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 to drive, but noisy - 2005 Pontiac Grand AM
  By john - March 21 - 8:50 pm

  Great Car for fun and curvy roads!! Not too great for road noise, you hear every change in the road surface.

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  not too bad - 2009 Pontiac Vibe
  By iag1 - March 20 - 3:10 pm

  My first car was a Lexus , so i am basically downgrading my ride to a more economical car that is a hatchback with a GM brand but with better safety features. The ride is actually pretty smooth but i sure miss the powerful engine. The cabin is pretty quiet and roomy. It doesnt feel like a small car at all.But the rear view needs work.It has blind spots.it needs bigger side mirror like the Scion. I had a bad experience after the sale was done, the dealer is not cooperative in canceling the extras I signed for.

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  Good MPG - Piece of Garbage - 2006 Pontiac Vibe
  By Hank Smith - March 18 - 8:33 pm

  I should have run far far away. The day I bought my base model 2006 Vibe we drive it off the lot and within 10 miles the engine overheats and spills coolant all over the place..needless to say we took it back to the dealer and they graciously exchanged it for another. So for about 20,000 it has been a good little car and then today it dies on me and I have to have it towed to the dealer. I am not real happy. 18 months and this little piece of crap leaves me stranded on the highway. I thought I was buying Toyota quality but its just another California bulit pile of garbage. Depending on what is wrong with this car I am going to buy a Honda. I hate this car.

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  Time to trade it in! - 1999 Pontiac Grand AM
  By Jennifer S. - March 18 - 10:00 am

  I bought my 1999 Grand Am GT1 new. This car is all about small things breaking all the time. I got a lot of things fixed under warranty. Unfortunately, a lot of things broke when it went out of warranty. The brakes continue to be a problem. I need new pads every year and am on my 3rd set of rotors.On the brighter side, I have close to 100,000 miles and she still runs like a champ. This car is so much fun to drive.I dont think any car is worth what you pay for it, but I am happy I bought this car. If you are thinking of buying this car, please make sure you like to work on cars and do lots of brake jobs!

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  2000 Grand Prix - 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Josh L - March 12 - 8:23 pm

  Apart from being a sexy looking car, the Grand Prix is a great performer and very fun to drive. As with any Pontiac, though, its interior is plasticky.

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  smooth as silk but poor quality control - 2001 Pontiac Aztek
  By jqua - March 12 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle has a love it/hate it design. Typical of GM there were 1st yr problems. An ABS Sensor died twice in 18 months. the rear hatch doesnt open using one push of the switch. Several computers failed. A/C compressor failed. All during warranty period but down time was a pain. Wonderful car to drive, handles well, very smooth on the road.

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  gtp - 2003 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By magilla - March 11 - 6:53 pm

  handles like a giant go cart, acceleration and braking are right there at your reach, very happy with this car. tony

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  Its OK - 1999 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Philnita - March 11 - 10:00 am

  Bonneville is roomy, comfortable and safe. Like everything about except fuel mileage and GM heritage.

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  Yellow Ecotec - 2002 Pontiac Sunfire
  By Danm - March 11 - 10:00 am

  I have a new "Flame Yellow" 2.2l Ecotec on my hands and I love it! The sun and sound package with sunroof and better sound system is a must. Putting down the windows and roof and turning up the volume make ths a great car to drive. It also has a peppy enging that picks up quickly. The import fighting world is making many new aftermarket part for the new ecotec, too. So if you dont want a civic or eclipse like EVERYONE else,this is a great car for the money.

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  G6 is underated - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By chris - March 11 - 7:36 am

  This car has power good handling and comes with a sports car attitude... Ive had mine used for over a year now and i havent had any major problems on it at all and i drive it hard. The only thing i think that gives this car a bad rap is the Pontiac logo on the front...