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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  We need some aftermarket parts! - 2006 Pontiac G6
  By griffsta - September 9 - 3:36 am

  5 months with the car. Owned a Mazda 6 G before this one and the reliability and preformance are so much better in the Pontiac. Awesome car but where are all the upgrades? Give me some intakes and exausts for this thing. I wanna hook it up and show it off.

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  Awesome SUV - 2007 Pontiac Torrent
  By Carlos - September 9 - 3:13 am

  Like many of you, I was doing some research last year trying to buy a comfortable, spacious and low price SUV. In conclusion the Torrent beat all the other suv I researched (Patriot,compass, Escape, Mercury). You get more of what you pay for. I bought the Bugg shield, window visor and mud guard. Wish it make it look cooler. Gas Mileage is decent compared to other cars or SUVs, cant complain.

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  A blast! - 2007 Pontiac Solstice
  By Bob - September 7 - 1:50 pm

  The new face of Pontiac is awesome! People are attracted to it from across parking lots. Fun car that really is a great value. The "Excitement" division is BACK!

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  Fun to drive - spunky small wagon! - 2003 Pontiac Vibe
  By chelle - September 7 - 10:00 am

  This spunky small wagon is fun to drive, has a lot of get-up-and-go! Good gas mileage. Nice appearance with the typical sporty Pontiac look! Comfortable seats, lots of legroom and headroom for those tall folks. Cool navigation system, great stereo, and 6- disk CD changer.

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  montana sv6 - 2005 Pontiac Montana
  By RAy - September 6 - 9:33 pm

  for a minivan its a very comfortable and practical vehicle, we were pleasantly surprised bythe performance of the awd. we switched from an envoy xl and really enjoy the ride and gas economy much better on the montana.

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  metallic blue nights - 2007 Pontiac G5
  By michelle barrett - September 6 - 5:23 am

  i wanted a sporty car , but needed a family car. I got both when i bought this car 7 days ago. It has everything a family of 5 could need and all the sportiness a single woman or man could want. I would not trade this car for anything in the world.

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  Awesome Little SportsCar! - 2008 Pontiac G6
  By MsWordWiz - September 4 - 10:03 pm

  Great car for the price point. I compared it to a Ford Fusion, Honda Accord, Dodge Avenger, and a Prius. This is the one that both myself and husband felt the most comfortable in both in the front seat and as back seat passengers. The trunk space with the fold down seats that do not cover your floorspace in the back is a nice feature. It is a sedan that truly drives like a sports car.

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  Roadster Fun!! - 2006 Pontiac Solstice
  By vwells7957 - September 3 - 5:20 pm

  This is the most fun car I have ever owned or driven. I drove it half way across the country this past summer and just loved it with the top up or down. Fuel economy was up around 29 when I stayed at 55-60 mph. It dropped to around 25-26 when I went 75 thru Oklahoma on the expressway. What as smooth ride! Im keeping this car.

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  Fantastic Fusion - 2005 Pontiac Vibe
  By David - September 3 - 3:06 pm

  2004 Fusion Vibe. Fusion color receives tons of double takes. Purchased with some anticipation, but could not be happier with my decision. Exterior size was a concern, but there is an abundance of interior space. I love this car. Purchased with 17 inch wheels and rims, but considering chrome rims soon to make the total package just "Pop"!

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  For Pontiac Lovers - 2005 Pontiac Bonneville
  By Dealer - September 2 - 10:50 pm

  As a car salesman having driven many different makes and model of cars, the GXP is by far the most for the money. Fun to drive, exceptional road manners. The professional opinion peddlers completely miss the mark concerning the GXP.