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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  I enjoy my ride - 2006 Pontiac Torrent
  By Keith - January 21 - 4:06 am

  Back cargo on the torrent we test drove had cargo cover/table. Very nice feature. The Torrent we drove off the lot in did not have the same feature. Sad.

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  08 Pontiac G6 - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By Kelli - January 20 - 12:53 am

  I bought my Pontiac G6 brand new in April 2008. About two months later I started to have problems with it. Its the same problem every time. The passenger side window leaks all the time. I have had it fixed three times already. In Nov. 09 I steering and strut went. I would never recommend Pontiac to anyone. I have looked at other cars but my payments are so cheap, plus it is pretty cool having a car that wasnt made for very long.

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  2005 GTO - 2005 Pontiac GTO
  By Roger - January 18 - 5:20 pm

  The most enjoyable car Ive ever owned. I had muscle cars in the 60s but this is a far stronger machine with the LS2 and 6 speed. I like the fact that the new GTO is rare - not many around (GM probably doesnt think this is a positive). All that and reasonable gas mileage to boot.

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  Great Surprise! - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By ArtyF - January 18 - 2:43 am

  I never would have considered the Grand Prix but the the test drive sold me on the spot! You turn the key and the engine roars to life. Interior seating is very comfortable, dash is hip and driving is fun. You MUST get the heads up display which projects speed, direction up on the windshield. Compares to BMW, others. Looks great in black.

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  Best 4-Seat Convertible Value in the US - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By Convertible Steve - January 18 - 2:33 am

  By far, G6 hardtop convertible is the best value in this segment. All expectations have been met or exceeded, & it has been relatively free of "surprises." Noticeable negative is interior plastics. GM really "stretched" to make this a truly affordable, modern 4-seat convertible, & for the most part, it succeeded. Top mechanism is unbelievably complicated, so an extended warranty is likely to be wise purchase. Power of 3.5L engine is fine, but occasionally feels sluggish at highway passing speeds. Surprisingly, fuel economy exceeds 17 city/26 hwy EPA estimates by 10 - 15%. Tranny is well-mated to engine. Wide turning radius, but otherwise handles well. And best of all, a rock-solid ride.

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  marks - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By mark mitchell - January 16 - 4:06 am

  This car is performing very well for me, I just took it on a 300 mile trip and got 34 mpg. I took it through the mts and it was great around the corners, up the hill and down.

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  Best Pointac yet - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By Steve Brintle - January 16 - 2:33 am

  This is a car with plenty of room, that is very comfortable to drive, handles like a sports car, and has the performance of the early muscle car. Truly a fine car. The only problem I had was getting one.

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  Great deal on a fun car! - 2009 Pontiac G6
  By Julius McCarthy - January 15 - 7:16 pm

  I have had this car for 4 months now and am very happy. The car rides exceptionally well, is fun to drive, and smooth on the freeway. The 4-cyl engine is adequate for my needs and gets fairly good gas mileage. I love the sunroof and the car looks great with the rear spoiler. This is my first car with Onstar and the navigation turn by turn directions are very convenient, especially when looking for a particular restaurant around town. Overall, this car has great value and Im pleased with my purchase.

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  Amazing underrated car - 2005 Pontiac Bonneville
  By clevelandbonneville - January 15 - 4:13 am

  So far owned for 3,000 miles. I got this beautiful car for a bargain price with 90k miles. It drives like it has 30k miles. Ive gotten between 23 and 27 mpg per tank so far. Nothing has broken except for a burned out head- light bulb. Very smooth torquey engine with silky smooth shifting transmission. Lots of style. More style than all the imports for sure. I love the look from the back and side especially. Only cool Chryslers and Dodges have more style but they are troublesome. This car feels heavy and well-built and safe. Nice looking interior with a large trunk and back seat. This car is big and a bit tricky to maneuver in parking lots and city but its a dream on the freeway.

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  Mark - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By mark mitchell - January 14 - 11:30 pm

  Excellent Experience so far. Have had this car 3 weeks and have put 1500 miles on it. I love to drive it. Just took it through the smokies and it handled great around the bends, up the hills and down.