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 - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By mkb - August 4 - 2:00 am

  This is a great car all around. fun to drive . Good Job Pontiac.

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  Nice car but... - 2001 Pontiac Grand AM
  By GTowner - August 3 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my GT about a year and half. I was very happy with it for the first year, but lately Ive become a little disappointed. The brakes have a terrible feel (which the dealer tells me is normal), Ive had gas guage sending unit and turn signal switch replaced, and had the computer updated for a problem with the starter. All this as I inch closer to the end of the warranty. In spite of these issues, the car has plenty of power (especially in the 3000 RPM range), handles well and is comfortable to drive. If only they would add the supercharger they keep teasing us with...

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  I got your engine - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By blocker - July 31 - 10:00 am

  The GTOs not so showey exterior is a bonus for thoes who prefer an understated appearance. All go and no show! The GTO on the grill bring coments from many past Goat drivers

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  Pontiac Grand Prix - 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By dscott8873 - July 31 - 10:00 am

  The car is a fun car to drive and responds well, especially when using a premium fuel. I question the long term quality of the vehicle. My Grand Prix needed a new transmission after 42000 miles, I also had changed the transmission fluid at 20,000 miles. The car also had a problem with its computer system at 38,000 mile right after the warranty went out. The quality if the interior is good. Some of the knobs could be of better quality as the paint on the pointer part of the A/C knobs wears easily.

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  Best Grand Prix Ever - 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Thunderchicken - July 30 - 6:20 am

  I have owned several Grand Prixs over the years and have found the 07 GXP to be the best yet. It has a great combination of handling, power and technology. Taking into account the car has a 300+ bhp V8, the fuel economy is very good. I get 26 mpg on the highway and 22 mpg city. I am not lead footed but do lean on it a bit from time to time. I find the build quality to be a bit lacking for the interior but a dash dress up kit really helps. The only down sides are poor factory tires and massive torque stear under hard excelleration. Pirelli PZero 255/45ZR18 solves the tire problem. Sorry, no solution for the torque stear. All in all a great, good looking adult sports sedan. Great value

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  Micks Solstice - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By MICKEY WHITEAKER - July 29 - 3:03 am

  I love the drive, very fun. It looks much more expensive than it is. I get asked all the time how much it was. Also asked what it is, which is disappointing because I have worked for GM for 33 yrs & GM has not advertised this car at all, no one knows what it is. The body design is beautiful, GM has done a Good Thing with the design of this. The ride is excellent for the small size, I attribute to the large 18 In. wheels on it.

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  Update! - 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By 3800 V6 - July 28 - 10:46 am

  I wrote a review about 3 years ago when I first got the car. It now has 210,000 miles and seldom has to go in the shop. I usually get 24-26 MPG, but on long trips Ive gotten 34 (really). It has never left me on the side of the road, but I did have to make some costly repairs when I first got it. I might buy an 07 or 08 soon, so I thought Id update my comments!

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  Beautiful car one concern - 2009 Pontiac G8
  By Cassandra Brown - July 24 - 3:43 am

  I have had this car for a week now love it. This is my first American made car. Very fun and quick car. What attracted me to this car was it put you in the mind of a BMW and not only that its a pretty red car but the fact is it was not many on the road which could be a bad or good thing but my thought was it would a good thing because it stands out from all the other cars and it does just that. People are always take a second look and comment on how beautiful my G8 GT is.

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  GTP Performance - 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Paul - July 23 - 11:03 am

  From the day I bought the Grand Prix GTP I really enjoyed the performance of the supercharged engine. The only problem is the low roof line. I enjoy driving long distances the seats and gauges are excellent. Gas mileage is okay for a large midsize car. Even though the 3.8 is old technology, GM has come a long way with making the engine quite yet with the supercharger it is very responsive.

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  Bought a bargain - 2009 Pontiac G5
  By Mean Marcus - July 22 - 10:03 pm

  I would not have bought this tiny car, except for the $4,500 federal rebate. The gas mileage is incredible. The speed sensitive electrical power steering is just ok. Cornering is ok. I think it should have better front brakes, given the weight ratio. Attn. Gm: this is a coupe. Do you understand? am I getting through? its a coupe; a coupe. Make it comfortable for two people. Jump seats would be fine in back. And the parking brake nestled under the armrest is just plain stupid.