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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  Sweet! - 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Pontiac RULZ - November 22 - 6:16 pm

  This car is the car of my dreams! It rides smoothly which makes me feel like Im floating. I love the space and all the things that come along with it!!!

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  Its A great Van! - 2005 Pontiac Montana
  By Gandolf - November 21 - 1:56 pm

  I shopped around for a few months looking for a van and this was the best layout and design for our family that i found. The options were exactly what we needed and the fit and finish were excellent. The van is quiet and a lot of fun to drive. The braking is noticably better than other vans.

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  Legit - 2009 Pontiac G6
  By Collin - November 21 - 1:03 am

  I recently bought the GXP and I love it. If you include all the things you want it is a fun a great car to drive. I love the engine and I would recommend to anyone.

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  Pontiac Vibe - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By CPS - November 20 - 10:53 am

  This car has a very smooth ride, I feel secure in the way it handles. It looks good on outside and inside. The stereo is excellent. Im very happy with it.

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  Lucky number 3 - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By Dora Mae - November 20 - 9:16 am

  This is my 3rd grand prix I had a 95 which I was not impressed with but decided to give it another shot with an 03 which I loved and then decided to trade in on an 04 for the more adult design. I would recommend this car to anyone. I have taken it in many road trips I bought it at 74k miles and it now has 107k less than 2 years later. No problems! My friends love it, my parents love it, and I still look forward to driving it everyday. My favorite car that I have owned.

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  The Australian M3 - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By BRMike - November 20 - 4:20 am

  I had named this review the American M3, but that would not be entirely accurate. I purchased my GTO late in the 2004 model year when GM was offering great incentives. The GTO has been a joy to own. I now have just under 21,000 miles on it and I couldnt be happier. This car has plenty of power on tap, yet can achieve over 30 mpg on the hwy. (6- speed manual). Around town, driven with care, I average 21 mpg. The interior is among the finest GM offers with a clean design and rattle-free construction. The handling is decent for a car this size. The car offers a comfortable ride and feels solid, as it should with the weight this car packs. Overall a nice, clean powerful car.

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  Glad I choose this one - 2007 Pontiac G6
  By ccsr - November 19 - 9:43 am

  I purchased this car to replace a 2003 Mazda 6 w/ 190K miles. I can not get over how happy I am with my purchase. Who said base model cars have to be stripped down or cheap? Not this one! The car handles like it should cost more and its so quiet and torquey you wont even realize youre blowing by posted speed limits like its nothing. Although I bought it used with 15K miles on it, I still have the remainder of the factory warranties and a vehicle that in my opinion outperforms the Mazda in all aspects it makes me dread driving my wifes boring 2007 Toyota Camry. If anyone is in the market for a solid built midsize car dont neglect checking out the G6, it will surprise you.

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  We Be Viben - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By M.Krey - November 19 - 2:00 am

  This vehicle is comfortable and fun to drive. We own a 2003 Vibe GT, that my husband drives, and I had to buy a second Vibe in order to get driving time! The interior has enough room for the 3 Greyhound dogs that we have.

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  HOT PERFORMER AND FAMILY CAR - 2004 Pontiac Grand AM
  By MTINDYFLINT - November 19 - 2:00 am

  THIS IS MY FOURTH GRAND AM, AND THEY ONLY GET BETTER. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR I BOUGHT THAT HAS NOT HAD TO GO BACK TO THE DEALER FOR CORRECTIVE SERVICE.THE OTHER ONE WAS, YOU GOT IT, A GRAND AM.

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  grandprixgtp - 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix
  By brent123 - November 19 - 2:00 am

  great car but needs some redesign