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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  excellent car to drive - 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By johnnyv40th - May 12 - 6:10 pm

  The grand prix is a very fun car to drive , it has a nice sporty feel but not too hard over bumps.The supercharger realy makes a big difference - it provides great tire smoking performance.

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  97 Formula - 1997 Pontiac Firebird
  By Danny - May 12 - 5:00 am

  The car is a beautiful combination of style and performance that turns heads everywhere. Just because it doesnt have the 505 hp found in the Chevy Z06, you will never feel like you need anything else. Never have I found a postion in which I wished for more acceleration or a higher maximum speed. The ride is fairly smooth, but in the automatic form, 3rd gear gets a little bumpy around 4000 rpm, but 4th gear is smoother and more quiet than Ive ever experienced in the f-bodys.

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  Cool Car... Toyota Quality? - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By Team Canada - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I bought a base Vibe a little over a year ago and I think its great. Not much can match its looks, performance, versatility, fuel mileage and price. That being said, I have come across many little problems that are typical of Pontiac, maybe not Toyota. The driverÂ’s window rattles when up, the driverÂ’s seat shifts when starting and stopping, the blower fan sounds like it needs a new bearing, the rear windshield wiper stopped working, Ive had 2 rattles in the dash and the front tires have worn out in 10,000 km (Continentals)!! All little but annoying problems.

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  I love it - 1996 Pontiac Grand AM
  By dpitt - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I love my car - Canadian. I now have 202,000 kms on the original transmission and motor. Sure needs regular maintenance - hard on brakes. But very reliable and well worth it!

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  The best car Ive ever owned - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By IRINGEM - May 9 - 2:00 am

  The 04 GTO has to be the best car Ive ever owned. From its understated exterior, to its Corvette underpinnings, to it excellently appointed interior the GTO is the perfect car. The $33,000 price tag is a real bargain given the performance and total vehicle package. In the interior you will not find another vehicle with better seats. The controls are clearly marked and easy to operate. There is not a lot of "fluff" inside to distract the driver, just a great stereo, good HVAC control, a non-GM cruise control (this is good) and a trip computer with meaningul information.

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  Good vibes from the Pontiac - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Da Marshallz - May 9 - 2:00 am

  After looking for a vehicle that gives of the feel of a sedan but still has the presence of an Suv,The Pontiac Vibe was my choice. along with its desighn and Handsome shadom grey color the Pontiac Vibe can compliment my family when where dressed up or just cruisin through the town. Always on go were starting to wonder if we need to travel or just finding excusines to drive the Vibe. Next is probably an Aztec or a Rendevoux (how ever you spell it).

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  i love my vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By tim kind - May 9 - 2:00 am

  my wife and i bought our first vibe last year and she drives it daily to work. with the front wheel drive, i feel safe in the winter time and the gas milage is 33-34 mpg.we travel quite often from ohio to north carolina and the nine hour drive doesnt wear us out.what with only stopping once each way for gas it is only about $30.00 round trip. we will be buying another vibe in the near future.

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  Pontiac Vibe, front wheel drive - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Marcie Bakker - May 9 - 2:00 am

  I love this car! It has lots better fuel economy than an SUV yet I sit up higher than in a car. My car is comfortable and great looking. Handles well even in our recent snow and ice.

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  Its a great car! - 2003 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Doctor O - May 9 - 2:00 am

  This is only the second American car Ive ever owned. Turned in my Nissan Altima at the end of a lease and decided to buy a car. I was able to find a great deal on this car which used to be a rental car. It has a lot of power and looks great. I love the headlights that go on automatically and the fog lights look great. It is very responsive and has a lot of kick. I love this car, its got so much more power than my 4 cyl Altima. Ive had no issues with the car. I strongly recommend it for its reliability, its great looks and its power.

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  A Great Car - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By FireyRedHead - May 9 - 2:00 am

  After having test driven a Nissan Sentra and Altima, also the Pontiac Grand Prix, I found this car to be the best handling and the most fun to drive. The pick-up speed for getting on the freeway is exceptional, as living in the Bay Area CA, that type of speed is needed at times. Also the ride is extremely smooth even on the roughest road...Excellent buy