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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  G8 GT THE CORVETTE OF LARGE/MID SEDANS - 2008 Pontiac G8
  By JUNIOR - September 22 - 6:53 pm

  This car is very beautiful in the exterior design. The fenders around the wheel area are amazing. The aerodynamic feel to it is great. The upshift is smooth as possible. The gas mileage is much of a concern when you know what your getting into (G8). The interior is also awesome. No Navigation or XM radio but the thing is that you are going to have to pay for XM after your first year. And you can a navigation anywhere. The Red Digital Battery thing is okay not the greatest but its not the biggest of concerns in the fun car matter.

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  Awesome GXP Street Edition Sedan - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By GXP Street Edition - September 22 - 9:30 am

  This car replaced a 2005 Altima 3.5SL - The Pontiac has a taut smooth ride that doesnt feel too harsh. The transmission is very smooth shifting and the engine turns low rpms at highway speeds in 6th! Interior is very nicely appointed and feels contemporary with a European influence. The longer wheelbase on this car compared to many of its direct competitors gives the Pontiac a more refined ride and drive. Great build quality and a quiet interior makes for a stress free ride! Plenty of power on tap for any situation will put a smile on your face. All this at a very competitive price. Pontiac hit a home run with this GXP package! You cant go wrong with this vehicle in your garage

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  Hope to buy another Bonne - 2000 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Great Car-Joleen - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Love this car! Hate green but bought this green car because it was worth the money. Husband wanted a Bonne so I relented. Now I wouldnt trade it off and hope to put 200,000 miles on it. I now have 120,000 miles on it and have had very little wrong with the car. The cup holders are somewhat small and I do hate the battery behind the back seat. Under warranty, the alternator had to be replaced but really has worked great since. Handling is a major plus! And the car has plenty of power with the 3.8 engine-pretty good fuel mileage (25- 30) too.

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  Talk about a Muscle Car - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By Arturo59 - September 20 - 10:00 am

  With all the kids in college it was time to get rid of the minivan. We always wanted a vet but could never see spending all that cash. Never was a Ford man, so the Mustang wasnt an option. Then saw the Ram Air hood and that sold us. Looks were the biggest thing, the fact that it was fast, had the same engine as the vet and was about $20k less, sealed the deal. The last of a dying breed, but we love it. If we have to take somebody with us, they can squeeze in the back, too.

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  Still in Love - 2004 Pontiac GTO
  By BayouGoat - September 20 - 10:00 am

  Ive had my GTO since February,and still have the grin on my face. No problems after 6700 miles, and having fun safely and with authority on the road. I have the automatic, and after a recent dyno tune and tranny adjustment, the car has a performance level close to a manual transmission. The sleeper look keeps me out of traffic court, as does the necessary radar detector. This car is a bargain at MSRP--the deals offered right now make it an absolute steal.

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  Best Value/Most Features for Your Money - 2004 Pontiac Aztek
  By occoquan1 - September 18 - 1:56 pm

  What sold me on this vehicle was the ride. It has a decent interior, not too cramped, easy to find controls, and an interesting exterior style all its own. This SUV runs smoothly, and doesnt have a truck feel at all. Very quiet, yet responsive. The list of features on my vehicle, for the price I paid is amazing. Admittedly, I bought a used 2004, but it only had 3110 miles on it. It still smells new. This is a great vehicle and bargains can be had. This has been a much maligned vehicle and does not deserve the bad reputation it has garnered. Take a look, take a test drive, you will be pleasantly surprised. But hurry, rumor has it that the 2005 model year will be its last.

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  Sweeeeeeeet - 2002 Pontiac Firebird
  By viperedge - September 18 - 2:00 am

  Always wanted it, finally got it. 2002 Conv, only V6, but still love her. Cant find a better looking car under 100000 if you ask me. Fun to drive, and with spring coming, looking forward to the top down and driving for days.

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  Love my Bird - 1999 Pontiac Firebird
  By Truckin2001 - September 15 - 7:26 am

  I bought my Firebird used with 73,000 miles on it. I have had now for about 1 month and so far so good. I have had one head light motor go about. But think about it. The gear on the inside of the motor is plastic... stupid yes but that is what it is. You can go out and buy metal replacement gears for both motors for half the cost of buying a new motor from the dealership. So those of you who complain of light motors going out look at other cars out there with flip up lights... I am sure if you ask their owners they have had problems with theirs as well. Yes the Firebird is a sports car. Who buys a sports car for rear seat room and trunk space? If you want that go out and buy the Grand Prix.

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  Love my Bonneville SSEi - 1997 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Wayne S - September 15 - 1:33 am

  Have had my 1997 Bonneville SSEi for 8 years. Have had six Corvettes and was a fighter pilot so tend to like fast cars. The supercharged six is simply amazing. Great mileage (30 MPG + on highway)plus more than enough power for everyday driving. At 7 seconds 0-60 MPH according to the magazines, it is actually faster than some of my mid- 70s Corvettes. The car seems faster since the power band is broad and instantaneous due to the supercharger. Engine has been flawless since owned. A nice daily driver, I like the real Heads-up Display and good instrumentation. The 8 Bose-speakered stereo is the best factory car stereo I have ever heard. Nothing has even come close. Great car.

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  Fun in the sun! - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By Randy - September 9 - 6:20 pm

  The Solstice draws stares and starts conversations everywhere I drive. The motor is loud on acceleration with the top up, but with the top down you just hear a nice rumble. The cockpit is small with low access. Comfort is very good. People over six feet tall will have trouble stretching their legs. I find myself looking for reasons to take the Solstice for a spin. The onboard computer rated 20MPG over 4200 mostly city miles. I just took an 800 mile trip through the mountains of New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. The Solstice handled the twisty mountain roads with ease. The Solstice averaged 30 MPG on this mostly highway trip with the top down the whole way.