  Grand Am review - 1997 Pontiac Grand AM
  By BigRed369 - April 8 - 10:00 am

  This vehicle is a nice compact and is good for single people who do not need much room in a car. Otherwise, it is too small for a family. The car performs well and is a stable vehicle to have around.

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  Pontiac Sunfire REview - 2000 Pontiac Sunfire
  By stepfanie - April 8 - 10:00 am

  Very good car. Not bad for the price. Loved to drive it, love the look.

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  Pontiac Vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By forestpilot - April 8 - 10:00 am

  I drive numerous cars as rental cars while traveling for work. After driving a Vibe, I was impressed with its ergonomics and performance for an automobile its size. When I later discovered its gas mileage, I was sold. I am getting 33mpg with a combination of city/highway driving, and this with an automatic transmission! With the current trend in gas prices, this is no small factor. The price is another big selling point, few cars that I researched can offer the same level of features and utility for anywhere near this price.

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  Nice Ride - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Andy - April 2 - 2:50 am

  I have owned the car for 5 years and have put on nearly 150,000 miles. There have been no negative surprises, unexpected maintenance or mechanical problems. The car runs great, remains tight and has more power than it needs.

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  Good so far - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By luck5393 - April 1 - 3:14 am

  We have had this car for a few weeks now. I do a lot of driving, and it has been a very good car in the few weeks we have owned it. I activated the XM radio in it, it tends to loose a signal when going under bridges or parked next to 3 story buildings. the engine is very responsive and the steering is tight. I bought it with about 91000 miles, so it has already been well broken in. The interior is roomy, and the back seat is very roomy for the size of car it is. One option that I wish it had was being able to pull down the 40/60 seats from the interior of the car and not just from the trunk.

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  its a so-so car - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By adam - March 31 - 1:33 am

  I like my 2007 2.4l g6 it drives well and I bought it new. At 23,000 miles I didnt have to do any Major repairs. I have noticed that when you turn and take off fast there is a "clunking" noise that is starting to annoy me. I have called the dealer and they said it must be because of the speed Im taking off at but thats not true.

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  04 GTO - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By Jack - March 26 - 9:00 am

  Im not crazy about the looks, for sure. It has plenty of performance but not much better then my 66 442. I think Pontiac ruined their resale value when they were selling them for $26,000.

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  Overall OK, but a few Kinks - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Ginger Leigh - March 25 - 1:10 pm

  Though Ive owned over fifteen used cars in my life, this was the first new car I bought. I bought it because it was half-Toyota, yet it had an all- American name. Overall, Im satisfied with it. Many people have commented on stylin it is. I like the interior features (the electric outlet, the many small storage compartments) and the old-school Pontiac style dashboard, lighted red at night. However, I dont care for the style of the rear-end, and Ive had minor electrical problems (battery, sunroof, the interior map light). Also, the pick-up is kind of slow. Interested? Get the GT, all possible options, and definately get the extended warranty -- GMs warranty STINKS!

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  SOLSTICE - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By R.J. LEEDS - March 24 - 5:46 am

  From the day I took possession of my Solstice, the main problem is people coming too close trying to get a better look.