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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  My Aztek I love - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By vwcar98 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  The car/SRV/SUV has been great. Excellent milage, lots of room and fun to drive. I also love the looks I get from other drivers. Either you love it or hate it. I love it.

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  best small gm car ever - 2004 Pontiac Sunfire
  By maureen s. - October 1 - 2:00 am

  This is my second sunfire purchase and I love this one as much as the first if not more. Its a great car and I have no complaints at all.

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  More than looks - 2003 Pontiac Aztek
  By mantis406 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Ok, a lot of people hate the looks of the Aztek; I personally love it. There is so much more to this vehicle that makes it really great. Engine has some power to be desired, but it gets great mileage (especially compared to other SUVs) and still has enough power to pull my two snowmobiles down the highway. There are some minor issues like the rear hatch not always releasing, but typically a dealer can fix that while its still under warranty.

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  Montana Man - 2001 Pontiac Montana
  By stoddard - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Auto door is great to have for those kids that are faster than you to the van. Alot of power, cruise control will keep speed up any hill. Being able to move seats around to fit the family is wonderful. ONSTAR is the best when you have locked your keys in at the local Wal-Mart.

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  great for road trips - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By tarahdb - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Have owned my new 2004 Vibe for three months. Have driven it from California to Maryland in three days, and from Maryland to Georgia and back. Have driven in ice (no problem) and wind (gets blown around a little more than a civic but less than an SUV). Great for short trips with 4-5 people or long trips / lots of luggage with 2 people because the cargo area isnt all that big but the back seat folds completely flat to make a huge storage area. Very comfortable on long trips; plenty of room in the back seat, even for men. Driver sits relatively high, giving them a good view of the road. Quiet ride, road is easy to feel.

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  2004 Pontiac Vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By Sonfire4 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Car is awesome, looks great, drives great. Small steering wheel took a little getting used to!

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  super fun lil pontiac - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By lani kinser - October 1 - 2:00 am

  I really enjoy this vehicle, I am glad I test drove one and then traded in a 2002 honda for it. Way more comfortable and better handling and with a hell of a lot more value for the buck. I like the quality better which is not what most people usually expect going from a honda to a pontiac. But it is true! I fully recomend this car.

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  I love my VIBE - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By erykah21 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  My parents bought a vibe last year i have driven it and i liked it. I was time for me to get a new car, so I decided to check them out. I have some equity probs and it was still in my rice range. The salesman got me in and out of the dealership, he was really great. I love my car its wonderful.I am completely satisfied.

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  AWD great value - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By bchaney158 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Performance is lacking, especially with four passengers. However, normal driving experience is good with adequare acceleration. Car seats, driving position, visibility are quite good. Noise level is average, windy conditions do affect car steerage somewhat. The build quality seems quite excellent. No deterioration at all in brakes,suspension,engine,trim. The independent suspension is really excellent for this level of car... The useability of fold down seats, wagon like structure is very practical and not bad looking.

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  Love my Vibe - 2004 Pontiac Vibe
  By buzzardsgirl01 - October 1 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive! If you are looking for a vehicle that you will love to be in, the Vibe is right for you! Looks and reliability are some of the things that you can expect from a Vibe.